Crown Street Public School, one of Australia’s oldest continuously operating schools, has celebrated nearly two centuries of educational excellence, community spirit, and enduring public values.
Founded on 1 June 1849 in a modest rented hall on Bourke Street, the school began as a response to the growing need for accessible education in a rapidly expanding Sydney.
175 years ago, Surry Hills was transitioning from a semi-rural landscape of paddocks and sandstone quarries into a bustling working-class neighbourhood.
As families settled in the area, the demand for structured learning surged, and within months of opening enrolment soared to over 1,600 students, making it one of the largest schools in New South Wales.
Dignitaries including Alex Greenwich MP, Deputy Lord Mayor Jess Miller and Director Educational Leadership Angela Lyris joined relieving principal Olivia Parry, and current and past students and staff for a morning tea and smoking ceremony to mark the occasion.
Relieving Principal Ms Parry said that she was immensely proud to commemorate 175 years of continuous public education at the school
“Crown St Public School is a cornerstone of learning, equity, and community in the heart of Sydney,” she said.