Published on Tuesday, 8 October 2024 at 8:00:00 AM
Hello and Happy #TimeWarpTuesday to you Dear Reader. This week we are posing with our classmates for our annual school photographs. The images in today’s post were kindly donated to us by Barbara Walker (nee Ford) and are of her brother, Barry Ford’s classes at East Victoria Park Primary School. They are taken across three years of his school life, 1950, 1951 and 1952.
Look closely and you’ll see some spectacular grins, and much joy happening. Hair is combed and that of the girls, be-ribboned, and most faces are lit with excitement. These three photographs were taken when East Victoria Park Primary School was in its original location on Albany Highway, East Victoria Park, on the current site of The Park Shopping Centre. The beautiful old school architecture can be clearly seen and admired in the class photo from November 1951. At the time of these photographs, the school had been providing a place of education for the children of the district for 34 years.
East Victoria Park Primary School first opened in 1916, as Victoria Park Primary School could not cope with the numbers seeking education. The school on Albany Highway, was soon the biggest state school in Western Australia. But in the years following the end of World War II, rapid changes saw the school occupying valuable commercial land facing a busy highway. By 1977 a new site had been located (the old State Saw Mill site) in Beatty Avenue, and a new school was constructed.
What wonderful memories captured in these photographs. Remember, if you have family photos that tell part of the story of Victoria Park and surrounds, we’d love to hear from you. We can scan and return originals and also offer hints and tips on storage to preserve your family treasures. Or indeed, if you would like to donate original photographs, or other items, please get in touch. We protect and honour the stories, photographs and other items about Victoria Park that you share with us, as they are precious gifts that help us document our shared history for future generations.
You can reach out to us here at the Library, via email: vicparklibrary@vicpark.wa.gov.au, you can phone: 08 9373 5500, or drop in and see us. Also, don’t forget the 2025 Local History Awards open for submissions on 3 January 2025 providing a wonderful opportunity to also share your story of Victoria Park and surrounds.
#LoveVicPark
References:
Morling, Loreley A. (Revised compiler) 2016, Timeline, Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library, East Victoria Park, Western Australia, p. 33.
PH00038-11 Barry Ford (aged 10) and class mates, East Victoria Park Primary School Class III R 1950. Courtesy of Barbara Walker.
PH00038-12 Barry Ford (aged 11) and classmates, East Victoria Park Primary School, Class IV Standard. Courtesy of Barbara Walker.
PH00038-13 Barry Ford and classmates, Class V Standard, East Victoria Park Primary School. Courtesy of Barbara Walker.
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