Katandra West Primary School No 4401
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The school was officially opened by Martin Hansen, Director of Education, in 1929, but it began
operations on 28th of October 1928 with Miss Mary Schepisi as Head Teacher, and 32 pupils in
Grades 1-8. The original school still stands in the South-West comer of the present school block,
fronting on to Queen and Bankin Sts, and is in the Shire of Tungamah, some 17 miles North-East of
Shepparton. The Closer Settlement Commission proposed the opening of the original school; among
others it would serve the children of English migrant settlers. W.A. Hansen was Chairman and W.J.
Davy Secretary of the first School Committee. In 1937, on 3 acres of land adjoining the school site
and owned by the Closer Settlement Commission, a plantation of blue gums, mahogany gums and
sugar gums was established. When, in 1968, a number of local one-teacher schools had been closed
and their pupils transferred to Katandra West, 2-8 acres of the plantation were cleared to provide
much needed playing space.
In July 1953, SS2515 Marionvale closed and the children and building moved to Katandra West. Late
in 1953 the school building of SS2589 Gobarup East in Waranga Shire was brought in for the infant
grades. In February 1954 the building and children from SS4477 Invergordon South were moved to
Katandra West. In February 1957 SS2236 Marungi was closed, followed in May 1965 by the closure
of SS3953 Youanmite South. Pupils at both schools were enrolled at Katandra West. In 1964, two
new rooms were added making six in all. In 1968 two more new rooms were added, and the school
had an attendance of 240 pupils.
https://www.katandra-west-ps.vic.edu.au/
operations on 28th of October 1928 with Miss Mary Schepisi as Head Teacher, and 32 pupils in
Grades 1-8. The original school still stands in the South-West comer of the present school block,
fronting on to Queen and Bankin Sts, and is in the Shire of Tungamah, some 17 miles North-East of
Shepparton. The Closer Settlement Commission proposed the opening of the original school; among
others it would serve the children of English migrant settlers. W.A. Hansen was Chairman and W.J.
Davy Secretary of the first School Committee. In 1937, on 3 acres of land adjoining the school site
and owned by the Closer Settlement Commission, a plantation of blue gums, mahogany gums and
sugar gums was established. When, in 1968, a number of local one-teacher schools had been closed
and their pupils transferred to Katandra West, 2-8 acres of the plantation were cleared to provide
much needed playing space.
In July 1953, SS2515 Marionvale closed and the children and building moved to Katandra West. Late
in 1953 the school building of SS2589 Gobarup East in Waranga Shire was brought in for the infant
grades. In February 1954 the building and children from SS4477 Invergordon South were moved to
Katandra West. In February 1957 SS2236 Marungi was closed, followed in May 1965 by the closure
of SS3953 Youanmite South. Pupils at both schools were enrolled at Katandra West. In 1964, two
new rooms were added making six in all. In 1968 two more new rooms were added, and the school
had an attendance of 240 pupils.
https://www.katandra-west-ps.vic.edu.au/
