Zeerust Primary School No 4359
(formerly Gribben's Estate)
Zeerust School, first proposed by a petition from settlers on Gribben’s Estate, 11th of August 1926,
was a single classroom school brought from Congupna and resited on the South side of the Zeerust
Rd, 9 miles due North of Shepparton in the Shire of Shepparton, County of Moira. The school was
known originally as ‘Gribben’s Estate’ but, in 1929, the name of Zeerust was adopted. Cecil
Hepworth, whose father is thought to have lived in a place of that name in West Transvaal,
suggested the name. Head Teacher Mrs Bert Trewin first enrolled 15 children representing
Grades 1 to 7, on 27th of March 1928. A Committee was formed in 1928 with P.H. Crees as Chairman
and the Secretary/Treasurer, J.B. Watson. On 1st of November 1933, the ‘Zeerust Social Club’ began
with Head Teacher B.W. Rahaley, as President and Miss McDougall as Secretary.
Although it flourished for a short time, this club was abandoned in 1936. A Mothers’ Club, formed in
1959, has operated very successfully.
Two years prior to the opening of the school, Zeerust district, formerly a dry wheat area, was first
irrigated. Closer settlement meant the beginnings of a richly productive dairying industry. British
migrants took up several of the blocks. The school enrolment gradually increased until, in the mid-
1950s, the need for a second teacher and a second classroom became apparent. A Light Timber
Construction classroom was attached to the original classroom in 1958, and a shelter shed built in
1960. A comprehensive range of playground equipment was purchased in 1962-64. In 1966 a
basketball court-assembly area was constructed and attractive garden beds were added. The year
1969 saw a second Light Timber Construction classroom constructed to replace the original building.
The modern, well-equipped school with its pleasant surroundings forms a striking contrast to the
basic building, situated in a bare field, which first opened its doors in 1927.
https://www.zeerustps.vic.edu.au/
was a single classroom school brought from Congupna and resited on the South side of the Zeerust
Rd, 9 miles due North of Shepparton in the Shire of Shepparton, County of Moira. The school was
known originally as ‘Gribben’s Estate’ but, in 1929, the name of Zeerust was adopted. Cecil
Hepworth, whose father is thought to have lived in a place of that name in West Transvaal,
suggested the name. Head Teacher Mrs Bert Trewin first enrolled 15 children representing
Grades 1 to 7, on 27th of March 1928. A Committee was formed in 1928 with P.H. Crees as Chairman
and the Secretary/Treasurer, J.B. Watson. On 1st of November 1933, the ‘Zeerust Social Club’ began
with Head Teacher B.W. Rahaley, as President and Miss McDougall as Secretary.
Although it flourished for a short time, this club was abandoned in 1936. A Mothers’ Club, formed in
1959, has operated very successfully.
Two years prior to the opening of the school, Zeerust district, formerly a dry wheat area, was first
irrigated. Closer settlement meant the beginnings of a richly productive dairying industry. British
migrants took up several of the blocks. The school enrolment gradually increased until, in the mid-
1950s, the need for a second teacher and a second classroom became apparent. A Light Timber
Construction classroom was attached to the original classroom in 1958, and a shelter shed built in
1960. A comprehensive range of playground equipment was purchased in 1962-64. In 1966 a
basketball court-assembly area was constructed and attractive garden beds were added. The year
1969 saw a second Light Timber Construction classroom constructed to replace the original building.
The modern, well-equipped school with its pleasant surroundings forms a striking contrast to the
basic building, situated in a bare field, which first opened its doors in 1927.
https://www.zeerustps.vic.edu.au/
