GHS History
Gosford Public School 1877
Gosford High School 1930
A High School was not actually established at Gosford until 1929, although secondary education had been provided for a number of years. Gosford Public School first commenced lessons in 1865 in a small building rented from a church. Twenty six pupils attended. The first permanent school building pictured above was erected in 1877 where the technical college now stands. The public school was a district school until 1922. It became an Intermediate High School with a secondary enrolment of 150 in 1923. Development of Gosford was so rapid that by 1927 a High School was required. The foundation stone, which is at the front of the building, was laid by the then Minister for Education, Mr. D. H. Drummond, on 19th May, 1928.
The building was completed in 1928 at a cost of 15,000 pounds and occupied during the latter part of that year. The official opening date, however, is 1929,with Mr. H.G. Stoyles pictured left as Headmaster and an enrolment of 282.
GHS First Head Master Herbert Styles
In 1929 Gosford High School was officially ‘open for business’. On six acres, one building stood alone – this was the front block. The school was limited to seven classrooms, one science room, a library, and an assembly room. The basement area was “shelter playrooms” for the students. In 1929 their assembly area was either what is now the upper quadrangle. The water supply came from the railway dam and a tank in the quadrangle. When the school opened, the enrolment predictions were exceeded and the upstairs assembly room was partitioned off to make classrooms.
Other School History Links
Phyl Bennett Remembers the Early Years
Phyl Bennett the War & Depression Years
