Save Tharwa School

The Tharwa community is very proud of the history of the school. The original school was provided by the community and was built in 1898 of split timber walls, set vertically, with a corrugated iron roof. The floor was of stone slabs and the exterior walls and ceiling were lined with hessian and paper.

In the 1940’s, the area from which pupils came to the school expanded from the villages of Tharwa, Lanyon, Cuppacumbalong, and Booroomba, to include Naas and a wider area. The children came on a bus from Fitz’s Hill. The school building was enlarged in 1947-48 and there were 37 pupils in 1948. The old chimney was demolished, windows were put in two opposite walls for ventilation and light, two warmray wood burning heaters were installed and a bikeshed constructed. Our historic bell, which is still in use, comes from the old Tuggeranong School.

In 1989 the school was repainted as close as possible to the original colours. The school community have been developed on a master plan for grounds redevelopment which will enhance the character of the original building as well as catering for the needs of the students and teachers.

Tharwa, A Living History was published in 1989 with funds from a Curriculum Development Grant. It was the culmination of three years of research by students and staff into the history of the district, and is the core booklet for future study of the area by Tharwa students and the wider community.

In 1988 Tharwa Primary, as part of a Bicentennial Schools Grant, produced a 35 minute video with Film Australia. Titled ‘Golden Reflections The Path to Settlement’ it is an extension to the ‘Living History’ study and documents the students study of the history and significance of Gold and how the Kiandra gold rush effected Tharwa and the surrounding the district. This link to the heritage of the district as well as the Murrumbidgee and Gudgenby catchment areas is an ongoing theme for the school and something the children relate to strongly.

In 1993 the school commenced work toward the publication of a further booklet on memories of school life at Tharwa Primary School. This project has been assisted by a Heritage Grant form the Department of Environment, Land and Planning. Further assistance has been forthcoming from the National Library of Australia, who supplied high quality tape and recording equipment, the original tapes will be stored by the National Library. The grant was used to employ an Oral Historian, Matthew Higgins, who at this date has completed interviews and the collection of photographs. Parents are currently transcribing these tapes, which will be a major part of the schools heritage collection. This collection has been catalogued and stored appropriately with the assistance of funds through a Heritage Grant from the Department of Environment, Land and Planning.

written in 1999 by representatives of Tharwa Primary School