Our School History

Ourimbah, originally spelt OURINBAH was derived from the Aboriginal word which probably meant the sacred circle on the initiation site for investing the ‘OORIN’ or belt of manhood.

Ourimbah was originally the part of the area north of the railway station and the southern portion was known as Blue Gum Flat.

The first settler in the area was probably Robert Cox who arrived before 1892. The original grant of land, north of the present school was made to Thomas McQuoids while Mary Ann Hall held the Blue Gum Flats area to the south.

Blue Gum Flat at this time was a beautiful valley densely timbered with ironbark, turpentine and blackbutt. As it was a timber getters’ paradise much of the wealth of the township came through sawmills.

On 22^nd June, 1863, Miss Elizabeth Bristowe made application to the Board of National Education for the position of teacher at Blue Gum Flat. She was already instructing 21 pupils in a private school house 32 feet by 13 feet built of slabs on land owned by Mr Walmsley.

In 1863 teachers on probation received five pounds per month and special first class teachers received fourteen pounds per month. Part of the teacher’s job was to collect 3d from her pupils each Monday morning to help defray the cost of Education.

The growth of Ourimbah School was rapid and by 1868, 54 pupils were enrolled. While at the same time only 38 were enrolled at Gosford. Ourimbah was the bigger town.

In 1870 the school with Mr J Cameron as head teacher was transferred to the former ‘Bushman’s Home Inn’ on the Gosford-Maitland Road near where the railway yards are today. The school was actually the dance hall of the inn. In 1875 the school building needed rebarking. As bark was hard to get because of the dry season, it was shingled instead by Mr Thomas Crawly at a cost of fifty pounds.

The coming of the railway in 1885 saw the present four acres and one road purchased and a 40ft by 17ft weatherboard, iron roofed building constructed.

In 1887 the name of the school was officially changed from Blue Gum Flat to Ourimbah.

The single room structure was later added to, to form two rooms. Subsequent additions and removals have left the original building as the center of the present structure closest to the main entry to the school. In 1900’s the school was closed for a time by floods and a diphtheria epidemic when three pupils died.

In 1922 a portable was added to the original building towards the residence (built in 1900 demolished 1985) at a cost of 657 pounds.

A phone was attached to the school in 1934 and in 1937 electricity (one light to the school and one to the residence) was connected.

Further buildings included portables in 1951, and in 1956 a brick veneer building of three classrooms, office, toilets and staffroom which was opened in 1969.

1979 saw a demountable classroom arrive on the old weathershed site.

A demountable Administration block and a demountable Library were added in 1980 and 1981 respectively. 1994 saw the completion of the Ourimbah Community Hall. 1995 saw the completion of 4 new classrooms into our bushland setting.

1997 saw the completion of six new classrooms.

1999 saw a new library, new administration building and 30 space carpark as additions to the school facilities. As well, the 3 classrooms, the canteen and toilets contained in the brick building were renovated. At this time all the old demountable classrooms, library and administration buildings were taken from our site.

We also saw the refurbishment and re-location of our heritage and timber buildings.

All buildings within the school grounds are now linked by covered walkways.

Ourimbah School celebrated its Centenary in 1963 and Sesquicentenary on 20 October 2013. On this day Ourimbah Public School students, staff & community showcased how school operated back in the 1800's & 1900's. To celebrate the Sesquicentenary a book has been published and is available to purchase via the school office.

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