Our Heritage
Canterbury is a school that is proud of its heritage. The area in which the school is located formed an integral part of Wurundjeri-willam territory. The Wurundjeri of the Kulin Nation was one of four Koorie clans in the Port Phillip region.
Built in 1908, the original building remains and careful stewardship over the last 110 years has kept many of the architectural features intact. The school was designed by architect J.B Cohen and accommodated 400 students in eight classrooms, a hall and an armory that housed arms and ammunition used by the Cadet Corps that operated at the school between 1909 and 1911. In 1924 a new building with 10 additional classrooms was built to accommodate an increasing student population of over 1000 students. The art and music rooms, gym and senior school learning environments were built in 2011 and designed around 21st
Century learning needs in open, flexible spaces.
An extensive archive collection is continually being added to by donations from past pupils. Regular displays from this collection give an insight into the school’s history for the students.
In the centennial year, 2008, the school published and launched A Pocketful of Acorns, a history of the school. Please complete this order form and arrange payment by Direct Credit or Credit Card to purchase your copy and/or a collection of historical photographs.
The second edition of the delightful children's book Time Flies, by author Adrian Peniston-Bird, is also available. Please complete this order form and arrange payment by Direct Credit or Credit Card to purchase your copy.
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Several exciting events were held in 2008, the school's centenary year, which included the publication and launch of the school history, A Pocketful of Acorns, Open Day, a Centenary Ball and the unveiling of a Centenary sculpture (artist Dean Bowen).
Dean is renowned sculptor and artist and has exhibited work at the Heide gallery, regional galleries and overseas. The sculpture (below) represents a modern boy and girl and symbolises friendship and the future, as Canterbury Primary moved into the next century of delivering student-centred quality education.
Below are some photos from the school's Archives. More photos are available to purchase by following the Book/CD order form link above.
