Dookie Primary School 150 years

A journey through time

By Kelly Lucas-Carmody

Oct 9, 2025

1872 – Rural School No. 136 began (01/09).

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1875 – School elevated to No. 1342 Dookie (eligible for capitation allowance); closed 31/01. First State School 1527 opened 01/02 as Dookie South.

1876 – Fence requested due to wandering cattle.

1877 – School closed due to low attendance; building used as temporary police station until 1878.

1879 – Prominent citizens petitioned to reopen the school.

1882 – Low attendance; school ran half-time.

1890–1891 – Multiple head teachers; enrolments rose to 30, promoted to 5th Class School.

1891 – School closed for repairs.

1893 – School relocated halfway between Dookie and Cashel; new two-room building approved.

1896 – One living quarter converted into a classroom due to rising enrolments.

1905 – Cashel decline led residents to petition for larger school in Dookie; new building built.

1910 – Original building moved and converted into teacher’s quarters.

1924 – Head teacher Gilbert C. Duff known for discipline, gardens, water supply, community contributions.

1925–1928 – Enrolments 66 to 79; single classroom; grounds landscaped, water infrastructure installed, windmill erected; infant classroom added 1928.

1930s–1940s – Grounds problematic (red soil, sharp gravel); levelled and surfaced in 1940s; electricity installed in teacher’s quarters 1937 (school buildings 1947).

1951 – Grounds gravelling and sanding carried out.

1954 – Head teacher Andrew Gilbert Berry began 22-year tenure.

1963 – Back-to-Dookie event; ~100 former pupils and staff attended.

A group of 1962 students pictured in front of their school bus.

1975 – Centenary celebrated; original building removed.

1979–1980 – Adventure playground, additional classroom, and asphalt/concrete around buildings.

1980 — Students and staff of Dookie Primary School captured together in a classic whole school photo.

1981 – Won Keep Australia Beautiful and A.N.A. Garden State awards.

1985–1989 – Toilet block, dual cricket pitches, hundreds of trees/shrubs planted; computers introduced 1988; new school logo adopted 1989.

1995–2000 – New buildings completed 1996; covered walkway 1998–1999; 125th anniversary celebrated 2000 with period costume.

1997 - Official opening of new school building.

2007–2013 – Senior playground 2007; Kitchen Garden Program 2008–2009; BER works 2009 (portables replaced, fencing, shed, water tank, synthetic lawn); junior shelter 2012; memorial garden 2012–2013; enrolments 38.