From chalkboards to classrooms of today

Dookie Primary School (School No. 1527) first opened its doors on March 17, 1875, serving the small, but growing township of Dookie.

Though modest in its beginnings, the school quickly became a cherished institution, anchoring the community through decades of change.

Initially known as Dookie South, the original school was located at Cashel, with its first head teacher, John Kilpatrick.

In 1893, the building was relocated approximately a mile south of Dookie, adopting the name Dookie the following year.

A new dedicated school building was established in 1907, on land generously donated by the Bennett family.

That structure still underpins the legacy of the school today, while the earlier building was converted into a teacher’s residence in 1910.

As the years passed, the campus continued to evolve.

A second classroom was added in 1927, and when part of the school was damaged by fire in 1962, it was quickly rebuilt, ensuring classes continued and the school remained a vital part of community life.

Recent years have seen thoughtful upgrades, including new play spaces installed between 2020 and 2022, with soft-fall surfaces and modern equipment to provide safer, more engaging playgrounds.

Students also enjoy hands-on, community-focused learning. Since 2023, Dookie Primary has partnered with the local Men’s Shed, giving children the opportunity to build practical skills such as measuring, sawing and hammering, under the guidance of experienced volunteers.

Today, Dookie Primary remains a vibrant, close-knit learning community with just 11 students across Prep to Year 6. Its small size creates an intimate, supportive and deeply personalised learning environment.

On October 11, the school will celebrate its 150th anniversary — a rare milestone that honours a century and a half of nurturing young minds, and a proud legacy that continues to shape the future.