The Western Mail on Thursday, 21st August, 1924 contained two photos of primary school children in Mount Lawley as shown below, and it was estimated that there were more than 300 children in each picture. So where were these two schools located?

Well, the school in the picture, above, in 1924 was known as the State School of Mount Lawley and located on the current TAFE site in Lord Street.

The picture, below, of the Inglewood State School was the forerunner of the present-day Mount Lawley Primary School and was located in Second Avenue.

But the names and venues of our local schools over the years have been quite convoluted and confusing. A brief overview of the primary schools at the four locations used is as follows:

a) Lord Street, Mount Lawley

In 1905, this school opened as the Norwood Primary School (aka Forrest Park Primary School). In 1921 it was renamed as the Mount Lawley Primary School, i.e. three years before the above-mentioned newspaper article. But in 1944, the primary school was closed and became the Mt Lawley Junior Technical School. This was then renamed as Forrest Junior Technical School on the 22nd August 1947 to mark the centenary of the birthday of the first Premier of WA Sir John Forrest. The school was finally demolished in 1964 to make way for the current TAFE building.

b) Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

In 1912, the Inglewood State School opened in the Anglican Mission Hall belonging to St Patrick’s church between First and Second Avenues.

c) Second Avenue, Mount Lawley

In 1914, Inglewood State School located in Beaufort Street moves to the current site in Second Avenue and it is renamed Mount Lawley Primary School in 1951 to avoid confusion between Inglewood and North Inglewood Primary Schools.

d) 34 Normanby Road, Inglewood

This school opened as North Maylands Primary School in 1927, and was renamed North Inglewood Primary School in 1933. In 1985, it is further renamed to Inglewood Primary school.

If anyone knows of former students and has pictures or anecdotes of the early days of these schools, then please contact us at mountlawleysociety@gmail.com. Any information would be gratefully received.