Our History

Newcastle East Public School is proud to be recognised as Australia’s oldest continually operating public school, with a history stretching back to 1816. The first school began under Henry Wrensford, a convict schoolmaster on conditional pardon, teaching the children of the early Newcastle settlement in a modest slab hut before moving into the vestry of Christ Church.

As the city grew, so did the school. A major milestone came in 1878, when the foundation stone of the present Gothic Revival schoolhouse was laid by Government Architect George Allen Mansfield. After careful restoration in the early 1980s, the building once again became the heart of learning for Newcastle East students and continues to be used today.

For more than two centuries, Newcastle East Public School has adapted to change while remaining true to its purpose: to provide high-quality public education and a strong sense of community for every generation of learners.

We acknowledge the Awabakal people, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our school stands, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

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Learning

Find out about our approach to learning and supporting students to progress.

Travel to school

Learn about local transport options and how to get here safely.