West Ryde Public School

West Ryde Public School is situated in the hunting grounds of the Aboriginal tribe, the Wallumedegel, whose territory was known as Wallumetta. In 1798, Governor Hunter granted land to William Balmain, the Assistant Surgeon General of the First Fleet. The school site is located between his two grants "Henderson Hill" and "Meadow Bank." Later landowners included John Bennett and Major Edward Darvall. The suburb of West Ryde began to emerge with the coming of the railway in 1868, and then subdivision of the Bennett's Meadow Bank Estate about 1884. The first official request for a school was lodged with the Department of Education in 1907. After many requests and applications a Public School was opened at West Ryde on the 26 February 1917. Originally the school was called "Meadowbank" and it wasn't until 1930 that the name was changed to West Ryde Public School. In 1935 approval was given to construct a separate infants Department. Today, despite several major fires, both the original 1917 building and the 1935 building accommodate the children who attend the school. The opening of the assembly hall in 1963 was a magnificent achievement and is a permanent reminder of the strong support the parents gave to the school. Many of our students have reached the highest standards in their studies and on the sporting fields. Our current School Houses were named after prominent Australians who not only excelled on the sporting field but also provided excellent examples of determination, fair play and leadership. They are Heather McKay, Dawn Fraser, Sir Donald Bradman and John Newcombe. We are proud of the past and the values and traditions it has given and we look forward to the future with confidence and optimism. Today West Ryde is a modern, well resourced school that provides a full and challenging curriculum to its students who represent a myriad of nationalities and cultural backgrounds.