In 1903 the primary building was completed to house the 545 students enrolled.  There were only ten teachers and only six classrooms.

Many of our local Botany streets such as Swinbourne and Chegwyn Streets were later named after some of the families that attended the school.  Many of our students came from families whose parents were fishermen, tanners, market gardeners and wool scourers as the Botany community was once very different.

The school used to be next to a tannery that once caused a fire that spread into the school on the 18th of October 1926. During this disaster the fire chief lost his life trying to put out the flames. Several buildings were also lost.

Cattle used to wander into the playground.  Much of the playground was useless for playing on because it was very smelly with lots of mosquitoes. 40 men spent six months putting dirt in the grounds to raise the level of the playground over a metre so that it could be used. The weather shed which is now there used to be where our library now stands.

In recent times the school has gone through many further changes including the removal of dangerous 80 year old coral trees, the erection of a new assembly hall and the inclusion of latest technology in class rooms.

Through all these changes, we recognise those students, parents, teachers and community members who have contributed to our school's rich history and our exciting future.

1938

The original three lancet windows have been insensitively removed and replaced with two larger square windows. The adjoining teacher's residence still stands as does the two storey boarding house next to the school (extreme right of picture) The two storey school building at left is now complete. It opened in 1903 with only two classrooms, one on each floor. Additional class and staff rooms, at the rear of the building, opened in 1911. The Moreton Bay Figs appear to have been severely cut back. In the foreground are the Botany Road tramlines.