Celebration 150 years in the making

Preparations are underway for Mount Samson State School’s 150^th anniversary celebrations, with past students, teachers and parents encouraged to join in the festivities.

All the fun will be held on Saturday, September 7 from 10.30am-4pm, which will include a family picnic, games, food, live entertainment, raffles, and more.

Teacher Emma Madge says there will be plenty of activities for young and old to enjoy.

“On the day there will be an old period-style classroom set up where a teacher will be doing demonstrations, as well as a walk of fame with memorabilia from the school, community and historical society,” Emma says.

“We will also have an art gallery set up displaying work by current students, class performances honouring songs of the past, as well as performances by our choir and junior and senior bands.”

P and C President Ellena Stone says there will also be a fun sideshow alley set up featuring old-fashioned school fete games – think ring a bottle, lob a choc, and mystery jars.

“There will also be a local’s lane – with artisan market stalls, roaming street performers, a rock wall and face painting for the kids to enjoy, a roll call with the youngest and eldest students in presence, and food trucks.”

There will even be an opportunity to purchase some school memorabilia such as a community cookbook, tea towels and stubby coolers

In an excerpt from the cookbook, Principal Susan Hughes mentions how proud she is to lead the school during this historic year.

“It is my great honour to be the principal of Mount Samson State School in its 150^th year of educating the young people of Mount Samson and its surrounds,” she says.

“Even before arriving at this beautiful school in 2019, I viewed it as a wonderful gem hidden in the hills, and it has certainly lived up to this reputation.

“Starting in 1874 as a small provisional school where the community provided the building and the government provided the teacher, the school grew and changed over the years, not only in location, but in size.

“Mount Samson has grown from one school building that contained the entire school to the large learning precinct it is today.

“Today, we have a community of learners - 255 strong - that continues to uphold the traditional values of a small school but with all the opportunities of the modern world.

“While the views remain as spectacular as they would have been 150 years ago, the learning precinct new houses a contemporary administration building, 12 inviting classrooms for our Prep to Year 6 students, a modernized computer lab, a library that offers texts in all versions (print to multimodal), a student wellbeing centre for access during break times, air conditioning in all learning areas, digital technology for all students and staff to use to expand learning beyond the classroom walls, and multiple beautiful outdoor learning spaces, including a well-maintained oval, playgrounds, kitchen gardens, and an outdoor classroom.

For more information about the 150^th anniversary celebrations, email [email protected]

To see more photos, click through the gallery below. 

From humble beginnings to an enduring icon

During its 150 years of existence, Mount Samson State School has had many name and location changes, but the spirit of the small tight-knit community has remained constant.

In the 1870s, the Queensland Government ran a system of provisional schools whereby parents provided a building, and the government provided the teacher.

Samsonvale Provisional School was opened in 1874. Lessons initially took place at Samsonvale Homestead, which was the residence of the pioneering Joyner family.

Lessons were later held in a barn situated on Kriesch’s Farm, owned by Nathaniel Harrop, with James Spellman as the teacher.

Over the following years, lessons were held in various barns which were not required for farm use, with Nathaniel as the accompanying teacher.

A purpose-built school was constructed in 1877 near the cemetery, with John Jackson Hogg as the teacher.

By the end of 1880, Samsonvale Provisional School was split, and a building was constructed further up Kobble Creek and renamed Kobble Creek Provisional School.

A school was also constructed on private land at ‘The Basin’ and opened on August 9, 1880, called Samson Creek Provisional School. The enrolment at this time was 15.

A change in government policy saw Kobble Creek and Samson Creem become state schools in 1909.

On February 28, 1910, a new school was opened opposite the old, named Samson Creek State School, with 25 pupils attending.

In 1925, the Samson Creek building was moved to its present site and called Mount Samson State School, providing education to 61 children.

Due to delays in the repositioning of the school, classes were held in the railway goods shed at Mount Samson Station until the school was ready for occupation on April 18, 1925.

The original school building still stands and houses their fully equipped computer lab, chaplains’ office, technology support and HPE office.

The last 25 years has seen the addition of a purpose-built administration building, a large covered outdoor area including a new tuck shop area and toilet block, a modern library with deck space, the Anne White Pavilion, new storage sheds, new classroom spaces, and redeveloped playgrounds for both junior and senior students.

There is also an edible native garden bringing back plants originally grown in the area, and a Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden where budding gardeners plant, nurture, grow and cook a range of fruits and vegetables.

Currently in 2024, there are 255 students enrolled, 25 teaching staff, six teacher aides, 1 school officer, two administration staff, one part time IT and chaplain, three cleaners, and a visiting psychologist and guidance officer.