History of Dapto Public School

Dapto Public School opened in August 1876. Mr Joseph Bayliss was the first teacher to teach at the school. Initially the school operated in a local church hall, while the first permanent building was built on land donated by Patrick Hill Osborne.

The land was on the Princes Highway and is now the site of the Dapto TAFE campus. The enrolment at the time was 38 children. The new permanent school building was opened on 2nd April 1877. It cost £1 492.

As Dapto grew demand for a new school at a more central site was frequently discussed. A site on the corner of Byamee & Moombara Streets was acquired in 1905. However local economic conditions meant that building of the new school did not begin until 1927, and was finally occupied on 11th June 1928. It consisted of 3 classrooms, an office and storeroom and cost £2 806.

Rapid growth of population in the West Dapto/Horsley area in the late 1990’s & early 2000’s led to demand for Dapto Public School to once again move to a place more central for its children and parents. On 21st August 2003 then Education Minister Andrew Refshauge approved the relocation of Dapto Public School to Sierra Drive, Horsley. The new school was occupied in late January 2004.

Now in its fourth “home” and with current enrolments of close to 800 students, Dapto Public School is an example of quality public education. It reflects the values of its community and encourages every child to seek the best within them.

"We Work as a Team"

The first site of Dapto Public School

The second school site for Dapto Public School

Dapto Public School at its Byamee Street Site

The kindergarten classrooms at Byamee Street

Dapto Public School in its current position in Sierra Drive, West Dapto

The original Dapto Public School stone plaque

School Sports houses

DIMOND (Blue) - named after Bob and Peter Dimond, both ex-pupils of our school who represented Australia many times in Rugby League.

WONGAWILLI (Green) - named after the coal mine which opened here in 1888. (One of the first coal mines to produce a million tons of coal a year in 1962).

BEACH (Red) - named after William Beach, a local blacksmith who became the world champion in rowing in 1884. He trained in Mullet Creek and defended his title 6 times before retiring, undefeated.

MARSHALL (Yellow) - Sarah and Henry Osborne came to Dapto in 1829 to take up a 2,560 acre land grant they called Marshall Mount (after Sarah’s maiden name). They were very involved in public affairs and St Luke’s Church.

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