The History of Evanston Gardens Primary School

Founded in 1908, Evanston Gardens Primary School has a rich history of education spanning over 100 years.

We are located on the traditional lands of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide plains.

The school was originally named ‘Gawler Blocks School’. Families of workers employed in in flour milling, engineering and smelting industries in Gawler grew food and raised animals on ‘block’ allotments.

The first school was held in the church adjacent to the school (now a private residence). The original school buildings, built in 1923, comprised of a single school room and the head teacher’s residence. These buildings now form part of the administration building and resource centre.

Many of the original families gave their names to the surrounding streets in the Evanston Gardens neighbourhood.

In 1946 a community monument hall was constructed next to the school. This now adjoins the Evanston Gardens Branch of the Gawler Library.

The school continued to expand in the post war years, with many new transportable buildings added.

Capital works upgrades were officially opened in 2019, comprising of extensive renovations to the resource centre and administration, landscaping, and the construction of a general learning area.

The school works with governing council and the community to continue to maintain and upgrade facilities and grounds to provide a modern learning space into the future.