ACT Heritage Library Manuscript Collection

HMSS 0153 Canberra Nursery School Records

Scope and content notes

Call Number	HMSS 0153
Collection	Canberra Nursery School Records
Date Range	1944-1952
Quantity	0.09m (1 Manuscript boxes)
Access Conditions	open
Copying Conditions	with attribution
Related Collections	HMSS 0141 Canberra Preschool Society Incorporated Records

The Canberra Nursery Kindergarten Association, to “promote a knowledge and understanding of the preschool child and to further the establishment of a public kindergarten in Canberra” was instituted in 1943. It changed its name to the Canberra Preschool Society in 1955 reflecting the expansion of the government / community preschool model into the suburbs of Canberra.

Canberra Nursery School at Acton, was Canberra’s first nursery / pre-school. The Nursery School building had originally been the isolation block of Canberra Community Hospital, but government funding enabled it to be refurbished along the lines of the Lady Gowrie Child Centres. It was officially opened by Her Excellency, Lady Gowrie on 2 April 1944. The first headmistress was Miss Hinsby. The building was in use as a nursery school until 1952 when it became a primary school.

Box List

Box 1 Visitors' Book 02/04/1944-1952