History

The original school in Gatton was a private school run by the Very Reverend Henry Brun. During the period 1870 to 1874, the community of Gatton, with the assistance of the Very Reverend Henry Brun, wanted to change the school status from 'private' to 'non-vested'. A 'non-vested' school would receive Government aid in the form of school equipment and payment of a teachers' salary and the Church would supply the school buildings.

In 1875, the Gatton community worked towards the establishment of a vested school. That is, the Government's General Board would not only pay for the teacher, but select him or her. The local people would be required to provide one third of the cost of building construction. After much correspondence on the part of Mr. J.J. Stubbersfield with the Government's Board of General Education, the board saw their way clear for a Schoolroom, Amenities Block and School Residence to be erected on the hill above where the old Gatton Memorial Pool was located.

The Gatton State School was opened on the 31 January 1876 by Mr. John Morrison, the first teacher at the school. Later, a High School for the Lockyer District was opened on 16 January 1913.

​In 1913, the Gatton Intermediate School was formed from the State School to bridge the gap between primary and secondary school. The then Grades VI and VII were taken from the primary section and given compulsory instruction in vocational work (manual training in wood and metal work for the boys and domestic science for the girls) and more elementary science.

By 1934 (during the Great Depression), attendances had fallen to such a degree that payment of a salary to a separate High School Principal seemed unjustified. In October 1934, The Director of Education, Mr. B.J. McKenna recommended that the High School be closed and that a High Top be established in conjunction with the State School. This took effect from the 1 January 1935 and Mr. F.T. Milne took charge of the newly combined school.

During the first half of 1935, the school complex was removed from the pool site and rebuilt on the present State School Reserve. Only the Head Teacher's Residence remained behind on the hill where the Gatton Swimming Pool is now situated.

There have been many changes and developments to the school since its installation at this site. Some of these are listed below:

1956 - 1957                         Construction of sports oval including tennis courts

1956 - 1957                         Bee House erected by volunteer labour ('Honey House')

1961                                       Lockyer District High School opened

1974                                       Library opened by Sir Gordon Chalk

1975                                       Levelling of North Oval

1975                                       Pre-school centre officially came into use (now used for Prep)

1976                                       Administration Block built

1991                                       Original State School buildings burnt down

1992                                       Modern, double storey classrooms built

1993 onwards                   Addition of several new classroom blocks

2007                                       Start of the Prep Year of schooling

                                                Junior playground constructed

2009                                       New amenities block built

2010                                       School Hall and Multi Media Centre built

2014                                       Senior playground constructed

2015                                       Completion of installation of air conditioners across all classrooms

2016                                       I Block building refurbished

                                                Sensory room installed

2017                                       STEM Lab commenced development

                                                Fans installed into school hall and fridges provided to all classrooms

2019                                       Educational playground markings installed

                                                Front office refurbished

2021                                       Positive Behaviour for Learning signage installed

2022                                       Mural (Lake Apex themed) completed in Covered Play Area

​Gatton State School has had a long and proud history. Building on the original efforts of Mr J.J. Stubbersfield, many parents and citizens have worked long hours in the past to secure up-to-date amenities and resources for the school. This has given the school a strong foundation on which to continue to develop as we proceed through the twenty-first century.​

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