State School 3888 opened as Gardiner Central in 1915, on a site bordered by Nash and Kent Streets. The school developed a rich tradition of scholarship, supplying students to both Melbourne High and MacRobertson Girls High over the years. Many prominent Melbourne citizens began their education at Gardiner Central. However, in 1987 the Years 7 and 8 classes ceased, and in 1992 the school closed altogether. The school was demolished soon after and the land sold for $1,805,000. Most of the site became the Noel Miller Centre, a mecwacare aged-care facility.
Then
Now
Furthermore
While the Noel Miller Centre occupies most of the former school site, a sliver of land was retained as Gardiner Primary Reserve. The City of Stonnington has erected a commemorative plaque for the Tooronga Closer Settlement Estate which predated Gardiner Central School. The Malvern Historical Society expands on the story in Walk into History 2.
Links
Gardiner Central School No. 3888 Past Students – public Facebook group
Malvern Historical Society – Stonnington, public Facebook group with an interest in local schools
Stonnington History Centre – the catalogue includes a wealth of material for Gardiner Primary School