11/06/2026
We are extremely proud of our heritage. today and see why families have trusted Arcadia Public School for generations and why our students love learning here every day.
For generations, our school has been at the heart of the community, providing a nurturing environment where students are known, valued, and inspired to succeed.
Who remembers their days at Arcadia Public School?
Before it became the much-loved local school many know today, classes first began in a simple hall in 1894 under the name Galston Heights Public School. At the time, the area we now call Arcadia had already gone through a few identities, once known as North Colah and later Galston Heights and Upper Galston.
It wasn’t until 1895 that the name Arcadia was chosen, inspired by a visit to the idyllic region of Arcadia in southern Greece. Locals felt the name perfectly captured the beauty and character of their own community.
Just one year later, land was secured for a permanent school site, two acres purchased from sisters Henrietta Best and Eveline May Wells. By 1897, a new school building stood proudly on the site, officially opened by the Minister for Public Instruction, the Hon. Jacob Garrard. Today, Arcadia Public School still stands on that very same land, a lasting connection to the area’s early days.
📸 This photo, taken in November 2020 by Paul Smith, shows the school as it stands today.
Discover more local stories at https://hornsbyshire.recollect.net.au/