The History of Black Forest Primary School: An Overview

Black Forest Primary School stands on the land of the Kaurna people.

Before white settlement, the area was a vast forest made up of swamp oaks, peppermint gums and drooping sheoaks. There were several creeks running to Glenelg and black faced wallabies roamed around with other local fauna.

The area was called the Black Forest because it was thickly timbered and overgrown. It was a locality name rather than a village.

'The Village of Black Forest' was created when William Peacock cut up Section 87, Hundred of Adelaide in 1850 into allotments of 2 acres each. In 1840 the area was settled by Dr C.G. Everard. The Black Forest Inn was built in 1843 on the corner of South Road and Bay Road (now ANZAC Highway).

Less law abiding settlers included highwaymen and cattle stealers who hid in the forest. The highwaymen held up and robbed coaches that travelled along South Road from the coast to Adelaide. The cattle stealers had stock yards where they slaughtered cattle, hidden in the dense scrub.

In 1873 a railway line from Adelaide to Glenelg was built. Tickets could be brought from small shop windows in the area. South Road was still a dirt track with a very narrow strip of bitumen down the middle and tress along the side. There was a blacksmith’s shop on King Street and a farm where Glandore oval is now.

Initially there were only a few houses in the area. Most were built of stone and brick and some of corrugated iron or mud bricks. Number 7 Kertaweeta Avenue still stands. The mud for bricks was dug up nearby. In 1882 there was a further subdivision of this Section. Olive and almond groves were planted.

The area where the school now stands was once a Chinese market garden. Between Victoria Street and Mills Street (Millswood) was one big paddock. The Black Forest became a favourite picnic spot.

In 1903 the area was divided into workmen’s blocks but little further building took place at that time. A railway line to Brighton was built in 1913. After World War 1 houses were built for returned soldiers. Poets’ Corner was settled with street names including Addison, Cowper, Byron, Dryden and Emerson Roads. Houses were built of brick, many with stone fronts.

There were, by this time, many shops along South Road including a greengrocer at 26 Byron Rd. from which deliveries of fruit and vegetables were made. There was a General Store at the corner of Byron and Cowper Roads and a Post Office at the end of Kertaweeta Avenue. There was also a Florist, Butcher, Dentist, Doctor, Delicatessen and several Grocers.

The railway to Glenelg was reopened as an electric tramway in 1929. One could see as far as the red sand hills, and sometimes to the sea from Black Forest.

Black Forest Primary School was opened in 1919, made of bricks from Littlehampton. The first 10 classrooms were built to hold 600 students with girls and boys in separate classes. The woodwork centre was used by other community members. The school had a wood shed and fires were built in the winter to keep warm. As well as sports teams, there was a fife band. There was no canteen but a local bakery agreed to sell food to children over the fence so that they did not have to go out to South Road.. Gardening lessons were commenced in the 1920s. The School developed a good reputation quickly and became a teacher training demonstration school.

Times were tough during the Depression years of the 1930s and many families used food coupons issued by the government. Rubber shoes were allowed instead of leather boots. By 1949, school accommodation was so stretched that the local church hall was used. Boys would carry desks on Monday and take them back on Friday afternoon.

In 1969 a separate Library was built, one of the first in the State.