Hamilton Primary School, Visagie Street, Pretoria

A beautiful Victorian building tucked into an avenue of majestic Jacaranda trees is the home of Hamilton School. This school in the heart of Pretoria has a diverse and proud history which spans a period of more than a hundred and eighteen Years. The learners of this school are drawn from a feeder area which is represented by a vibrant and colourful community. Various academic, cultural and sporting activities are the basis of the schools mission to nurture and lead every primary school learner to develop to his or her full potential.

Mr W J Berg (Headmaster 1969 – 1975) was instrumental in having our . In June 1975 an application was made to the Director of Education to have the school declared a National Monument. A full history of the school was compiled by a Mr Myburgh and a Mr M.R. Gas. Berg had unfortunately retired when the declaration was made in the Government Gazette on 25 February 1977. The status of National Monument was celebrated in May 1977 with a Cheese and Wine function at which Mrs Atteridge, Mrs Chapman and four of the Headmasters were present. Since January 1977 we have resuscitated the P.T.A., we have established an After-School Centre to assist our many working mothers; re-introduced Inter-House Sports and introduced a breakfast feeding scheme for some of our less fortunate pupils. We have many new South Africans who are soon assimilated into the community. The school badge has been improved by altering the “H” to the accurate Old English “H”. We have acquired two new vehicles, giving us three mini buses to transport our pupils on the many excursions undertaken. Honours Boards have been introduced recording the Head Boy and the Head Girls. A Std V, Valediction Service was first introduced in December 1977. More recently we acknowledged our ties with the past by having the original name in Afrikaans: “Staats meisjes school” repainted where it was at the turn of the Century. In August 1977 the Aid Class was transferred from Sunnyside Primary, with Mrs S Viljoen in charge. On 11 August, Mr W H du Plessis visited our school. Mr du Plessis boasts the unique achievement in that he is the only person who has taught at the three Pretoria schools which were built before the Anglo-Boer War – Gymnasium, Central Junior High and Hamilton. On 25 August 1978, the entire school assembled in front of the school to raise the flag and to fly it half mast to pay respect to the late State President, Dr Nico Diedericks who passed away in the Tygerberg Hospital. A special assembly was also held. 1979 started off with the unveiling of the first honours board. This was attended by the pupils who had received merit awards at the Valediction Service, and their parents. The building was 80 years old in 1979. This milestone was celebrated with a presentation of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat”. Other activities included an anniversary ball at the Hellenic Club, a carnival and a “crocodile” led by Miss Theiler (82) and her sister, Dr G. Theiler (81) who had both attended school in this building, 64 years earlier (1915). On 11 March 1982 the Carmody Memorial Bursary fund was opened in memory of Andrew, David and Graeme Carmody who died tragically in a motor car accident. Their mother Mrs Margaret Carmody became involved in the school and took over the running the After-School Centre in February 1981 and is still the supervisor today – 1999.

After much fund raising a swimming pool was built which was put to use for the first time in February 1984. The official opening ceremony took place on 2 March 1984.