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Sylvania Heights Public School is situated on spacious grounds in the Sutherland Shire, Sydney, New South Wales. There are approximately 550 students in 21 classes from Kindergarten to Year 6, including classes that support students with additional needs.
Sylvania Heights Public School enjoys the strong support of its community and has maintained a reputation for high academic, cultural and sporting achievements. The school has an environment where each individual is challenged to meet their true potential. This is achieved through thorough planning and implementation of a broad range of programs that permit children to discover their strengths and pursue their interests. All endeavours of the school are based on the foundation of strong student welfare programs.
We as a school are committed to fostering in students a love of learning and equipping each individual with ‘life long learning skills’. We take great pride in the diversity of programs on offer at the school and believe we have achieved a balance of priorities that are greatly supported by our community. A feature of the school that often attracts comment is the degree of care shown between students and staff. The school environment reflects harmonious relationships in a highly creative and productive atmosphere.
At Sylvania Heights Public school every child is known, cared for and valued. Through innovative quality teaching, our students are empowered to be successful learners who are respectful and resilient.
School History
The traditional owners of Sylvania are the Dharawal Aboriginal people and their archaeological heritage is evident in a number of registered middens, burial and art sites in rock shelters on the Georges River.
After European settlement, this land was acquired by John Connell Laycock as a Crown grant. Thomas Holt (after whom Holt Road is named), a prominent landowner, financier and politician, acquired it a few years later as part of the Holt-Sutherland Estate, some 13,000 acres.
The name of the suburb relates to its original wooded vegetation. The word "Sylvania" comes from the Latin word sylvan or sylva which means "forest land".
Thomas Holt built Sutherland House on the foreshore of Gwawley Bay in 1818, on the eastern side of Sylvania. He established the Sutherland Estate Company in 1881 and a village grew here, with a post office opening in 1883. The school opened in 1884 but closed in 1891 and was not reopened until 1925.
Local historians tell us the current Sylvania Heights Public School site was previously known as Miss Tutor’s Farm. Miss Tutor lived alone without running water in one room with lots of animals. When she passed away the Department of Education bought the block and moved the school to the new site from the original site on Sylvania Road.
The NSW School History Database indicates that Sylvania Heights Infants School opened in January 1953, closing in December 1954.
Sylvania Heights Public School was officially opened on 3 March 1955 by the Honorable R. J. Heffron. MLA (NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education).
We welcome community members with historical photographs, facts or information about the history of our school to contact our office to share your knowledge, memories and memorabilia.
