Established in 1849, it is one of the oldest government schools in Australia, and is operated by the New South Wales Department of Education.

The board decided to create two model schools, one for boys and one for girls.

In the following year the school began to train new teachers buying portable cookery facilities.

[3] In 1905 five women began to train to teach cookery with Hannah Rankin including Emily Winifred Savage.

At the beginning of each year, House Captains are elected by the student body.

Some other notable Fort Street Public School alumni include Emily Winifred Savage who learned cookery under Hannah Rankin in 1905.

[14] Australian politicians who were alumni include Arthur Grimm, Henry Hoyle, James Shand, John Daniel FitzGerald, Patrick Quinn and Richard McCoy.