Whilst this was being constructed on 10th Street West, ten students were taught in a leased building on 3rd Avenue East in 1856.

In part its success was put down to civic pride and public investment in modern and uncommon facilities such as a science laboratory.

By 1951 the original building was in poor condition, and the third floor assembly hall had actually been condemned because of the fire hazard.

The City Council had turned down three requests for space at Victoria Park to build a new school, and the issue finally went to a plebiscite in December 1951.

Less than six months later the issue was dramatically decided when the older part of the school was destroyed by a spectacular blaze (May 1952).