#50YearsAgo Sugar farm becomes a school
Warner Beach Primary School was built on stilts.
THE farm school at Warner Beach was originally a sugar farm which belonged to the Du Breuli family. Mr Butt, a family friend, and Mrs Maude Woods purchased the farm in 1906 and named it “Gwenval”.
A rectangular barn with a thatched roof, wooden floor and two-foot high iron walls provided the first classroom. Miss Featherstone was the first teacher.
Mrs Woods, after many trips to Pietermaritzburg, persuaded the government to provide funds for a state aided school.
Building soon commenced on the 10-acre plot, which was set aside when the area was surveyed in 1907. Warner Beach Primary was opened on April 1, 1916.
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Miss Gladys Grundy joined the staff in 1928 and served for 22 years.
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