Copies of this book are available from the school. It is essential reading for any past or present student, parent or teacher of this school or anyone interested in the history of the Happy Valley area.

"The first mention of a school at Happy Valley appears in the South Australian Government Gazette of 1852. The school was conducted by James Holder and opened with an enrolment of nine boys and nine girls. By the end of 1852, there were ten boys and fifteen girls. Enrolment was not compulsory and children were frequently needed to assist on their parents' holdings, particularly during harvest season.

It is not known exactly where the original school was situated. Mr. Holder owned a cottage and two acres of land to the north of Candy's Road adjacent to The Lane. Mr. Holder retired in 1858. The enrolment reached fifty-two during those seven years.

Mr. Richard Appleton became Head Teacher in 1859. It is presumed the school moved into the Valley when Mr. Appleton began to teach. This building was on the road that is the continuation of Candy's Road; now under the reservoir.

The Happy Valley School continued under various teachers until 1896, about the time that work began on establishing the Happy Valley Reservoir. The final teacher was William T. Hills. For the next eighteen months the children either attended O'Halloran Hill or Clarendon schools. Some attended no school until the new school was opened   in September 1898."

"In 1897, when the old school had to be replaced, due to the construction of the reservoir, Harry and Polly Mason donated two acres of land for the new school. Harry was the fifth son of George and Harriet Mason who migrated from England and established themselves in Happy Valley in 1854. Polly Mason (nee Appleton) was the niece of Richard Appleton who had previously been Head Teacher of Happy Valley School.

The land was situated on Red Hill Road which was later to be named Shack Hill Road, Government Road, School Road and finally Education Road. The school was set on land measuring 264 feet wide by 330 feet deep. The school room (20' x 15') and the attached school house were built during 1898.

The new school's first teacher was Miss Jane Shepherd , who had transferred from Sellick Hill. Jane lived in the teacher's residence with her sister, who was the sewing teacher.The first enrolments were taken on 26th September 1898. The first student enrolled was Charles Bonney."

The school continued on the east side of Education Road under many Head Teachers and Principals.

"The former school on the eastern side of Education Road closed for the last time on 14th December 1979 with an enrolment of 290 students. With enrolments increasing, a new school was built directly opposite the old site, and students arrived on 11th February 1980. Enrolments were to peak during 1991 at 774 students."

Over the years the school has developed from its small rural beginnings in the nineteenth century to the large metropolitan school that exists today. However, much of that rural charm and supportive community involvement has survived the passing of time. Anyone who has been part of this evolvement can feel rightly proud of Happy Valley School today. It is a school that is justly proud of its history and traditions, and it looks forward to the future with confidence and great expectation.

Among the many great highlights of our school was the Centenary Celebrations held in 1998 to mark one hundred years of school on Education Road. Click below to see lots of information about this important celebration.

For more detailed information about the school's history, please obtain a copy of "Children of the Valley."  Copies available from the school.