Journey into the Junior School For many past and present students at Camberwell Grammar, their journey here began in the nurturing environs of the early years’ programs of the Pre-Prep and Prep classes. In 1908, when Camberwell Grammar first moved to the Burke Hill site, the School established a Preparatory School for its youngest students, known as ‘the Tinies’, in the School residence. Demand for schooling in the early years continued to grow and, according to School Historian and Archivist, Dr David Bird, once the School moved to Mont Albert Road, a Preparatory School building was constructed at the front of the property in 1936 which began to take on students under the age of six. By 1944, then Headmaster Henry Tonkin insisted to the Council with some urgency that extra accommodation was needed on-site, particularly a Kindergarten room as space to accommodate the younger students was becoming a
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concerning issue, with the School forced to utilise a ‘playroom’ in neighbouring Kingussie and another room at Frognall, a RAAF station, in Mont Albert Road. With the arrival of Headmaster Michael Searle in 1950, an arrangement was struck with the St Barnabas Anglican Church in Balwyn Road to accommodate a new Camberwell Grammar Kindergarten off-site, firstly in the Church Hall and then in a separate classroom from 1952. The youngest members of the School remained off-site until 1961 and a new wing for the expanding Preparatory School was constructed at Mont Albert Road. This new wing included facilities for the Kinders, or now Prep class, who were finally
