Our History
Jells Park Primary School was opened in 1979 to service the growing area of Wheelers Hill, within the bounds of the Monash Council. It derived its name from the nearby parklands of Jells Park and is situated on Petronella Avenue, just a stone’s throw from the iconic Wheelers Hill Hotel.
The lands around Wheelers Hill were used for farming, specifically Pig Farms and Orchards. The close proximity of Jells Park and the Dandenong Creek (Tanjenong Koot) allows for an environment of abundant native plants and trees and a diverse range of wildlife, all within the heart of suburbia.
Prior to settlement these were the lands of the Wurundjeri tribes of the Kulin nation who looked after the environment for over 30,000 years.
The school was initially built around a central courtyard, which included the magnificent Elm trees, and bordered by the main ‘modular’ administration building that also housed the staffroom, toilets, GP room, library and the art room. The other boundaries of the courtyard were covered by 2 blocks of 4 portable classrooms for the 200+ students, and the oval. As the school continued to grow the main ‘senior’ building was constructed in 1985. Additional portable classrooms were placed in the grounds over the years to accommodate the growth of the Wheelers Hill area and enrolments coming to the school from the fringes of Mulgrave, Scoresby and Rowville. The next major development was the full-sized gymnasium, opened in 2011, as the school numbers soared over 500.
The school opened under the leadership of Principal Geoff Higgs and had a staff of just 16. In its 40 year history, Jells Park PS has had just 8 Principals, the longest serving being Gillian Brookes from 2003 to 2015. The school now has almost 50 staff and 550 students.
The school colours have always been red and blue, with just 2 logos being used over the time. The original logo used from 1979 to 2001 is shown here, the current logo has been used since 2001.
a mural in gp room created and painted by jenny laidlaw represents the history and cultural influences of jells park primary school
