Our school history

An Afrikaans Parents Committee was established during the late fifties. There was a small group of parents who had a real need for an Afrikaans school in this area. Mrs Jo Naude was one of the pioneers. The Afrikaans-speaking learners attended Malvern Primary School, which was parallel medium at that stage.

Parkside School was built in the meantime, but the request to make it an Afrikaans-medium school was denied because the Department was not convinced that there were enough Afrikaans learners. The co-operation and enthusiasm of the pioneers were admired by former Administrator Mr A E Trollip, and the road to Pietermaritzburg was well travelled.

Through persistence, permission was granted to build a separate Afrikaans school. The Department purchased land for this purpose, but it was an overgrown area with a deep ravine and no road from Malvern. The parents’ application for Coronation Road to be extended was denied, but they never lost hope.

Mr P Naude offered part of his land as a path for the children. Parents cleared the area over weekends. Mr W van Niekerk and C van Heerden used their engineering skills to build a small bridge from bamboo poles and wooden planks until the municipality built a stronger bridge. When the application for a bus service was denied, parents and teachers transported learners in their own cars.

Despite these problems, a new school opened on 25 July 1961 as the former Werda S.P. School, now West Park School. It opened with 334 learners under principal Mr W van Niekerk. As enrolment grew, a separate Junior Primary school was built. Werda Bewaarskool opened on 25 January 1966 with 360 learners and is the present Queensburgh Primary School. The principal was Ms M E Kruger and Ms Leonore Strobos was Deputy Principal. On 21 July 1970, Ms PML Van Rensburg became principal for five years.

On 1 July 1975, Ms Leonore Strobos became principal for 16 and a half years. There were still no playgrounds or garden. From 1975, attempts were made to purchase four adjacent stands on the Beldon Drive side. As enrolment increased and temporary classrooms reduced the available grounds, the matter was taken to Parliament.

Through the mediation of Mr N J Pretorius MP, the purchase of four lots was approved. They were purchased on 4 September 1980, fenced in 1984, and planted with grass and trees. A pathway was laid in 1985 and a new entrance was made on Beldon Drive. Ms Marietjie v. d Ahee became principal on 1 July 1992 and served until 31 January 1996.

Ms J E Barnard became acting principal from 1 February 1996 and received the permanent principal’s post on 1 July 1997. On 20 October 2005, the Education Department granted permission for the school to become a parallel-medium school and change its name from Werda Junior Primêre Skool to Queensburgh Primary School. The school became English medium in 2010 after the number of Afrikaans-speaking learners declined. As we move confidently into the future, we remember the fighting spirit and perseverance of our founders.