The first school in Wagga Wagga - for many years the only school in Wagga Wagga - was a private school established by Edwin Thompson in 1849. At that stage, there were about a dozen houses in Wagga.

As early as 1949 Rusden, the agent for the National Board of Education, visited the district to investigate the establishment of a school in Wagga. The reception in town was promising, and towards 1851, a school was erected on the southern side of the river, about 300 yards to the west of the Hampden Bridge. However, the school was never used (!!!) - it's opening was delayed by because of a lack of desks and materials, and then it was washed away by a major flood. By 1860, another school was completed (where the current Riverine Club stands) and public Education began in Wagga Wagga.

In 1868 there were suggestions for the purchase of a new site on which another building could be erected, as the old site was described as "wet and sloppy", parts of it being frequently covered with flood water. The result was the holding of a public meeting at the Court House on 30th May, 1869, when it was decided to sell the existing building and land and buy Tompson's cow paddock "on the top of a sandhill", described thus:

"Allotments 9. 10 and 11 of Section 36, in the town of South Wagga Wagga, bounded on the south by Johnston Street, two chains on the south west by Simmons Street, eight chains on the north west by Gurwood Street, two chains on the north east by the south west boundaries of allotments 8 to 12 of the same section."

One anonymous gentleman (later revealed to be A.G. Jones) announced in the Wagga Wagga Advertiser that he would contribute 100 pounds if the sum of 400 pounds was raised by the Wagga Wagga public. At the meeting, F.A. Tompson argued that "Nothing could be of more importance to a district than the proper training of the young and no public duty was more imperative than to provide liberally the ways and means of education." He claimed the current building was 'miserably inadequate' and the site was even worse: "It had been well described as fit only for a morgue, situated as it was, halfway between an hospital and a prison'.

He moved that steps be taken to erect a new and suitable school and residence; the motion was seconded by W Macarthur, a member of the local board. Mr Coburn, the District Inspector of Public Schools, said he thoroughly approved as he believed the school had stood still while the town had gone ahead. He felt that the present school could be sold for 600 pounds and if the locals could raise 400 pounds, the Council of Education would give 800 pounds. This would he a total of 1800 pounds -300 pounds for the new site and 1500 pounds for the building. The meeting endorsed the idea and contributions were taken. Sums of 10 pounds each were contributed by Henry Baylis, Mr Duff, EA. Tompson and William Love and smaller amounts by G Mair, H.B. Fitzhardinge, Henry Moxham, Heath, Hutchinson, Macarthur, Perriman, Dr Robinson, Nixon, Hunter, Wilton, Wiles, Oliver, Coburn, Callagan, Hedditch, Edney, W Mumford, W Leeman,John Cox, W Mitchell, J Bentley, W Macleay and Phillips. A total 103 pounds and 11 shillings was raised.

On October 11, 1869, the Wagga Wagga School Board met to discuss the plans prepared by the architect to the Council of Education, Mr Mansfeld. The plans for a school building were approved. It included one large schoolroom; an infants room, two classrooms providing accommodation for 280-300 and large porches at opposite ends of the building, one for girls and one for boys. The plan for the teacher's residence, however, was not approved as it had only three rooms and a kitchen and the Wagga Wagga Board wanted the residence big enough to accommodate boarders from the district as well as the teacher and his family.

Revised plans for a residence with additional accommodation for nine boarders were later received and approved. Then ensued discussions on the proposed buildings. Residents appear to have been satisfied with the site itself, but not the proposed position of the school on the site.

On 18th November, 1870 the Government Architect informed the Council: "I see no objection to having the school building round so as to make it's front face Gurwood Street - nor do I think that such alterations could materially affect the tenders. Charles Hardy finally received the contract on 27th May, 1871 to erect both the school and residence at a cost of 2115 pounds. In this way plans were made for creating Wagga Wagga Public School or, as it has commonly and affectionately known through all its years, Gurwood Street School.