History

In 2022, we celebrated sixty years of providing public secondary education to our Oak Flats community.

Oak Flats High School is located on the land of the Wodi Wodi people, part of the greater Dharawal nation, who continue to practice a rich cultural connection to this land dating thousands of years. The land around Lake Illawarra began to be occupied by British colonists and emancipated convicts from the early 1800s. A grant of 1,200 acres of land on the southern shores of Lake Illawarra, where Oak Flats would later be built, was secured by Army Officer John Horsley from Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1821. This land was soon acquired by D'Arcy Wentworth and became part of his 13,000 acre Peterborough Estate.

The name Oak Flats dates back to the mid 1800s when it was known as Oak Flats Run describing a relatively flat area of land with many she-oak (Casuarina glaucas) trees being used as a cattle run by John Terry Hughes. The trees were cut down for use as pit props in nearby coal mines and for domestic use. The land began to be sub-divided in three stages from the 1920s on estates called: the Lake Illawarra Township Estate, the Kembla Vista Estate and the Panorama Estate. The area became a popular tourist holiday destination during the 1920s. Through the years of the Great Depression in the 1930's development slowed down and people squatted in tents and makeshift structures. It wasn't until post World War II with the influx of European, mainly Dutch and German migrants that the development of Oak Flats took off and the need for local schools became apparent.

The original twenty acres of land on which the school was built was part of Edwin Bonser's estate resumed under the Public Works Act of 1912 for the public purpose of primary and secondary schools 25th May 1960 from Edwin's executrix Mrs Dorothy May Bonser. Two more lots on The Esplanade were resumed 19th May 1961 from Mr Terrence R McDonald and Mr Henry G Surrige to allow access to the school site from The Esplanade. A further six acres of land were resumed from Mrs Dorothy May Bonser, on 15th November 1961 for the school's septic system, where the school farm is now.

Mr Thomas Irvine became the second appointed principal of Oak Flats High School in 1970 and remained in that position until his retirement at the end of second term 1975. The school Assembly Hall was built during 1970 as a result of repeated representations by the Parents and Citizen's Association. Mr Garth Green took over from Mr Irvine as acting principal for the remainder of 1975. With the help of a Commonwealth grant the new Library-Laboratory building was built in 1975.

Mr Kevin Whitehead arrived as the third principal of Oak Flats High School at the beginning of 1976 and became the longest serving principal staying in that role to 1987. Agriculture was added as a school subject with a new agriculture shed in 1977. A covered way was also constructed at that time along with the car park, while the driveway into the school remained single laned. In 1978 the school ovals were commenced with leveling, turfing and drainage. The prefect system was changed, and the Student Council was introduced in 1979. 

Twenty-two demountable buildings dotted the landscape to house 1250 students and 94 staff as the school celebrated its 25th anniversary. It was 1987 and the school was looking back at how far it had come. It now boasted a dedicated computer room and complete video link-up; new courses such as childcare, newsmakers, photography, drama, and society and culture were taught.; girls could now participate in woodwork, metal work and tech. Sports also broadened from team sports to include surfing, sailing, aerobics, ten-pin bowling, lawn bowls, cycling and roller-skating. Discos replaced school dances as the most popular entertainment and form of fundraising.

By the time Mr Maxton Ross began as principal in February 1988 the surrounding area continued to grow with enrolments swelling to over 1300 students.  The much-awaited bus bay at the back of the school was completed in 1989 along with an electricity upgrade, seeing eye security system and a new telephone system. 1989 also saw the implementation of the Fair Discipline Code which no longer involved the use of Corporal Punishment and the dreaded cane. The overcrowded situation at Oak Flats High School was finally alleviated by the opening of Albion Park High School in 1991 and enrolments dropped to the more manageable size of 850 students.

Oak Flats High School Principals

1962 - 1969 Mr Rex Penfold
1966 - 1967  Mr David R Turnbull (Relieving)
1969 Mr D G Thompson (Relieving 4 months)
1970 - 1975 Mr Thomas Storen Irvine
1975  Mr Garth B Green (Relieving)
1976 - 1987 Mr Kevin Barry Whitehead
1988 - 1994 Mr Maxon J Ross
1995  -2005 Dr Grahame W Wagner
2005  Mr Ken Griffiths (Relieving 6 months)
2005 - 2007 Mr Glenn Isemonger (Relieving)
2008 - 2011 Mr Col Harris
2011 Mr Jeff Jacobs (Relieving 7 months)
2012 - 2015 Mr Keiran Spillane
2016 - 2017 Ms Angela Byron (Relieving)
2017 - 2018 Mr Stephen Heslop
2018 - Ms Angela Byron