History

Pallara State School has a proud history that stretches back more than six decades. What began as a small rural school has grown into one of the fastest-growing primary schools in Queensland.

From Ritchie Road to Pallara

Ritchie Road State School, later renamed Pallara State School in the 1970s, first opened its doors on 24 August 1959 at 282 Ritchie Road, Pallara — now the site of our Junior Campus.

The original school building on the original school location (Now the Junior Campus)​

The school proudly served the local farming community for over 50 years. As the population grew and housing developments spread across the southern suburbs of Brisbane, the need for a larger, modern facility became clear.

At the end of 2015, the school closed its original campus and relocated to a brand-new site at 39 Ritchie Road, Pallara QLD 4110, ready to welcome students into purpose-built learning spaces designed for a new generation.

The entry of the new school in 2016

The new school logo being displayed out the front of the new school site in 2016​

In 2024, it was announced that the former Pallara State School site at 282 Ritchie Road would be partially redeveloped and re-opened in 2026 as a dedicated Junior Campus, catering for the school’s youngest learners and responding to continued enrolment growth.

Our Place and Meaning

The name Pallara means “flat land.” Our school is proudly located on the lands of the Yuggera Nation.

Our logo features the squirrel glider (bagu) — a native species that can often be seen in the one-hectare environmental zone behind our school, part of a tributary of Oxley Creek, which flows into the Brisbane River.

Opening in 2016, Pallara State School became one of 17 Public–Private Partnership (PPP) schools in Queensland — designed to deliver world-class learning facilities for growing communities.

Growth and Community

Situated on a seven-hectare site within the Brisbane City Council area and Education Queensland’s Metropolitan South region, Pallara State School opened its new campus in 2016 with 317 students.
Since then, our community has grown rapidly as Pallara, Heathwood, Forest Lake, and Forestdale have transformed from open farmland into vibrant, family-focused suburbs.

To support this growth, the school operates under an Enrolment Management Plan, ensuring that families living within our catchment are guaranteed a place at their local school.

Key Milestones