Tacoma Public School

What is now the Tacoma school site was originally part of the two square miles owned by John Larnock. The area extended north from the riverbank to Tuggerawong and from the foreshores of the lake westwards towards Pollock Avenue. Most of the land at that time was swamp. It is not known if John Larnock actually lived on the land.

Later, in about 1875, much of the land was owned by William Alison, and early in this century it was part of the Warner Estates.

An old survey map shows the area as Berrydale, and later what is now called Tacoma was known as East Wyong. After the railway line to Wyong was opened, the fishermen, who had previously operated at Canton Beach, formed a small settlement near the rivermouth on the southern side, and from then on the word Tacoma came into general use.

In about 1905 a small school was established there on the southern side, and continued in use for more than 60 years, until it was closed and the present school was built in Hillcrest Avenue in 1968.