Founding In 1919, there were 270 children of majority primary school age living in Burnside Homes, which was established by
James Burns. Logistically, marching the students back and forth from Parramatta North School every day was a challenge, which led to an offer by
Sir James Murdoch, chairman of the Burnside Board from 1923 to 1937, to building a school on the Burnside site (Murdoch donating the school). He contributed 18,000 pounds in total towards the school, and it was named Murdoch School for a period of time. Under the agreement that all primary age children at Burnside Homes would attend the school, the Department of Education was leased the property, and building of the school began for 17,000
pounds. The hall still exists today. On 21 April 1922, Her Excellency Lady Forster opened the school (Wife of
governor general at the time,
Henry Forster), Peter Catliffe was principal of the school from 2003 until 2015 until retiring. Gae Bromwich was principal from 2015–2022. Gill Bennet was the relieving principal of the school from 2022, and became the official principal in April 2023 after Bromwich was permanently appointed as principal of
Matthew Pearce Public School. It was officially announced by an email to parents and by the weekly newsletter. The school commemorates James Burns and James Murdoch through their sports teams, Burns and Murdoch. == Campus ==