The original Tokai Primary School building, located at the entrance to Uitsig off Spaanschemat River Road was completed in 1902, as the Educational Gazette of 1902 states that the school was opened at the start of the 3rd term of that year. It was a ‘3rd class public undenominational school’ and in its first term, there were already 56 pupils, all of them white.20 The original farm school was most likely a modest structure, built by the Lategans, as the land on which it was situated remained in the family’s ownership for another 15 years. The historic Tokai Primary School was surrounded by large Gum trees.
It has a contextual significance as a landmark along the Spaanschemat River Road scenic route, it also has intrinsic architectural, historical and social significance and serves as a tangible reminder of Constantia and Tokai’s more recent social history. It is conservation-worthy and is considered to be a Grade IIIB heritage resource. It is important that its southern and eastern facades, as viewed from the scenic route, remain intact and uncluttered and the building’s landmark status is not diminished by new development or landscaping in the vicinity that would visually compete with it.
