Click the images below to explore the history of The School Magazine
Fun fact: In some parts of Australia, these early issues were delivered by horse and cart!
Fun fact: With a wartime shortage of books, The School Magazine is often the only source of pleasure reading for many children.
Fun fact: Each magazine soon gains its own mascot: The Count, Blastovna, Orbie and Titania.
Fun fact: You can compare our modern issues to their large print counterparts by clicking the button below.
During the Great Depression, The School Magazine continues publication.
Under the editorship of Noreen Shelley, the magazine enters a new artistic era.
The magazine expands production to four different grade levels.
1929–1933
1960s
1959
1960
1939–1945
1983
1916
Fun fact:TSM collaborated with the Health Department to feature a story that helped popularise visible yellow raincoats in public schools.
Fun fact: Issues shrink to one-quarter of their usual size to save on paper and ink.
Fun fact: This change marks the beginning of differentiated reading for Years 3 to 6.
The School Magazine begins publishing in both large print and Braille formats.
The NSW Department of Education releases the first 16-page issue ofThe School Magazine of Literature for Our Boys and Girls.
The now-familiar magazine names Countdown, Blast Off, Orbit and Touchdown are introduced.
Despite the challenges of WWII, The School Magazine continues without interruption.
Click the images below to explore the history of The School Magazine
Fun fact: By 1990, the covers go full colour for the first time.
Fun fact: Teaching guides now accompany every issue! Click below to explore current free resources.
Fun fact: New features include interactive activities and engaging student portal.
Fun fact: Soon after, audio and video recordings of texts are added. Click the button below to watch on YouTube!
The School Magazine celebrates its centenary with the publication of For Keeps: A Treasury of Stories, Poems and Plays.
The School Magazine publishes Tales of All Kinds by then Australian Children’s Laureate, Ursula Dubosarsky.
The magazine becomes a full-colour publication.
2020
2016
1999
2019
1986
2025
2008
Fun fact: Hundreds of young readers attend a special birthday party in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden.
Fun fact: TSM hosts its first virtual literary festival, The Wonderful World of Words.
Fun fact: Around this time, comic serials start appearing as a regular feature.
The first digital editions of The School Magazine are launched.
The School Magazine transitions from black and white to two-colour printing.
Teaching guides are introduced to accompany The School Magazine.
The School Magazine launches a new website with an improved online experience for teachers and students.
Students from across NSW form a giant ‘100’ in celebration of The School Magazine’s centenary at the Royal Botanic Garden in 2016.
The School Magazine mascot characters bring personality and humour to every issue. This short comic is from Countdown, 1990.
The first full-colour covers of The School Magazine, released in 1990, mark a vibrant milestone for all four editions.
The School Magazine proudly supports accessibility – shown here in A3 large print (left), Braille (top right) and standard print (bottom right).
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Transcript
Click the images below to explore the history of The School Magazine
Fun fact: In some parts of Australia, these early issues were delivered by horse and cart!
Fun fact: With a wartime shortage of books, The School Magazine is often the only source of pleasure reading for many children.
Fun fact: Each magazine soon gains its own mascot: The Count, Blastovna, Orbie and Titania.
Fun fact: You can compare our modern issues to their large print counterparts by clicking the button below.
During the Great Depression, The School Magazine continues publication.
Under the editorship of Noreen Shelley, the magazine enters a new artistic era.
The magazine expands production to four different grade levels.
1929–1933
1960s
1959
1960
1939–1945
1983
1916
Fun fact:TSM collaborated with the Health Department to feature a story that helped popularise visible yellow raincoats in public schools.
Fun fact: Issues shrink to one-quarter of their usual size to save on paper and ink.
Fun fact: This change marks the beginning of differentiated reading for Years 3 to 6.
The School Magazine begins publishing in both large print and Braille formats.
The NSW Department of Education releases the first 16-page issue ofThe School Magazine of Literature for Our Boys and Girls.
The now-familiar magazine names Countdown, Blast Off, Orbit and Touchdown are introduced.
Despite the challenges of WWII, The School Magazine continues without interruption.
Click the images below to explore the history of The School Magazine
Fun fact: By 1990, the covers go full colour for the first time.
Fun fact: Teaching guides now accompany every issue! Click below to explore current free resources.
Fun fact: New features include interactive activities and engaging student portal.
Fun fact: Soon after, audio and video recordings of texts are added. Click the button below to watch on YouTube!
The School Magazine celebrates its centenary with the publication of For Keeps: A Treasury of Stories, Poems and Plays.
The School Magazine publishes Tales of All Kinds by then Australian Children’s Laureate, Ursula Dubosarsky.
The magazine becomes a full-colour publication.
2020
2016
1999
2019
1986
2025
2008
Fun fact: Hundreds of young readers attend a special birthday party in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden.
Fun fact: TSM hosts its first virtual literary festival, The Wonderful World of Words.
Fun fact: Around this time, comic serials start appearing as a regular feature.
The first digital editions of The School Magazine are launched.
The School Magazine transitions from black and white to two-colour printing.
Teaching guides are introduced to accompany The School Magazine.
The School Magazine launches a new website with an improved online experience for teachers and students.
Students from across NSW form a giant ‘100’ in celebration of The School Magazine’s centenary at the Royal Botanic Garden in 2016.
The School Magazine mascot characters bring personality and humour to every issue. This short comic is from Countdown, 1990.
The first full-colour covers of The School Magazine, released in 1990, mark a vibrant milestone for all four editions.
The School Magazine proudly supports accessibility – shown here in A3 large print (left), Braille (top right) and standard print (bottom right).