Joy Burrows and Maureen Grace share a lifelong friendship that originated in kindergarten at Mount Beauty and remains solid as the school celebrated its 50th anniversary on Saturday.

Mrs Burrows said they were just 14 when the school opened as Mount Beauty High in 1964.

Before then, everyone studied at Mount Beauty Primary, which included two years of secondary education, before leaving school.

“I remember carrying all the desks across the oval when we moved into the new school,” Mrs Burrows said.

“And we had to pick up every single rock off the grass area at the front of the school to make it nice for the opening.”

The school was just one building at the time with almost 250 students.

Mrs Grace said the headmaster wanted to keep it looking new.

“I can remember the headmaster Mr (Doug) Bennett was so proud of the new building that he would stand at the door and watch that we all wiped our feet three times on the mat before we were allowed to enter to keep it clean,” she said.

More than 300 people from as far afield as Western Australia and Cairns turned out for the celebrations.

Past students sung the old school song and compared their school days with a few of the 172 students now enrolled.

The principal from 1971-73, Michael Constable, said he had forgotten how beautiful the school was.

“The facilities are much better and the setting is absolutely idyllic,” he said.

“There was an art and craft block built when I was there and since then there has been a drama and music building and the undercover area outside over the two basketball courts.

“I’m astounded by the wide range of activities kids are offered now — it was an excellent day.”