in 1911, the school was split into one primary and two secondary schools: fort street public school, fort street boys' high school and fort street girls' high school. due to space limitations at observatory hill, in 1916, the boys' school was moved to the school's present site, on taverner's hill, petersham. the girls' school remained at observatory hill until 1975, when the two schools were amalgamated to form the current co-educational school at petersham. during that time, its grounds continued to be consumed by the growing city; for example, the sydney harbour bridge, which opened in 1932, took most of the playground. fort street public school remains at observatory hill.