It may be named after a Frenchman, but the Aboriginal roots run deep at La Perouse.

About a third of the small eastern Sydney suburb’s population are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, an ethnic mix more than reflected at historic La Perouse Public School where it is close to 50 per cent.

Opened in 1868, it is one of the oldest schools in Sydney, and these days one with a seemingly very bright future.

When current principal Lisa Haller arrived at the end of 2018 there were just two classes and 36 students, the school seemingly falling victim to changing demographics and the suite of options for schooling in the area.

Now there are five classes and 117 students, the school earning the kind of five-star reviews on Google usually associated more with fine dining restaurants.

“There are actually quite a few schools in the area, so I think it is great that people are starting to choose their local school,” Ms Haller said.

“It’s kind of like a country school. I’ve been here a while and absolutely love it. There is no reason to go anywhere else.”

It’s perhaps no surprise that the school has been a long-standing base for IndigiGrow, the native plant initiative and social enterprise that propagates and sells plants and bush foods as well as employing 10 local Aboriginal staff.

But with its sweeping grounds and incredible cultural heritage, Ms Haller had the sense the school could be doing even more and that has now come to fruition with a new cultural learning space and yarning circle.

As a teaching principal until recently, Ms Haller struggled to find the time to apply for grants, but her hard work and burgeoning status of the school changed that.

With the backing of a small but mighty P&C and support by community partners including IndigiGrow and the Gujaga Foundation, the school secured a NSW Government Community and Place grant to help construct the space.

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, David Harris, attended the launch event to celebrate its transformation into a thriving hub for hands-on education in native plants, cultural knowledge, and connection to Country.

Joining him were school students, staff, parents and carers. Peter Cooley from IndigiGrow also demonstrated how to propagate banksia pods using fire.

For former student and proud Bidjigal and Wadi Wadi woman, Aunty Barbara Simms-Keeley, the new space was testimony to how the Aboriginal culture has been embraced.

“We used to sing the French national anthem here,” said Aunty Barb, who attended the school in the 1950s.

“But we’ve come a long way - we get to learn our own language now.”