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History: The school was opened in 1873 with fifty three boys and one hundred and fifty nine girls and was known as the Girl's Model School. It was sited in Chapel Street, Pietermaritzburg. Due to the increase of pupils, it was soon found that a larger building was needed to accommodate staff and pupils. A site was obtained in Berg Street and arrangements was made by the public Works, Department for Alfred Singleton, from the firm of architects Walker & Singleton, to design the plans for a new school. Building operations commenced immediately and the move from the original school took place during the 1890's before the school was completed. The classes were held in an old building on the site. The Headmistress at this stage was Miss. E.J. Jarvis.
The building was in the Colonial icon. Narrow classroom wings which surround quads were terminated with simple projecting gables and roofs were punctuated by low dormer ventilators.
Alterations and additions to the building continued and by March 1910, while Miss. K, Charlton was headmistress, there were six hundred pupils. The name of the school was changed at this stage to Berg Street Government School and a new wing of three classrooms and two cloakrooms were occupied
In 1911 commercial classes were inaugurated, the classes accommodated in two cottages. In 1912 the secondary department was commenced with Mrs. Rea in charge. The school now covered a wide range of pupils from infants to the age of standard VII, which was known as the continuation class. By 1918 the school had grown to such an extent that Boom Street Infant School was opened and the infant section was transferred there.
Until the Natal Training College was opened Berg Street Government School was a training centre for teachers. During this period in the school history the late Miss. P.E. Plumford who celebrated her 100th birthday in Durban on June 26th, 1963, was headmistress until February 1919.
In 1928 the name of the school was changed to Berg Street Government Intermediate School and in 1941 the name was again changed to its present designation, Russell High School, after Robert Russell, Superintendent of Education from 1878 to 1903.
Visual Description: Double storey school in Classic Rivival style with broseley tiled hipped roof with bargeboards. Wall
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Construction Date: 1890c
Materials: brick : tile
Catalogue: Pmb, 1987, No: , Significance Category: