The Burdekin area with the two major towns of Ayr and Home Hill on either side of the mighty Burdekin River was settled for primary production. The town of Ayr and the Burdekin Shire officially began in 1882. A number of smaller settlements exist around the twin towns and Ayr has always had the largest population. The first school in the Burdekin area was Ayr State School which began in 1886.
World War I, a shortage of teachers and a lack of money were reasons for the delay of a high school in the Burdekin area. Petitions were put forward by the Ayr State School Committee to the Department of Public Instruction in 1913 and again in 1920. In 1926, a visiting Inspector believed a high school could be added to the existing state school and in 1928, a secondary department, offering academic, commercial, domestic science and manual training subjects was attached to the state school. However continued pressure by the Committee on the Department of Public Instruction for the establishment of a separate high school finally resulted in the Queensland Government deciding to build a combined High and Intermediate School on Portion 59;10 acres of land originally set aside for a fair ground and sports area. On 1 March 1937, approximately 271 students marched from Ayr State School to the newly completed Ayr High and Intermediate School. The first Principal was Mr H.W. Sainsbury and the school structure was the brick heritage building facing Wickham Street.
By comparison the first State High School in North Queensland was Townsville State High School and Technical College which opened in the city in 1924. The second State High School in Townsville was Pimlico State High School which opened in 1959. Ayr State High School began soon after the first State High School in Townsville.
