Brisbane Girls Grammar School
Encyclopedia
Brisbane Girls' Grammar School, is an independent
, secular, day school
for girls, located in Spring Hill
, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland
, Australia
.
Founded in 1875, the school
is one of eight grammar school
s in Queensland which were established under the Grammar Schools Act
of 1860. The school originally opened as a branch of the Brisbane Grammar School
, with fifty students, under the direction of a Lady Principal, Janet O'Connor. Today the school caters for approximately 1,150 students from Years 8 to 12.
Brisbane Girls' Grammar is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia (AGSA), and is a member of the Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association
(QGSSSA).
in Sydney and Melbourne. The School opened as a branch of Brisbane Grammar School
with fifty female students, under the direction of a Lady Principal, Janet O'Connor, in premises on George Street, Brisbane. Within six months the School outgrew these premises and subsequently moved to Wickham Terrace.
By July 1882, the School was well established and a decision was made to separate from Brisbane Grammar School, so as to operate independently under the Grammar Schools Act
. Plans were also made to move the School to its present location on Gregory Terrace. In 1884, the Main Building, designed by architect
Richard Gailey
, was opened to one hundred students.
The school's motto
is Nil Sine Labore, Latin
for "Nothing Without Work". It was adopted from the Brisbane Grammar School, which in turn borrowed it from Horace
's Second Book of Satires. The school badge is an open book on a shield with the school motto on a ribbon underneath. The open book was also borrowed from Oxford University, where over half of the original staff of Brisbane Grammar School were originally secured.
The school uniform
consists of a white blouse, long navy blue skirt, and royal blue tie. In winter the girls are required to wear black stockings and the school blazer outside of school. The summer uniform substitutes socks for stockings, and does not require the blazer. The school badge and respective house badge are required to be worn on the tie. Officially, the girls are required to wear a royal blue ribbon in their hair throughout the whole year. The school colour, royal blue, was adopted from Brisbane Grammar School, as a result of a tradeoff between the Oxford and Cambridge colours, light blue and dark blue.
. There are now nine houses, each named after past principals and teachers of the school as well as previous chairmen of the Board of Trustees:
Beanland (Pink)
Named after Sophia Beanland, the former Head Mistress of the School from 1882 to 1889. The House was first established in 1964 when the School had ten Houses, each with approximately fifty students. Beanland House and four other Houses were discontinued in 1966, as the system of ten Houses was not manageable. The House was reintroduced in 1994.
England (Blue)
Named after Mr John Edwyn England, one of the longest serving trustees of the school. He was a member of the trust for 20 years and was Chairman of the Board from 1952 to 1961.
Gibson (Purple)
Originally formed in 1964 and lasted until 1973 when the House System was discontinued in favour of a horizontal division based on year groups. Gibson House was officially re-constituted in February 1980 after a gap of seven years and is named in honour of Major John Lockhart Gibson, M.D. one of Brisbane's best known doctors. Gibson was appointed Vice-Chairman of the School Board of Trustees in 1906. From 1929, until his resignation in 1940 he served as Chairman of the Board.
Griffith (Red)
Originally established in 1964, and combined with Mackinlay House in 1966 to form a larger Griffith house. It continued in this form until 1973, when the house system was discontinued. Griffith House was officially re-constituted in February 1980 and is named in honour of Sir Samuel Walter Griffith
, former Chairman of Trustees, Premier of the Colony of Queensland, Chief Justice of Queensland and the first Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia.
Hirschfeld (Orange)
Named after Dr. Konrad Hirschfeld (1904–1987) who served as Chairman of the Board of Brisbane Girls Grammar School between 1963 and 1976. Dr. Hirschfeld was involved in many aspects of the medical profession and also had an enduring passion and commitment to education. Hirschfeld House was formed in 1980 in recognition of his services to education and the School.
Lilley (Green)
One of ten houses established in 1964. Lilley House was named after Sir Charles Lilley
, the former Premier and Chief Justice of Queensland, and the founder of Brisbane Girls Grammar School. Particularly influential in the educational arena, Sir Charles Lilley had a substantial influence on the Education Act 1875, and was responsible for the introduction of free education in Queensland in 1870.
Mackay (White)
Started in 1998, and named after Margaret Annie Mackay, a pupil at the School in its early days. She became a teacher at Brisbane Girls Grammar School and finally was appointed Head Mistress in 1916. She retired in 1924.
O'Connor (Maroon)
Named after Brisbane Girls' Grammar School's first Headmistress, Mrs Janet O'Connor. From 1875 to 1877, O'Connor led the fledgling School which was then located in George Street. O'Connor House was established in 1964 and was discontinued in 1966. In 1990, it was re-established and adopted maroon as its colour.
Woolcock (Yellow)
First established in 1964, and named after John Laskey Woolcock
in recognition of his contribution to the School and to education in general. In 1966, Woolcock and O'Connor Houses combined keeping the name Woolcock. In 1973 the House was discontinued, but was re-established in 1980.
The building in which the old cafeteria, as well as music rooms, were housed were demolished to make way for a new twenty five meter heated pool. This pool was built on steel poles to allow for an undercover area under the pool. The pool is used for the swimming lessons as part of the school's physical education curriculum, whilst also providing a training area for the swimming and water polo teams. The pool was opened in November 2009.
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
, secular, day school
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
for girls, located in Spring Hill
Spring Hill, Queensland
Spring Hill is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 2 km north of the central business district. Parts of Spring Hill can be considered to be extensions of the Brisbane CBD.-Schools:Spring Hill is serviced by a number of schools...
, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Founded in 1875, the school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
is one of eight grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
s in Queensland which were established under the Grammar Schools Act
Grammar Schools Act
The Grammar Schools Act 1860 was passed by Queensland's first parliament in 1860 and allowed for the establishment of a grammar school in any town where £1000 could be raised locally. Between the years 1863 and 1892, ten grammar schools were opened under the auspices of the Act...
of 1860. The school originally opened as a branch of the Brisbane Grammar School
Brisbane Grammar School
Brisbane Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for boys, located in Spring Hill, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
, with fifty students, under the direction of a Lady Principal, Janet O'Connor. Today the school caters for approximately 1,150 students from Years 8 to 12.
Brisbane Girls' Grammar is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia (AGSA), and is a member of the Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association
Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association
The Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association Inc is a sporting association for girls from eight private girls' schools, one co-educational private school, and one co-educational public school, based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
(QGSSSA).
History
Brisbane Girls Grammar School was founded in March 1875, six years before women were admitted to universitiesUniversity
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in Sydney and Melbourne. The School opened as a branch of Brisbane Grammar School
Brisbane Grammar School
Brisbane Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for boys, located in Spring Hill, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
with fifty female students, under the direction of a Lady Principal, Janet O'Connor, in premises on George Street, Brisbane. Within six months the School outgrew these premises and subsequently moved to Wickham Terrace.
Grammar Schools Act
The Grammar Schools Act 1860 was passed by Queensland's first parliament in 1860 and allowed for the establishment of a grammar school in any town where £1000 could be raised locally. Between the years 1863 and 1892, ten grammar schools were opened under the auspices of the Act...
. Plans were also made to move the School to its present location on Gregory Terrace. In 1884, the Main Building, designed by architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Richard Gailey
Richard Gailey
Richard Gailey, Sr. was an Irish-born Australian architect.Gailey was born in Donegal, Ireland and emigrated to Australia in 1864, becoming an influential and prolific architect in colonial-era Brisbane...
, was opened to one hundred students.
The school's motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is Nil Sine Labore, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "Nothing Without Work". It was adopted from the Brisbane Grammar School, which in turn borrowed it from Horace
Horace
Quintus Horatius Flaccus , known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus.-Life:...
's Second Book of Satires. The school badge is an open book on a shield with the school motto on a ribbon underneath. The open book was also borrowed from Oxford University, where over half of the original staff of Brisbane Grammar School were originally secured.
Uniform
The school uniform
School uniform
A school uniform is an outfit—a set of standardized clothes—worn primarily for an educational institution. They are common in primary and secondary schools in various countries . When used, they form the basis of a school's dress code.Traditionally school uniforms have been largely subdued and...
consists of a white blouse, long navy blue skirt, and royal blue tie. In winter the girls are required to wear black stockings and the school blazer outside of school. The summer uniform substitutes socks for stockings, and does not require the blazer. The school badge and respective house badge are required to be worn on the tie. Officially, the girls are required to wear a royal blue ribbon in their hair throughout the whole year. The school colour, royal blue, was adopted from Brisbane Grammar School, as a result of a tradeoff between the Oxford and Cambridge colours, light blue and dark blue.
House system
As with most Australian schools, Brisbane Girls' Grammar utilises a house systemHouse system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
. There are now nine houses, each named after past principals and teachers of the school as well as previous chairmen of the Board of Trustees:
Beanland (Pink)
Named after Sophia Beanland, the former Head Mistress of the School from 1882 to 1889. The House was first established in 1964 when the School had ten Houses, each with approximately fifty students. Beanland House and four other Houses were discontinued in 1966, as the system of ten Houses was not manageable. The House was reintroduced in 1994.
England (Blue)
Named after Mr John Edwyn England, one of the longest serving trustees of the school. He was a member of the trust for 20 years and was Chairman of the Board from 1952 to 1961.
Gibson (Purple)
Originally formed in 1964 and lasted until 1973 when the House System was discontinued in favour of a horizontal division based on year groups. Gibson House was officially re-constituted in February 1980 after a gap of seven years and is named in honour of Major John Lockhart Gibson, M.D. one of Brisbane's best known doctors. Gibson was appointed Vice-Chairman of the School Board of Trustees in 1906. From 1929, until his resignation in 1940 he served as Chairman of the Board.
Griffith (Red)
Originally established in 1964, and combined with Mackinlay House in 1966 to form a larger Griffith house. It continued in this form until 1973, when the house system was discontinued. Griffith House was officially re-constituted in February 1980 and is named in honour of Sir Samuel Walter Griffith
Samuel Griffith
Sir Samuel Walker Griffith GCMG QC, was an Australian politician, Premier of Queensland, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia and a principal author of the Constitution of Australia.-Early life:...
, former Chairman of Trustees, Premier of the Colony of Queensland, Chief Justice of Queensland and the first Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia.
Hirschfeld (Orange)
Named after Dr. Konrad Hirschfeld (1904–1987) who served as Chairman of the Board of Brisbane Girls Grammar School between 1963 and 1976. Dr. Hirschfeld was involved in many aspects of the medical profession and also had an enduring passion and commitment to education. Hirschfeld House was formed in 1980 in recognition of his services to education and the School.
Lilley (Green)
One of ten houses established in 1964. Lilley House was named after Sir Charles Lilley
Charles Lilley
Sir Charles Lilley was a Premier and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland. He had a significant influence on the form and spirit of state education in colonial Queensland which lasted well into the twentieth century.Lilley was born at Newcastle on Tyne, England, the son of Thomas...
, the former Premier and Chief Justice of Queensland, and the founder of Brisbane Girls Grammar School. Particularly influential in the educational arena, Sir Charles Lilley had a substantial influence on the Education Act 1875, and was responsible for the introduction of free education in Queensland in 1870.
Mackay (White)
Started in 1998, and named after Margaret Annie Mackay, a pupil at the School in its early days. She became a teacher at Brisbane Girls Grammar School and finally was appointed Head Mistress in 1916. She retired in 1924.
O'Connor (Maroon)
Named after Brisbane Girls' Grammar School's first Headmistress, Mrs Janet O'Connor. From 1875 to 1877, O'Connor led the fledgling School which was then located in George Street. O'Connor House was established in 1964 and was discontinued in 1966. In 1990, it was re-established and adopted maroon as its colour.
Woolcock (Yellow)
John Laskey Woolcock
John Laskey Woolcock was a barrister and Supreme Court judge in Queensland, Australia.-Early life:Woolcock was born in St Clement, Cornwall, England, the son of the Rev. William Woolcock, a Bible Christian missionary, and Elizabeth née White...
in recognition of his contribution to the School and to education in general. In 1966, Woolcock and O'Connor Houses combined keeping the name Woolcock. In 1973 the House was discontinued, but was re-established in 1980.
Recent projects
In 2003 BGGS and m3architecture began creating plans for a new Creative Learning Centre. The master plan for the school incorporated a new learning space for the school's 4 main creative departments. During the construction of the CLC more than 6000 cubic metres of earth were excavated, 4198 cubic metres of concrete and 484 tonnes of steel have been used in the creation of this iconic development. After 3 years of planning and just over 18 months of construction The Cherrell Hirst Creative Learning Centre opened on Grammar's Gregory Terrace campus in May 2007. The Creative Learning Centre (CLC) increased the learning space available to BGGS students by 25%. The $25 million dollar building has 6 stories housing music, drama, computer technology classes and art facilities in addition to introducing a new gallery space and staff rooms. The building is visible from within the BGGS campus, from the inner city bypass and from Brisbane Grammar School. Also in this building are a new cafeteria and cafe, which were opened to replace the old cafeteria.The building in which the old cafeteria, as well as music rooms, were housed were demolished to make way for a new twenty five meter heated pool. This pool was built on steel poles to allow for an undercover area under the pool. The pool is used for the swimming lessons as part of the school's physical education curriculum, whilst also providing a training area for the swimming and water polo teams. The pool was opened in November 2009.
Notable alumnae
- Air Vice Marshal Julie HammerJulie HammerAir Vice Marshal Julie Hammer AM, CSC was the first woman to be promoted to one-star rank and later two-star rank in the Australian Defence Force, and the first woman to command an operational unit in the Royal Australian Air Force .-Early life:Julie Margaret Hammer was born in Brisbane on 17...
– EngineerEngineerAn engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,... - Gwen HarwoodGwen HarwoodGwen Harwood AO , née Gwendoline Nessie Foster, was an Australian poet and librettist. Gwen Harwood is regarded as one of Australia's finest poets, publishing over 420 works, including 386 poems and 13 librettos. She won numerous poetry awards and prizes...
– PoetPoetA poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary... - Professor Dorothy HillDorothy HillDorothy Hill, AC, CBE, FAA, FRS . She was an Australian geologist, the first female professor at an Australian university, and the first female president of the Australian Academy of Science.-Education:...
– GeologistGeologistA geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using... - Judith RodriguezJudith RodriguezJudith Catherine Rodriguez AM is a contemporary Australian poet.- Life :Rodriguez was born Judith Catherine Green in Perth and grew up in Brisbane. She was educated at Brisbane Girls Grammar School, and graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Arts...
(née Green) – PoetPoetA poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary... - Myf ShepherdMyf ShepherdMyfanwy Amy Elizabeth Shepherd , known professionally as Myf Shepherd, is an Australian fashion model. She was born in Cairns, Australia in 1991. She auditioned for Cycle 4 of Australia's Next Top Model, but was rejected by the judges...
– International Model - Shelley CraftShelley CraftShelley De Billinghurst Craft and known professionally as Shelley Craft is an Australian television personality....
– Television Presenter - Betty ChurcherBetty ChurcherBetty Ann Churcher, AO is best known as director of the National Gallery of Australia from 1990 to 1997. She was also a painter in her own right earlier in her life. She won a travelling scholarship to Europe and attended the London Royal College of Art...
- Artist and former Director of the Australian National Gallery (attended Somerville HouseSomerville HouseSomerville House is an independent, boarding and day school for girls, located in South Brisbane, an inner-city suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
from age 7-15)
See also
- List of schools in Queensland
- Education in AustraliaEducation in AustraliaEducation in Australia is primarily the responsibility of the states and territories. Each state or territory government provides funding and regulates the public and private schools within its governing area. The federal government helps fund the public universities, but is not involved in setting...
- Queensland Great Public SchoolsQueensland Great Public SchoolsThe Great Public Schools Association of Queensland Inc. is an association of nine south east Queensland secondary schools established in 1918. With the exception of Brisbane State High School, GPS schools are all-boys schools. GPS competition is open to male competition only...