St Margaret's School, Melbourne
Encyclopedia
St Margaret's School is an independent
, non-denominational
, day school
with a co-educational primary school and girl's only senior school. The school is located in Berwick
, a suburb of Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia.
Established in 1926, the school has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for approximately 850 students from Pre-Prep to Year 12.
In 2006, St Margaret's School Council announced its decision to establish a brother school
for St Margaret's. This school opened in 2009 named 'Berwick Grammar School', eventually catering for boys in Years 5 to 9.
Presbyterian Church. In 1927 the School moved to Mayfield Avenue, Malvern
, and in 1931 leased Stonnington Mansion
, the former Governor's residence. In 1929, the high school moved to its current site following the purchase of the Berwick Presbyterian Girls' School. This branch of the main School was established in 1930, with a purpose-built boarding house, Campbell House.
The whole School was moved to Berwick in 1941, as a rural boarding school
, with a small number of day pupils. In 1947, the School was purchased by parents and Old Girls from the headmistress, Miss Gipson, who subsequently retired.
St Margaret's School was incorporated in 1948 and the first Council established. Records show 80 pupils were at the School during this time.
The 1960s saw boy's enrolled for the first time, up to Year 3, in recognition that many parents wanted a family atmosphere for their children's first years at school. In 1978, the school, as with many others at the time, decided to close its boarding facilities.
In 2010 it was announced that Dr Helen McDonald was retiring, this became affective in the second term of 2011. Mrs Paula Anderson, who originally lived in Queensland, is now the headmisstress of St Margarets's and it's brother schol Berwick Grammer School or BGS.
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...
, non-denominational
Non-denominational Christianity
In Christianity, nondenominational institutions or churches are those not formally aligned with an established denomination, or that remain otherwise officially autonomous. This, however, does not preclude an identifiable standard among such congregations...
, 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...
with a co-educational primary school and girl's only senior school. The school is located in Berwick
Berwick, Victoria
Berwick is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Casey. At the 2006 Census, Berwick had a population of 36,420....
, a suburb of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia.
Established in 1926, the school has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for approximately 850 students from Pre-Prep to Year 12.
In 2006, St Margaret's School Council announced its decision to establish a brother school
Sister school
The term sister school has several meanings:*a definite financial commerce between two colleges or universities*two schools that have a strong historical connection...
for St Margaret's. This school opened in 2009 named 'Berwick Grammar School', eventually catering for boys in Years 5 to 9.
History
St Margaret's School was established in 1926, with 18 pupils, in the manse of the ToorakToorak, Victoria
Toorak is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 5 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district located on a rise on the south side of a bend in the Yarra River. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stonnington...
Presbyterian Church. In 1927 the School moved to Mayfield Avenue, Malvern
Malvern, Victoria
Malvern is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stonnington. At the 2006 Census, Malvern had a population of 9,422.-History:...
, and in 1931 leased Stonnington Mansion
Stonington mansion
Stonington is a private residence and former Australian Government House located in the Melbourne suburb of Malvern, at 336 Glenferrie Road. The house was built for John Wagner, a partner in Cobb and Co coaches...
, the former Governor's residence. In 1929, the high school moved to its current site following the purchase of the Berwick Presbyterian Girls' School. This branch of the main School was established in 1930, with a purpose-built boarding house, Campbell House.
The whole School was moved to Berwick in 1941, as a rural boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
, with a small number of day pupils. In 1947, the School was purchased by parents and Old Girls from the headmistress, Miss Gipson, who subsequently retired.
St Margaret's School was incorporated in 1948 and the first Council established. Records show 80 pupils were at the School during this time.
The 1960s saw boy's enrolled for the first time, up to Year 3, in recognition that many parents wanted a family atmosphere for their children's first years at school. In 1978, the school, as with many others at the time, decided to close its boarding facilities.
In 2010 it was announced that Dr Helen McDonald was retiring, this became affective in the second term of 2011. Mrs Paula Anderson, who originally lived in Queensland, is now the headmisstress of St Margarets's and it's brother schol Berwick Grammer School or BGS.
Notable alumnae
- Jennifer ByrneJennifer Byrne-Early life:Byrne attended St Margaret's School, Melbourne as a boarding student, and began her career in journalism at age 16 as a cadet at Melbourne's The Age newspaper. At age 23 she became the paper's San Francisco correspondent, and later a feature writer....
– ABCAustralian Broadcasting CorporationThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
journalist - Janette Robyn Heather McMaster – Former Executive DirectorExecutive directorExecutive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA)Committee for Economic Development of Australiais an independent, bipartisan, non-profit forum and think tank. Its expressed aim is to "promote national economic development in a sustainable and socially balanced way." Sydney Morning Herald economics editor Ross Gittins has described CEDA as seeking to "inform the public debate without lobbying"...
(Qld), Former National DirectorExecutive directorExecutive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of TrusteeTrusteeTrustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
Relations for CEDA; Recipient of the Centenary MedalCentenary MedalThe Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
2003
See also
- List of schools in Victoria
- List of high schools in Victoria
- Victorian Certificate of EducationVictorian Certificate of EducationThe Victorian Certificate of Education or VCE is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete high school level studies in the state of Victoria, Australia. Study for the VCE is usually completed over two years, but it can be spread over a longer period in some cases...