Brisbane Girls Grammar School

History

Brisbane Girls Grammar School was founded in March 1875, six years before women were admitted to universities 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 a site on 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, Spring Hill. 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 Labour". 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.

In 2007 the $25m, six-level Cherrell Hirst Creative Learning Centre opened, winning several awards including the prestigious Sir Zelman Cowen Award for public architecture in 2008. In 2009 a new 25 metre suspended swimming pool and multi-purpose covered area were completed. The Gehrmann Building, constructed in 1986, was renovated in 2011.

Co-curriculum

Brisbane Girls Grammar offers 19 competitive and non-competitive sports. The School is a founding member of the Queensland Girls’ Secondary Schools Sporting Association (QGSSSA) competition, and participates in a range of Brisbane Club associations as well as operating a comprehensive Interhouse programme.

QGSSSA: Women's gymnastics, athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, cross country, football, hockey, netball, rhythmic gymnastics, softball, swimming, tennis, touch and volleyball. CLUB: Fencing (QFA), Rowing (BRSA) and water polo (BWPI) Lifestyle: Yoga, pilates, rock climbing and aquarobics

The three core music domains (strings, band and choir) offer more than 800 places for students to pursue their musical talents at their specific level of proficiency. Specialist music staff provide instrumental and vocal tuition in group and private lessons.

House system

As with most Australian schools, Brisbane Girls Grammar utilises a house system. The House System provides a framework of support for students during their years at school. The House System originated in 1964, with 10 houses that were amalgamated to 5 in 1966. In 1973 the House System reverted to Interform Competitions, but was reintroduced in 1980. Since then, some of the previously discontinued houses have returned, while new houses have been created. There are currently nine houses, each named after past principals and teachers of the school as well as previous chairmen of the Board of Trustees:

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. Beanland House was reintroduced in 1994.

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.

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.

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.

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.

One of nine 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.

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.

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.

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.

Campuses and facilities

In addition to the main school site at Gregory Terrace, Spring Hill, the school has a Sports Campus in the Brisbane suburb of Fig Tree Pocket and an outdoor education campus, Marrapatta, in the Mary Valley.

Brisbane Campus, Gregory Terrace, Spring Hill

Since 1884, Brisbane Girls Grammar has continually developed their main campus. Recent building projects include the Cherrel Hirst Creative Learning Centre, opened in 2007 to house music, drama, computer technology and art facilities, and a 25-metre suspended swimming pool in 2009. In 2015, to coincide with the introduction of Year 7, the school is building the Research & Innovative Learning Centre.

Marrapatta Campus - Memorial Outdoor Education Centre

The school operates a dedicated Outdoor Education Centre from a campus in the Mary Valley at Imbil, approximately 2 hours drive north of Brisbane.

Rangakarra Recreational and Environmental Education Centre

In 2013, Brisbane Girls Grammar School acquired a 13 hectare site in Fig Tree Pocket, which comprises 2 playing fields and 3 ovals. It is 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from the CBD and is the home ground for sports such as hockey, netball, softball, cricket and touch. The campus is also used to teach environmental sciences, with school groups working with local organisations to rehabilitate areas of ecological significance. The site was officially named Rangakarra Recreational and Environmental Education Centre on 23 May 2015 and the Main Field was renamed the Daphne Welch (1949) Oval in honour of past student and sporting legend Mrs Daphne Pirie (Welch) MBE, AO.

Notable alumnae