Melbourne Grammar School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Melbourne Grammar School |
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South Yarra & Caulfield
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Australia
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| Coordinates | 37°50′2″S 144°58′34″E / 37.83389°S 144.97611°E |
| Information | |
| Type | private school, co-educational primary, single-sex boys secondary, day and boarding, Christian school |
| Motto | Latin: Ora et Labora (Pray and Work) |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Established | 1849 (on present site since 1858 – the celebrated date of foundation) |
| Founder | Charles Perry, 1st Anglican Bishop of Melbourne |
| Chairman of Governors | Andrew Michelmore |
| Headmaster | Philip Grutzner |
| Chaplain | Hugh Kempster |
| Gender | Co-educational (P–6) Boys (7–12) |
| Enrolment | 1,782 (P–12) |
| Colour(s) | Oxford Blue (Navy) |
| Affiliation | Associated Public Schools of Victoria G20 Schools |
| Alumni | Old Melburnians |
Melbourne Grammar School is a private Anglican school in Australia. It offers education for students from Prep to Year 12. The school has a co-educational primary section (Prep to Year 6). Its middle school (Years 7-8) and senior school (Years 9-12) are for boys only.
The school has three main campuses. Grimwade House is in Caulfield for younger students. Wadhurst and the Senior School are both located in South Yarra.
Melbourne Grammar School started on 7 April 1858. It was first called the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School. Today, about 1,900 students attend the school. This includes about 120 students who live at the school (boarders).
The school is part of many important groups. It is a founding member of the Associated Public Schools of Victoria (APS). It is also a member of the G20 Schools Group. Three former Australian prime ministers went to Melbourne Grammar School. They were Deakin, Bruce, and Fraser.
Contents
School History
Melbourne Grammar School, often called Grammar, began in 1849. It started as a small school in East Melbourne. Bishop Charles Perry of the Church of England founded it. He wanted to meet the growing need for education in the new colony. In 1853, Bishop Perry planned a larger, permanent school.
A group of leaders chose a new site and a headmaster. In 1855, Governor Charles Hotham gave the school 15 acres of land. This land is in South Yarra, next to the Royal Botanic Gardens. It is also close to the city centre.
The school's foundation stone was laid on 30 July 1856. The Melbourne Church of England Grammar School officially opened on 7 April 1858. It had 76 students at first. John E. Bromby was the first headmaster. By the end of the first year, 136 students were enrolled.
The school faced challenges in its first 40 years. An economic downturn in the 1890s caused problems. Student numbers dropped. Former students formed The Old Melburnians Society in 1895. They wanted to help the school.
In the late 1800s, the school started building taller buildings. This helped use space better. The Chapel of St Peter was built in 1893. It was the first school chapel in Victoria.
The 1900s brought growth and stability. Many former students joined the army in World War I. More than 200 did not return. The 1920s were good for academics and sports. The 1930s were harder due to the Great Depression. Building plans were paused when World War II began. School buildings were used by Australian and American forces.
By the 1950s, the school needed more space. A big building program started in 1958. It aimed to expand all three campuses. The school also began buying nearby properties.
In 1986, the school changed its structure. Grimwade House, which opened in 1918, became co-educational. It now teaches girls and boys up to Year 6. Wadhurst teaches boys in Years 7 and 8.
The school expanded its outdoor education program. It now has three campsites. In 2008, the school opened a new learning center. This was part of its 150th anniversary.
School Leaders
| Period served | Name |
|---|---|
| 1858–1875 | John Edward Bromby |
| 1875–1883 | Edward Ellis Morris |
| 1883–1885 | Alexander Pyne |
| 1885–1893 | Ambrose John Wilson |
| 1894–1898 | Frederic Sergeant |
| 1899–1914 | George Ernest Blanch |
| 1915–1936 | Richard Penrose Franklin (Henry Girdlestone acting 1917–19) |
| 1937–1938 | David Stacey Colman |
| 1938–1949 | Joseph Richard Sutcliffe |
| 1950–1970 | Sir Brian William Hone |
| 1970–1987 | Nigel Arthur Holloway Creese |
| 1988–1994 | Antony James de Villiers Hill |
| 1995–2009 | Andrew Paul Sheahan |
| 2009–2019 | Roy Kelley |
| 2020–present | Philip Grutzner |
School Campuses
Melbourne Grammar School has seven campuses. Three are for daily schooling. One is for sports. Three are for outdoor education programs.
- Grimwade House – Caulfield (Co-educational; Prep to Year 6)
- Wadhurst – South Yarra (Boys only; Years 7 to 8)
- Senior School – South Yarra (Boys only; Years 9 to 12)
- Edwin Flack Park – Port Melbourne (Sporting complex)
- Camp Dowd – Gippsland Lakes (Camp for Year 8)
- Robert Knox Camp – Woodend (Camp for Years 5 to 7)
- L.G.Robertson Camp – Breakfast Creek, Licola (Camp for Years 9 to 12)
House System
In 1914, the headmaster introduced a house system. This encouraged sports and physical activity. Six houses were created at first. They were named after important people connected to the school. Each house had a room for meetings and socializing.
Students were first placed into houses based on where they lived. For example, boys from Toorak went to Bromby House. Houses competed for the "Cock House" championship. They played sports like cricket, rowing, and football.
Wadhurst, the middle school, has five houses. These are Caffin, Cain, Cuming, Wilhelm, and Brookes. They are named after important people.
Cock House Cup
The Cock House Cup was a prize for the best house. Houses earned points in different sports. Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson first presented the cup in 1916. It aimed to make house competitions more exciting.
School House won the cup 26 times between 1914 and 1956. After winning, each member of the house would drink from the cup.
Changes to the House System
In 1951, Headmaster Brian Hone changed the house system. He wanted houses to focus more on student care and unity. The Cock House Cup was stopped. Hone also ended some old, harsh house traditions.
Over the next 60 years, six more houses were added. Perry House became the second boarding house in 1952. Bruce House was also created that year for day students. Deakin and Miller Houses started in 1961. Hone House followed in 1979. Creese House was the newest addition in 2005.
Curriculum and Results
Melbourne Grammar offers the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE). This is the main assessment for Years 11 and 12 students in Victoria. It helps rank students for university entry.
Many Melbourne Grammar students have achieved high VCE results. In 2009, a record seven students got the highest possible score. The school also had its best average score that year. In 2011, seven more students achieved the top score.
| Year | Rank | Median study score | Scores of 40+ (%) | Cohort size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 27 | 35 | 24.6 | 389 |
| 2013 | 29 | 35 | 27.9 | 383 |
| 2014 | 29 | 35 | 24.2 | 393 |
| 2015 | 41 | 34 | 22.0 | 386 |
| 2016 | 42 | 34 | 22.7 | 369 |
| 2017 | 42 | 34 | 22.8 | 379 |
| 2018 | 12 | 36 | 27.5 | 374 |
| 2019 | 28 | 35 | 23.7 | 388 |
| 2020 | 41 | 34 | 23.4 | 373 |
| 2021 | 21 | 35 | 24.5 | 371 |
| 2022 | 21 | 35 | 25.8 | 377 |
| 2023 | 20 | 35 | 27.1 | 385 |
School Activities
Debating
Melbourne Grammar competes in debating with other schools. They also enter the Debaters Association of Victoria's competition. In recent years, Melbourne Grammar has won several debating championships. In 2018, they won the A Grade championship.
Music
The Melbourne Grammar School Symphony Orchestra (MGSSO) tours internationally every year. They have performed in many countries, including China, Japan, France, and the UK. The orchestra usually has about 100 students. They have played with famous solo artists.
All school campuses have their own choirs and bands. The chapel choir is the oldest in Victorian private schools. It sings at weekly services and concerts.
Sport
Cordner–Eggleston Cup
The Cordner–Eggleston Cup is a football competition. It is played between Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College. This game has been played since 1858. It is the longest-running school football match in the world. It celebrates the first recorded Australian Rules Football game. That game was played between the two schools on 7 August 1858. A statue at the Melbourne Cricket Ground remembers this event.
Rose and Thistle Cup
The Rose and Thistle Cup is a soccer match. It is played between Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College. It started in 2008. The cup represents the English Rose (Melbourne Grammar) and the Scottish Thistle (Scotch College).
Rowing
Melbourne Grammar has a strong rowing history. They have won the Head of the River 28 times. Their most recent win was in 2016. In 2009, their 1st VIII crew broke the Head of the River record. They also won the National Schoolboy 8+ title.
Athletics
Melbourne Grammar School has become very strong in athletics. They won the APS premiership in 2010 for the first time in 48 years. The school has also won Victorian track relay titles many times.
Soccer
Soccer is a very popular sport at the school. Melbourne Grammar fields 12 teams in the APS Soccer Competition. The 1st XI Soccer team has improved greatly. Some former students have gone on to play in the A-League. Others have signed with overseas clubs.
Basketball
Melbourne Grammar is a rising force in APS Basketball. They finished 3rd in 2012 and 2014. Some players have gone on to play at American universities on scholarships.
Volleyball
Melbourne Grammar School won the APS Volleyball Competition in 2016. Many boys have gone on to play at State levels. One student even received a volleyball scholarship to a US university.
Snowsports
Melbourne Grammar School has won 18 of the last 19 Victorian APS Snowsports Cups.
Hockey
The MGS Hockey team has won the APS Hockey Competition many times. Their most recent win was in 2022. Winning team members receive a special wooden hockey stick.
Cricket
Melbourne Grammar used to play an annual cricket competition with Sydney Grammar. This was called "The Bat" and ran from 1876 to 1998. It was Australia's oldest interstate rivalry. Melbourne Grammar won it 61 times. In 1998, the competition changed. It now includes Brisbane Grammar and is called the Tri-Grammar Shield. Melbourne Grammar has won the Shield 10 times.
The 1st XI Cricket team tours the UK every two years.
APS Premierships
Melbourne Grammar has won many APS Premierships in various sports:
- Athletics (30 wins)
- Cricket (37 wins)
- Football (35 wins)
- Hockey (8 wins)
- Rowing (28 wins)
- Volleyball (3 wins)
- Water Polo (5 wins)
Theatre
Melbourne Grammar has a strong theatre program. The Senior Campus puts on four plays each school year. The Quad Play, often a Shakespeare play, is performed in Term One. The main school play is in August in the Memorial Hall. These productions include musicals and plays.
The Spring Production is for Years 9 and 10 students. These plays often update classic stories. All these plays involve students from Melbourne Girls Grammar School.
Wadhurst, the middle school, also has an annual production. These are usually classic children's stories. Year 8 students can also join the Year 8 Project. This lets them act and help develop plays.
School Crest and Motto
The school's motto is Ora et Labora. This is Latin for "Pray and Work." The second headmaster, Edward Morris, chose it in 1875. It shows that education and religion are important at the school.
The school crest has several parts. The Archbishop's mitre shows the school's link to the Church of England. The mitre in the shield remembers Bishop Charles Perry, the founder. An open book means "Knowledge like an Open Book." Its large clasps show that learning takes effort. The Fleur de Lys (lily) means purity. The Southern Cross is a symbol of Australia.
School Song
Melbourne Grammar's fight song is "Play Together, Dark Blue Twenty." It is sung to the tune of "Men of Harlech." It is one of Australia's oldest school songs. The lyrics were written by Ambrose John Wilson. They mention the school's main sports: Australian rules football, cricket, and rowing.
Famous Former Students
See also
- List of schools in Victoria
- List of high schools in Victoria
- Old Melburnians Football Club
