Braemar College
Encyclopedia
Braemar College is an ecumenical co-curricular private school
located on Mount Macedon in Woodend, Victoria
, Australia
. Initially the school's board consisted of representatives from the three local municipalities (Shire of Gisborne
, Shire of Romsey
and Shire of Newham and Woodend - now replaced by the newer Shire of Macedon Ranges) and the three local Christian denomination churches (Anglican
, Catholic and Uniting
). The school's motto is Unum Corpus Multi Sumus (One body, many parts).
. Braemar House is a substantial two storey timber mansion on brick and stone foundations with high pitched roofs, intricate gables and asymmetric features, which was constructed in 1889-90 to a design by Italian-born architect Louis Boldini.
The school's architectural style is classified as Victorian Period (1851–1901) Free Classical.
Braemar House was built as a guest house for affluent Melbourne
residents by a consortium of Melbourne businessmen. The location of Braemar House in the Mount Macedon
area which was noted for its bracing mountain air made it attractive to those who believed that city life was not conducive to good health and that regular vacations in a healthy environment would restore well being. Access to rail transport and proximity to recreational activities such as walking and climbing in picturesque locations such as nearby Hanging Rock
made Woodend
a suitable place for such a venture.
Braemar House operated as a guest house from about 1890 until at least 1908, and possibly until 1918.
Braemar House was listed on the Heritage Register of Victoria in 2003.
was founded as a private girls' school in 1910 in St Kilda
by Miss Isabel Henderson. In 1919 it moved to Braemar House, Woodend and in 1921 it was transformed into a public school (which was exclusively a boarding school).
In 1976 Clyde School, Geelong Church of England Grammar School, and Geelong Church of England Girls' Grammar School "The Hermitage" amalgamated, and today the combined school continues as Geelong Grammar School
.
Braemar College sits surrounded by the ferny undergrowth, Snow Gums, Alpine Ash and Mountain Ash bushland of the Macedon Regional Park. On 16 February 1983, the school escaped relatively unharmed as the infamous Ash Wednesday fires
raged around it. The statewide Ash Wednesday Bushfires raged across Victoria - scorching 295 km² of bushland, taking 7 lives and destroying 628 buildings in the Macedon Ranges area alone. Despite the valiant efforts of local fire fighters and volunteers, the school did lose its historic stables and grand stand - now the site of a gymnasium and theatre building.
The college again expanded in 1995 with the construction of a primary school building along with full provisions for grade 5 and 6 students. At the moment the college is privately constructing a Year 9 Centre off campus school and a Primary school on Avenue of Honour in nearby Woodend. This complex will also include full sport venues.
Braemar College participates in many activities with other schools in the region such as cross country, athletics, swimming, chess, debating and orienteering.
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
located on Mount Macedon in Woodend, Victoria
Woodend, Victoria
Woodend is a small town in Victoria, Australia. The town is in the Shire of Macedon Ranges Local government area. It is bypassed to the east and north by the Calder Freeway and is located about halfway between Melbourne and Bendigo...
, 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...
. Initially the school's board consisted of representatives from the three local municipalities (Shire of Gisborne
Shire of Gisborne
The Shire of Gisborne was a Local Government Area located about northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1860 until 1995.-History:...
, Shire of Romsey
Shire of Romsey
The Shire of Romsey was a Local Government Area located about north-northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1862 until 1995.-History:...
and Shire of Newham and Woodend - now replaced by the newer Shire of Macedon Ranges) and the three local Christian denomination churches (Anglican
Anglican Church of Australia
The Anglican Church of Australia is a member church of the Anglican Communion. It was previously officially known as the Church of England in Australia and Tasmania...
, Catholic and Uniting
Uniting Church in Australia
The Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
). The school's motto is Unum Corpus Multi Sumus (One body, many parts).
Braemar House
The main building in the college, Braemar House, dates from the late nineteenth century and is believed to be the largest plywood structure in the Southern HemisphereSouthern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
. Braemar House is a substantial two storey timber mansion on brick and stone foundations with high pitched roofs, intricate gables and asymmetric features, which was constructed in 1889-90 to a design by Italian-born architect Louis Boldini.
The school's architectural style is classified as Victorian Period (1851–1901) Free Classical.
Braemar House was built as a guest house for affluent 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...
residents by a consortium of Melbourne businessmen. The location of Braemar House in the Mount Macedon
Mount Macedon, Victoria
Mount Macedon is a small town located northwest of Melbourne in the Australian state of Victoria. It is situated on the side of the mountain of the same name, known as Geboor by the indigenous Wurundjeri people, which rises to above sea level. At the 2006 census, Mount Macedon had a population...
area which was noted for its bracing mountain air made it attractive to those who believed that city life was not conducive to good health and that regular vacations in a healthy environment would restore well being. Access to rail transport and proximity to recreational activities such as walking and climbing in picturesque locations such as nearby Hanging Rock
Hanging Rock, Victoria
Hanging Rock , in Central Victoria, Australia, is a distinctive geological formation, 718m above sea level on the plain between the two small townships of Newham and Hesket, approximately 70 km north-west of Melbourne and a few kilometres north of Mount Macedon, a former volcano...
made Woodend
Woodend, Victoria
Woodend is a small town in Victoria, Australia. The town is in the Shire of Macedon Ranges Local government area. It is bypassed to the east and north by the Calder Freeway and is located about halfway between Melbourne and Bendigo...
a suitable place for such a venture.
Braemar House operated as a guest house from about 1890 until at least 1908, and possibly until 1918.
Braemar House was listed on the Heritage Register of Victoria in 2003.
Clyde School
Clyde SchoolClyde School
Clyde School was founded as a private girls' school in 1910 in Alma Road, St Kilda by Miss Isabel Henderson, a leading educationist of her day. It quickly gained a reputation for excellent academic results.-Clyde School in Woodend:...
was founded as a private girls' school in 1910 in St Kilda
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
by Miss Isabel Henderson. In 1919 it moved to Braemar House, Woodend and in 1921 it was transformed into a public school (which was exclusively a boarding school).
In 1976 Clyde School, Geelong Church of England Grammar School, and Geelong Church of England Girls' Grammar School "The Hermitage" amalgamated, and today the combined school continues as Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, co-educational, boarding and day school. The school's main campus is located at Corio, on the northern outskirts of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, overlooking Corio Bay and Limeburners Bay....
.
Braemar College
In 1975 the present name Braemar College was adopted as a new school was started to include years 7 to 12 for both male and female students. Its original principal was Graham Farley.Braemar College sits surrounded by the ferny undergrowth, Snow Gums, Alpine Ash and Mountain Ash bushland of the Macedon Regional Park. On 16 February 1983, the school escaped relatively unharmed as the infamous Ash Wednesday fires
Ash Wednesday fires
The Ash Wednesday bushfires, known in South Australia as Ash Wednesday II, were a series of bushfires that occurred in south-eastern Australia on 16 February 1983. Within twelve hours, more than 180 fires fanned by winds of up to 110 km per hour caused widespread destruction across the states...
raged around it. The statewide Ash Wednesday Bushfires raged across Victoria - scorching 295 km² of bushland, taking 7 lives and destroying 628 buildings in the Macedon Ranges area alone. Despite the valiant efforts of local fire fighters and volunteers, the school did lose its historic stables and grand stand - now the site of a gymnasium and theatre building.
The college again expanded in 1995 with the construction of a primary school building along with full provisions for grade 5 and 6 students. At the moment the college is privately constructing a Year 9 Centre off campus school and a Primary school on Avenue of Honour in nearby Woodend. This complex will also include full sport venues.
Braemar College participates in many activities with other schools in the region such as cross country, athletics, swimming, chess, debating and orienteering.
Patrons
- Sir James DarlingJames Ralph DarlingSir James Ralph Darling OBE was the Headmaster of Geelong Grammar School , and Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission .-Early life:...
, Kt.,CMG, OBE, MA (Oxon and MElb) DCL (Hon) Oxon, LLD (Hon) Melb, FACE - Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Australian philanthropist.