South Sydney High School
Encyclopedia
South Sydney High School is a public school located in Maroubra, Sydney, New South Wales
, Australia
. Established in 1953 for boys, it is today a co-educational high school
operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training
for students from years 7 through 12. It primarily serves those coming from South-Eastern Sydney
and the Eastern Suburbs
regions.
. A site for a new school, bounded by Paine Street in the north, and Walsh and O'Sullivan Avenue in the south, had been selected in 1945. This area was originally taken over by the Commonwealth Government for defence purposes. It was cleared as early as 1948 and preparations made for what was to be known as South Sydney Technical School. The building foundations were laid on the 27 May 1950 by then Minister for Education
, The Hon. Robert Heffron MLA
, who would later become the Premier of New South Wales.
Due to long delays the first portion of the school was not ready until July 1952, with the school not being occupied until February 1953. On the 5 April 1954, South Sydney Junior Technical High School was officially opened by the Governor of New South Wales, Lieutenant-General
Sir John Northcott
. The opening ceremony was accompanied by the commemorative planting of trees, a few of which remain today along the O'Sullivan Avenue frontage.
At the beginning of 1959 it was decided that South Sydney Junior Technical High School would be renamed South Sydney Boys' High School. The End of 1961 saw the retirement of Mr William Dutton, the school's first principal. In his place Mr. Thomas Tasker was appointed. In 1962 the School magazine, "The Southerner", was published for the first time. That same year, in honour of the contribution made to the school by Mr Heffron, the library was named the "R. J. Heffron Library".
In August 1980, the Minister for Education, The Hon. Paul Landa MLA
, announced that South Sydney Boys' High School and Maroubra Junction Girls' High would be partly co-educational in 1981 and fully co- educational in 1983 to become South Sydney High School and Maroubra High School respectively.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, 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...
. Established in 1953 for boys, it is today a co-educational high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training
New South Wales Department of Education and Training
The New South Wales Department of Education and Communities, a department of the Government of New South Wales, is responsibile for primary schools, secondary schools and Technical and Further Education colleges...
for students from years 7 through 12. It primarily serves those coming from South-Eastern Sydney
South-eastern Sydney
South-Eastern Sydney is a term which is used to describe the metropolitan area directly to the south and east of the Sydney central business district in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.The area stretches from the inner city to the foreshores of Botany Bay...
and the Eastern Suburbs
Eastern Suburbs (Sydney)
The Eastern Suburbs is a general term used to describe the metropolitan area directly to the east and south-east of the Sydney central business district in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Eastern Suburbs can refer to the suburbs within the local government areas of Woollahra, Waverley, Dover...
regions.
History
Following the Second World War, it was determined that the Maroubra Junction Technical School would be crowded out of its premises on Anzac ParadeAnzac Parade, Sydney
Anzac Parade is a major road in the south-eastern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It included part of the marathon during the 2000 Summer Olympics, and the blue line denoting the marathon's path still exists today.-Description:...
. A site for a new school, bounded by Paine Street in the north, and Walsh and O'Sullivan Avenue in the south, had been selected in 1945. This area was originally taken over by the Commonwealth Government for defence purposes. It was cleared as early as 1948 and preparations made for what was to be known as South Sydney Technical School. The building foundations were laid on the 27 May 1950 by then Minister for Education
New South Wales Department of Education and Training
The New South Wales Department of Education and Communities, a department of the Government of New South Wales, is responsibile for primary schools, secondary schools and Technical and Further Education colleges...
, The Hon. Robert Heffron MLA
Robert Heffron
Robert James "Bob" Heffron was one of the longest-serving New South Wales state parliamentarians. He was the Australian Labor Party Premier of New South Wales from 28 October 1959, to 30 April 1964.-Early years:...
, who would later become the Premier of New South Wales.
Due to long delays the first portion of the school was not ready until July 1952, with the school not being occupied until February 1953. On the 5 April 1954, South Sydney Junior Technical High School was officially opened by the Governor of New South Wales, Lieutenant-General
Lieutenant General (Australia)
Lieutenant general is the second-highest active rank of the Australian Army and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of lieutenant general. It is also considered a three-star rank....
Sir John Northcott
John Northcott
Lieutenant General Sir John Northcott KCMG, KCVO, CB was an Australian Army general who served as Chief of the General Staff during World War II, and commanded the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in the Occupation of Japan...
. The opening ceremony was accompanied by the commemorative planting of trees, a few of which remain today along the O'Sullivan Avenue frontage.
At the beginning of 1959 it was decided that South Sydney Junior Technical High School would be renamed South Sydney Boys' High School. The End of 1961 saw the retirement of Mr William Dutton, the school's first principal. In his place Mr. Thomas Tasker was appointed. In 1962 the School magazine, "The Southerner", was published for the first time. That same year, in honour of the contribution made to the school by Mr Heffron, the library was named the "R. J. Heffron Library".
In August 1980, the Minister for Education, The Hon. Paul Landa MLA
Paul Landa
David Paul Landa, QC was an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1973 to 1984, and the member for Peats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1984...
, announced that South Sydney Boys' High School and Maroubra Junction Girls' High would be partly co-educational in 1981 and fully co- educational in 1983 to become South Sydney High School and Maroubra High School respectively.
Principals
| Years | South Sydney Boys' High School |
|---|---|
| 1953–1961 | W. Dutton |
| 1962–1969 | T. Tasker M.Sc. Dip.Ed. |
| 1969–1973 | R. Cocking B.A. L.T.C.L. |
| 1973–1975 | E. Barnett |
| 1976–1977 | J. Frederick |
| 1978 | A. Moore |
| 1979–1983 | D. Brown |
| Years | South Sydney High School |
| 1983–1986 | D. Brown |
| 1987–1996 | T. Edwards |
| 1997–2005 | L. Taylor |
| 2006–present | R. Fitzpatrick |
Houses
By the early 1960s all students were divided into four houses named after one representative from each:- Science - BANKS - botanist, Sir Joseph BanksJoseph BanksSir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, GCB, PRS was an English naturalist, botanist and patron of the natural sciences. He took part in Captain James Cook's first great voyage . Banks is credited with the introduction to the Western world of eucalyptus, acacia, mimosa and the genus named after him,...
- Literature - LAWSON - poet, Henry LawsonHenry LawsonHenry Lawson was an Australian writer and poet. Along with his contemporary Banjo Paterson, Lawson is among the best-known Australian poets and fiction writers of the colonial period and is often called Australia's "greatest writer"...
- Defence - NORTHCOTT - Governor of New South Wales who opened the school.
- Education - DUTTON - First headmaster
Controversies
In July 2011, South Sydney High School made headlines after a staff member allegedly attacked a 12-year-old female student. There was also an incident in 2005, where a brain damaged student was attacked, the attack was widely publiced, as well as, being mention in NSW State Parliament.Notable alumni
- Adam Liberman, General CounselGeneral CounselA general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationThe Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is the national government body for scientific research in Australia...
(CSIRO) since August 2006. - Michael Whitney, former Australian Test Cricketer and television personality.
- Alex PerryAlex PerryAlex Perry is an Australian fashion designer, particularly noted for his designs in womenswear. After graduating from East Sydney Technical College in 1984, Perry worked as a model agent representing Australian models for international modelling agencies. In 1992 Perry opened his first atelier...
, fashion designer.