Brisbane Boys' College
Encyclopedia
Brisbane Boys' College is an independent
, Presbyterian
and Uniting Church
, day
and boarding school
for boys, located in Toowong
, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland
, Australia
.
Established in 1902, the College
has a non-selective enrolment policy and caters for approximately 1,550 students from Prep to 12, including 140 boarders from Years 5 to 12.
Brisbane Boys' College is a school of the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association (PMSA), and is affiliated with the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA), the Junior School Heads Association of Australia
(JSHAA), and the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA). The school is also a founding member of the Great Public Schools' Association Inc (GPS).
and started a school in Clayfield
. The school officially started in March 1902 with just four students.
In 1912, the school moved to a new location on the corner of Bayview Terrace, near the tram terminus, needing more room. Even with the new land, due to space constraints sporting activities were out of the question, so for many years the boys walked to the nearby Kalinga Park
. In 1908, there were 80 students and a cadet corps was formed with the impending 1914-1918 war
. The school suffered the losses of eight Clayfield Collegians during the war. In the late 1920s the school was moved, again due to a lack of room for new facilities, to its current site in Toowong
with support from its owners, the daughters of the late Premier of Queensland, Sir Robert Philp
. The Clayfield campus became a primary school department of Somerville House
, which later developed into the independent Clayfield College
.
Today BBC is owned by the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association, which was formed in 1918, and owns other private school
s in Queensland.
BBC's campus
is located in the Brisbane suburb
of Toowong
on land bordered by Moggill Road
, Kensington Terrace and Miskin Street, with the main entrance from Kensington Terrace.
The main building dates from the 1930s, when the school moved to the site, and is characterised by its Mediterranean arches and clock tower. The Rudd and Hamilton wings form a T-shape, extending away from the main building, and the modern glass fronted library fills the quadrant. Other buildings on the site include McKenzie wing, Barbara Helen Thomson Sports Complex, Birtles wing and the Junior School buildings. The old College Hall was demolished in late September 2009 and a brand new College Hall was constructed and opened in early June 2011. The new College Hall includes an airconditioned auditorium capable of seating 695 people, an art gallery, and new facilities for the music department.
In early 2008, construction of the modernised Junior School buildings was completed. The building houses the Prep - Grade 3 students as well as the Grade 4 and 5 students; the Prep grade itself was only introduced in 2008. There are three ovals included within the BBC grounds: Main, P&F and Miskin. BBC also makes use of the Oakman Park ovals, Toowong College (QASMT), University of Queensland
and St Lucia, Queensland
playing fields. The school plans to build new sporting facilities in a location detached from the main school, possibly in Corinda
, though this has sparked local residents' concerns about traffic problems and noise pollution.
The College uniform
varies throughout the grades, these being between Years 1–6, 7–11 and 12. One defining factor of the uniform is the boater, a straw hat worn to and from the school and in public that has been a college tradition since its conception. In Years 4–6, the uniform consists of a green shirt, a green and black tie, grey shorts and plain grey socks.
In Years 7–11, the only difference is that trousers are worn, and in Year 12 a white shirt is worn.
Green, white and black striped blazers are worn in terms 2 and 3. Blazers display "Colours" which are awards that warrant embroidery on the pockets of the blazer. Lines, Half-Colours and Full-Colours are displayed on the bottom, top right-hand and top left-hand and pocket respectively, and each display a line of text detailing the category of achievement and the year the award was given. Half-Colours and Full-Colours exhibit altered forms of the BBC emblem, while school captains have a gold full colour emblem.
Students in leadership positions, such as house captains and prefects, are given a badge with their name and position within the school. Prefects wear a yellow tie and boater-band, which features green, black and gold stripes.
with nine houses.
, which plays at public events such as the annual ANZAC Day March in Brisbane. The school, together with St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School
, conducts biannual musicals as well as other theatrical productions.
The BBC Rowing Club is active during Terms 1, 3 and 4 of the school year (October to March), and is open to boys in Years 7–12. The boathouse is located on the Brisbane River, near the University of Queensland
at St Lucia. The club has been successful since its first race in 1918, winning more Queensland Head of the River
races than any other school. The club's most recent wins were in 2002 and 2003.
The club was founded in 1916, by school founder Mr A W Rudd. The first shed was built on Breakfast Creek in 1918, with the club winning its first Head of the River the following year. The shed was moved to the banks of the Brisbane River near the Regatta Hotel in 1930, where it was destroyed by flood in 1974. A new shed was built near the University of Queensland at St Lucia in 1976.
The club is split into four stages – Junior (grades 7, 8 and 9), Under 15 (grades 9 and 10), Under 16 (grades 10 and 11) and Open (grades 11 and 12). Juniors and Under 15s row in quad sculls, and Under 16s and Opens row eights. The 1st VIII has been successful at the Head of the River on 23 occasions, winning in 1919, 1934, 1937, 1938, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1990, 1992, 1993 and 2002. The club's 1st VIII also won the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
at the Henley Royal Regatta
in 1993, becoming the first Australian crew to do so.
In recent times Brisbane Boys' College rowers have gone on to represent Queensland and Australia in Regattas world wide. John Dickson (Alumni 2005), Scott Laidler (Alumni 2007), and Cameron Stitt (Alumni 2008) are just some of the examples of old boys who have performed at representative level.
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...
, Presbyterian
Presbyterian Church of Australia
The Presbyterian Church of Australia is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Australia. .-Beginnings:...
and Uniting Church
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....
, day
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...
and 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...
for boys, located in Toowong
Toowong, Queensland
Toowong is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia which is located 5 km west of the Brisbane CBD. At the centre of Toowong is a commercial precinct including Toowong Village and several office buildings...
, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, 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 1902, the College
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
has a non-selective enrolment policy and caters for approximately 1,550 students from Prep to 12, including 140 boarders from Years 5 to 12.
Brisbane Boys' College is a school of the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association (PMSA), and is affiliated with the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA), the Junior School Heads Association of Australia
Junior School Heads Association of Australia
The Independent Primary School Heads of Australia formerly Junior School Heads Association of Australia , is an incorporated body representing the heads of independent primary schools in Australia....
(JSHAA), and the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA). The school is also a founding member of the Great Public Schools' Association Inc (GPS).
History
Brisbane Boys' College was established in 1902 by Mr Arthur Rudd. Rudd arrived in Brisbane in 1901 by boat from MelbourneMelbourne
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...
and started a school in Clayfield
Clayfield, Queensland
Clayfield is an inner-northern suburb of Brisbane, located approximately from the CBD. Clayfield is bordered to the north by Nundah, to the East by Ascot and Hendra, to the west by Wooloowin and to the South by Albion....
. The school officially started in March 1902 with just four students.
In 1912, the school moved to a new location on the corner of Bayview Terrace, near the tram terminus, needing more room. Even with the new land, due to space constraints sporting activities were out of the question, so for many years the boys walked to the nearby Kalinga Park
Kalinga Park, Brisbane
Kalinga Park is a park located on northside of Brisbane, Australia. It is community park land associated with the locality of Kalinga, in the suburbs of Clayfield and Wooloowin.- History :...
. In 1908, there were 80 students and a cadet corps was formed with the impending 1914-1918 war
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The school suffered the losses of eight Clayfield Collegians during the war. In the late 1920s the school was moved, again due to a lack of room for new facilities, to its current site in Toowong
Toowong, Queensland
Toowong is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia which is located 5 km west of the Brisbane CBD. At the centre of Toowong is a commercial precinct including Toowong Village and several office buildings...
with support from its owners, the daughters of the late Premier of Queensland, Sir Robert Philp
Robert Philp
Sir Robert Philp, KCMG was a Queensland businessman and politician who was Premier of Queensland from December 1899 to September 1903 and again from November 1907 to February 1908.-Early life:...
. The Clayfield campus became a primary school department of Somerville House
Somerville House
Somerville House is an independent, boarding and day school for girls, located in South Brisbane, an inner-city suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
, which later developed into the independent Clayfield College
Clayfield College
Clayfield College is an independent, Uniting Church and Presbyterian, day and boarding school, predominantly for girls, located in Clayfield, an inner-northern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
.
Today BBC is owned by the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association, which was formed in 1918, and owns other private school
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...
s in Queensland.
Headmasters
| Period | Details |
|---|---|
| 1902 – 1930 | Mr Arthur W Rudd OBE Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions... |
| 1931 – 1946 | Mr Patrick M Hamilton OBE |
| 1947 – 1955 | Dr Thomas Ross McKenzie OBE |
| 1956 – 1973 | Mr Alfred J Birtles |
| 1974 – 1989, 1996 | Mr Graham E Thomson AM Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"... |
| 1990 – 1995 | Mr George Milton Cujes |
| 1997 – 2001 | Mr Michael G Norris |
| 2002 – present | Mr Graeme E McDonald |
Campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
is located in the Brisbane suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Toowong
Toowong, Queensland
Toowong is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia which is located 5 km west of the Brisbane CBD. At the centre of Toowong is a commercial precinct including Toowong Village and several office buildings...
on land bordered by Moggill Road
Moggill Road
Moggill Road is a major road in Brisbane. It goes under the 32 number. It starts at the Moggill Ferry in Moggill and finishes at High Street at Toowong.It stretches 27 kilometers...
, Kensington Terrace and Miskin Street, with the main entrance from Kensington Terrace.
The main building dates from the 1930s, when the school moved to the site, and is characterised by its Mediterranean arches and clock tower. The Rudd and Hamilton wings form a T-shape, extending away from the main building, and the modern glass fronted library fills the quadrant. Other buildings on the site include McKenzie wing, Barbara Helen Thomson Sports Complex, Birtles wing and the Junior School buildings. The old College Hall was demolished in late September 2009 and a brand new College Hall was constructed and opened in early June 2011. The new College Hall includes an airconditioned auditorium capable of seating 695 people, an art gallery, and new facilities for the music department.
In early 2008, construction of the modernised Junior School buildings was completed. The building houses the Prep - Grade 3 students as well as the Grade 4 and 5 students; the Prep grade itself was only introduced in 2008. There are three ovals included within the BBC grounds: Main, P&F and Miskin. BBC also makes use of the Oakman Park ovals, Toowong College (QASMT), University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
and St Lucia, Queensland
St Lucia, Queensland
St Lucia is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 4 km south-west of the Brisbane CBD. The suburb is bordered on three sides by the Brisbane River and is dominated by the main campus of the University of Queensland.-History:...
playing fields. The school plans to build new sporting facilities in a location detached from the main school, possibly in Corinda
Corinda, Queensland
Corinda is a suburb in Brisbane, Australia. Located approximately 9 km southwest of the Brisbane central business district.It is believed that the name Corinda originates from a local cattle station owned by Sir Arthur Palmer, which he named after his Corinda pastoral station near...
, though this has sparked local residents' concerns about traffic problems and noise pollution.
Uniform
The College uniform
School uniform
A school uniform is an outfit—a set of standardized clothes—worn primarily for an educational institution. They are common in primary and secondary schools in various countries . When used, they form the basis of a school's dress code.Traditionally school uniforms have been largely subdued and...
varies throughout the grades, these being between Years 1–6, 7–11 and 12. One defining factor of the uniform is the boater, a straw hat worn to and from the school and in public that has been a college tradition since its conception. In Years 4–6, the uniform consists of a green shirt, a green and black tie, grey shorts and plain grey socks.
In Years 7–11, the only difference is that trousers are worn, and in Year 12 a white shirt is worn.
Green, white and black striped blazers are worn in terms 2 and 3. Blazers display "Colours" which are awards that warrant embroidery on the pockets of the blazer. Lines, Half-Colours and Full-Colours are displayed on the bottom, top right-hand and top left-hand and pocket respectively, and each display a line of text detailing the category of achievement and the year the award was given. Half-Colours and Full-Colours exhibit altered forms of the BBC emblem, while school captains have a gold full colour emblem.
Students in leadership positions, such as house captains and prefects, are given a badge with their name and position within the school. Prefects wear a yellow tie and boater-band, which features green, black and gold stripes.
House system
The school is divided into a house systemHouse system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
with nine houses.
| House name | Named after | Colours |
|---|---|---|
| Birtles | Former Headmaster | Azure blue Azure (color) The color bleu de France is displayed at right.Bleu de France is a color that has been associated in heraldry with the Kings of France since the 12th century.-Brandeis blue:... , white, gold Gold (color) Gold, also called golden, is one of a variety of orange-yellow color blends used to give the impression of the color of the element gold.... |
| Campbell | Secretary of PMSA in the 1940s | Yellow Yellow Yellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–590 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green... , black, white |
| Flynn | John Flynn John Flynn (minister) John Flynn OBE was an Australian Presbyterian minister who founded the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the world's first air ambulance.-Biography:... , founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service |
Blue Blue Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal... , red Red Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye... |
| Hamilton | Former Headmaster | Royal blue Royal blue Royal blue describes both a bright shade and a dark shade of azure blue. It is said to have been invented by millers in Rode, Somerset, a consortium of which won a competition to make a dress for the British queen, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.... , black, white |
| Knox | John Knox John Knox John Knox was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland. He was educated at the University of St Andrews or possibly the University of Glasgow and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1536... , leading Reformer Protestant Reformers Protestant Reformers were those theologians, churchmen, and statesmen whose careers, works, and actions brought about the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century... of the Church of Scotland Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation.... ; major influence on Presbyterian churches worldwide |
Red, white, black |
| McKenzie | Former Headmaster | Orange, black |
| Rudd | Founding Headmaster | Gold, black, green |
| Wesley | John Wesley John Wesley John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield... , founder of the Methodist Church |
Light blue, dark blue |
| Wheller | Long-serving Minister of Albert St church | Maroon Maroon (color) Maroon is a dark red color.-Etymology:Maroon is derived from French marron .The first recorded use of maroon as a color name in English was in 1789.-Maroon :... , black, white |
Music
The music department hosts string, orchestral and vocal ensembles, as well as concert and stage bands throughout the levels of the school. Brisbane Boys' College maintains the tradition of conducting a pipe bandPipe band
A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term used by military pipe bands, pipes and drums, is also common....
, which plays at public events such as the annual ANZAC Day March in Brisbane. The school, together with St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School
St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School
St Aidan’s Anglican Girls' School is an independent, Anglican, day school for girls, located in Corinda, a western suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
, conducts biannual musicals as well as other theatrical productions.
Sport
The College offers Rugby, Football, Rowing, Gymnastics, Cricket, Basketball, Volleyball, Chess, Tennis, Cross Country, Australian Rules Football, Athletics, Swimming, Waterpolo and Sailing.Recent sporting achievements
Brisbane Boys' College has achieved sporting success as a GPS school in the following activities:Australian Football – 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009 Basketball – 1987, 1995, 2005, 2011 Cricket – 2003 Football – 1991, 1993, 2004, 2010, 2011 Gymnastics – 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007 Rowing – 2002, 2003 Volleyball – 2001 Tennis – 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011 Sailing – 2007, 2008, 2011
Rowing club
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
at St Lucia. The club has been successful since its first race in 1918, winning more Queensland Head of the River
Head of the River (Australia)
The Head of the River is a name given to annual Australian rowing regattas held in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia...
races than any other school. The club's most recent wins were in 2002 and 2003.
The club was founded in 1916, by school founder Mr A W Rudd. The first shed was built on Breakfast Creek in 1918, with the club winning its first Head of the River the following year. The shed was moved to the banks of the Brisbane River near the Regatta Hotel in 1930, where it was destroyed by flood in 1974. A new shed was built near the University of Queensland at St Lucia in 1976.
The club is split into four stages – Junior (grades 7, 8 and 9), Under 15 (grades 9 and 10), Under 16 (grades 10 and 11) and Open (grades 11 and 12). Juniors and Under 15s row in quad sculls, and Under 16s and Opens row eights. The 1st VIII has been successful at the Head of the River on 23 occasions, winning in 1919, 1934, 1937, 1938, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1990, 1992, 1993 and 2002. The club's 1st VIII also won the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup is a rowing event at Henley Royal Regatta open to school 1st VIIIs.-History:The event was instituted in 1946 for public schools in the United Kingdom...
at the Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
in 1993, becoming the first Australian crew to do so.
In recent times Brisbane Boys' College rowers have gone on to represent Queensland and Australia in Regattas world wide. John Dickson (Alumni 2005), Scott Laidler (Alumni 2007), and Cameron Stitt (Alumni 2008) are just some of the examples of old boys who have performed at representative level.