Hunters Hill High School
Encyclopedia
Hunter's Hill High School (HHHS) is a public, secondary
, co-educational day school
, located in Hunter's Hill
, a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney
, New South Wales
, Australia
. It is situated on the Lane Cove River
, near the Figtree Bridge.
Established in 1958, HHHS was the first co-educational high school in Sydney. Today the school is a comprehensive
high school
catering for approximately 585 students from Years 7 to 12, with most residing in the inner western suburbs
and lower North Shore
.
Hunter's Hill High School is a school of the New South Wales Department of Education and Training
(DET), and prepares students for the School Certificate
(Year 10), and the Higher School Certificate (Year 12).
The school colours chosen were two shades of blue and grey with the motto
Opera Ad Maiora, which may be translated from Latin
to "Work for Higher Endeavour". The sporting houses, reflecting the history of the area, were named after the ferries
that originally carried patrons to the picnic grounds: Rawson, Napier, Ferguson and Carrington.
By the time the school was officially opened on August 9, 1962, by Sir Eric Woodward
, the Governor of New South Wales, the enrolments had grown to 927 with a staff of 47. Classroom blocks had been built along with the senior block, including science laboratories, art rooms and general classrooms following in 1969. In 1973, Sir Eric Archibald Willis
, then Premier of New South Wales, opened the new library plus further classrooms and laboratories.
To much controversy, the school was threatened with closure by the New South Wales Government
in 2002, as part of its "Building the Future" plan. The school had been chosen for closure due to the number of competing private
and selective schools
in the area, and thus a drop in enrolments over recent years. It was estimated that the school could be sold for over A$
55 million. Teachers and students protested against the sale, and in 2002, following the commencement of the Save Hunters Hill High School Act 2002, drafted by Kerry Chikarovski
, former New South Wales
opposition leader, the decision was withdrawn just weeks before the planned closure date.
, six hectare
s in size, in suburban Hunters Hill. The site features natural bushland
, and sits on the southern shore of the Lane Cove River.
In 2000, the school's historic pavilion hall was burned down, causing upset to local residents and the school community. In 2006 a new school hall was completed.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
, co-educational day school
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...
, located in Hunter's Hill
Hunter's Hill, New South Wales
Hunters Hill is a suburb in Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Hunters Hill is located 9 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Hunter's Hill.Hunters Hill is situated on a...
, a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
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...
. It is situated on the Lane Cove River
Lane Cove River
The Lane Cove River is a tributary of the Parramatta River, Sydney, Australia. Its lower reaches form an arm of Sydney Harbour.-Description:...
, near the Figtree Bridge.
Established in 1958, HHHS was the first co-educational high school in Sydney. Today the school is a comprehensive
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
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....
catering for approximately 585 students from Years 7 to 12, with most residing in the inner western suburbs
Inner West (Sydney)
The Inner West is a general term which is used to describe the metropolitan area directly to the west of the Sydney central business district, New South Wales, Australia...
and lower North Shore
North Shore (Sydney)
The North Shore is an informal term used to describe the primarily residential area of northern metropolitan Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The term usually refers to the suburbs located on the north shore of Sydney Harbour between Middle Harbour and the Lane Cove River, up to...
.
Hunter's Hill High School is a school of 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...
(DET), and prepares students for the School Certificate
School Certificate
The School Certificate was a qualification issued by the Board of Studies, New South Wales, typically at the end of Year 10. The successful completion of the School Certificate is a requirement for completion of the Higher School Certificate...
(Year 10), and the Higher School Certificate (Year 12).
History
The first Principal, J.S. Rae, was responsible for the initial intake of 368 students and staff of twenty. In Form 1, the equivalent of Year 7 today, classes went from 1A to 1M with as many as 48 students to a class.The school colours chosen were two shades of blue and grey with the motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
Opera Ad Maiora, which may be translated from Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
to "Work for Higher Endeavour". The sporting houses, reflecting the history of the area, were named after the ferries
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
that originally carried patrons to the picnic grounds: Rawson, Napier, Ferguson and Carrington.
Eric Woodward
Lieutenant General Sir Eric Winslow Woodward KCMG, KCVO, CB, CBE, DSO was an Australian military officer and Viceroy...
, the Governor of New South Wales, the enrolments had grown to 927 with a staff of 47. Classroom blocks had been built along with the senior block, including science laboratories, art rooms and general classrooms following in 1969. In 1973, Sir Eric Archibald Willis
Eric Willis
Sir Eric Archibald Willis KBE, CMG was an Australian politician, Cabinet Minister and the 34th Premier of New South Wales, serving from 23 January 1976 to 14 May 1976. Born in Murwillumbah in 1922, Willis was educated at Murwillumbah High School and the University of Sydney, where he obtained a...
, then Premier of New South Wales, opened the new library plus further classrooms and laboratories.
To much controversy, the school was threatened with closure by the New South Wales Government
Government of New South Wales
The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
in 2002, as part of its "Building the Future" plan. The school had been chosen for closure due to the number of competing private
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...
and selective schools
Selective school (New South Wales)
Selective schools in New South Wales, Australia are government high schools operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training, that have accepted their students based upon their academic merit...
in the area, and thus a drop in enrolments over recent years. It was estimated that the school could be sold for over A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
55 million. Teachers and students protested against the sale, and in 2002, following the commencement of the Save Hunters Hill High School Act 2002, drafted by Kerry Chikarovski
Kerry Chikarovski
Kerry Anne Chikarovski was leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. She served as Leader of the Opposition between 1998 and 2002....
, former New South Wales
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
opposition leader, the decision was withdrawn just weeks before the planned closure date.
Campus
Hunter's Hill High School is located on a single campusCampus
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...
, six hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s in size, in suburban Hunters Hill. The site features natural bushland
Bushland
Bushland is any area in Australia that is predominantly indigenous flora and fauna.Bushland is the term commonly used by conservation protection groups and other environmental groups as a blanket term for natural vegetation, which may cover any kind of habitat from open shrubby country with few...
, and sits on the southern shore of the Lane Cove River.
In 2000, the school's historic pavilion hall was burned down, causing upset to local residents and the school community. In 2006 a new school hall was completed.
Notable alumni
- Rose ByrneRose ByrneMary Rose Byrne is an Australian actress.Byrne made her screen debut in 1994 with a small role in the film Dallas Doll...
– Actress - Nadia TownsendNadia TownsendNadia Townsend is an Australian dramatic actress. She is best known for her role in the Channel 7 police drama City Homicide, as Detective Senior Constable Allie Kingston...
– Actress - Byram Johnston OAMOrder of AustraliaThe 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"...
– Former president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of AustraliaInstitute of Chartered Accountants of AustraliaThe Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia is the professional accounting body representing Chartered Accountants in Australia. It has over 50,000 members and has some 12,000 students. It is a founding member of the Global Accounting Alliance .-History:The Institute of Chartered... - Jessica NapierJessica NapierJessica Napier is a New Zealand born actress. She has been working consistently in Australian film and television for the past 15 years...
– Actress - Holly ThrosbyHolly ThrosbyHolly Throsby is a songwriter, vocalist, guitarist and pianist from Sydney, Australia. Throsby was nominated for an Australian Recording Industry Association 'Best Female Artist' Award in 2006 for Under the Town and in the same category in 2008 for A Loud Call.- Career :Holly Throsby was raised...
– Musician - Cliff Neville - Former Supervising Producer; "60 Minutes", Deputy Director of News; Seven Network Australia and Chief of Staff; "The Australian".
- Peter Semmler QC - Barrister. MA (Cantab.)
- Clive Small APM - Former Asst.Commissioner NSW POLICE FORCE and Chief Investigator ICAC.
- Michael NevilleMichael NevilleMichael Neville may refer to:*Mike Neville , Canadian professional ice hockey player*Mike Neville , former British television presenter...
- Award Winning Creative Director. - Phil Atkinson - BAM. Multi Award Winning Creative Director and Art Director.
- Alex Brooking - Ambassador to Hungary. Former Director, Western Europe Section; EU.
- Christopher Craigie SC - Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP)
- Jeffrey Shaw QCJeff Shaw (politician)Jeffrey William "Jeff" Shaw, QC was an Australian lawyer, judge and former Attorney General of New South Wales.-Early life and education:...
- Former NSW Attorney-General and Supreme Court Judge. - Steven Tuynman – former Wallaby