How one of state’s oldest high schools will celebrate 140 years

A reunion of students, possibly in the thousands, will take place as history is brought to life at the Heritage City campus.

High School museum curator Wendy Benson adjusts a display of the first uniform worn at the Maryborough girls high school

Nostalgia will be awash on both sides of Kent Street on Saturday when decades of past pupils gather to mark the 140th anniversary of the Maryborough State High School.

A focal point of the reunion will be the school museum in the original historic building, where the 1881 first register for the Maryborough Boys Grammar School is kept.

Girls were not to be outdone: their school opened across the street in 1883 in the even grander brick building.

Michelle Griffin, assistant to principal Simon Done, said “hundreds, maybe thousands” were expected to register to tour the school, which turned co-ed almost 40 years ago.

The generic reunion will run from 10am to 2pm but “mini reunions” will begin at various venues around Maryborough from Friday night and continue on Saturday night.

Museum curators Kmara Meyers (left) and Wendy Benson amuse themselves practising French verbs from old text books. In the foreground is the tapestry chaise lounge from the headmistress's office, circa 1903.

“We know of some groups of past students that have booked for dinners for 90 to 100 so it will be interesting to see how many register,” Mrs Griffin said.

“We are opening up relevant areas of the school for four hours so they can relive their days in the classroom.”

Current students will perform musical interludes outside the administration block, dance displays will be shown in the Murdoch Darling Centre and an art display will be mounted in the A Block hall.

Picnic hampers have been ordered by groups planning to reminisce with old friends in “fairy ring” style.

The traditional time capsule will be in video form, with past students invited to sit before the camera and tell of their school day memories.

Among those attending will be former principals Noel Rollings and Leoll Barron.

Nelson the popular school wellbeing dog will also wander the grounds and pose for photographs.