Knox Grammar School: Inside troubled history of Sydney’s richest school

Currently in the midst of a private chat room scandal, Knox Grammar has a reputation that supersedes itself: both the good and the bad. WARNING: Confronting.

WARNING: Confronting

Officially ranked as Sydney’s richest school, Knox Grammar has a reputation that supersedes itself. Both the good and the bad.

On Wednesday, multiple students from the independent Uniting Church school were suspended after sharing inappropriate images and engaging in “offensive commentary” in an online private chat room. Some of the conversations have also been forwarded to the NSW Police’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes unit.

Since then, The Daily Telegraph revealed depths of the ‘Gang Gang group chat’ which was hosted on instant messaging platform Discord.

The vile messages were discovered on instant messaging app, Discord. Picture: iStock.

Former students and friends were disguised by usernames like Ni**er Removal Service and Fa**othater3000 and sexist, racistm, homophobic and misogynistic content.

“I hate fems I hate gays, jews, people who don’t play fortnite, furries, ni**ers, I love titties, feet abortion, rape, drugs …” one user wrote.

The scandal is the latest to hit the $35,000 a year institution, where its glowing alumni (former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, actor Hugh Jackman and actor Hugo Weaving) and reputation is threatened by its dark history dappled with misconduct and impropriety.

Knox Grammar is regarded as Australia’s richest school. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Sports director jailed for child abuse material

In 2020, Knox Grammar’s former sports director Nick Warby was jailed after he pleaded guilty for the possession of child abuse material.

Warby was sentenced by NSW District Court Judge Gina O’Rourke to 28 months in prison, with a non-parole period of 14 months. Handing down the punishment, she said Warby was at a low risk of reoffending, noting he had showed positive change and embraced Christianity and stopped taking drugs and alcohol.

The then-31-year-old was arrested in August 2019 after police found more than 3000 photos and videos on his phone and other devices. At the time he told police he was “relieved” and a “blessing in disguise” to have been charged and arrested.

Nick Warby arriving at the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney in January 2020. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett.

2015 royal commission into child sex abuse

Nearly six years later, during the 2015 royal commission into child sex abuse, Knox Grammar was accused of concealing 33 years of child sexual abuse of its students. During this time five former teachers were convicted of child sexual abuse between the 1970s to 2009.

In testimony from former students, the commission found several instances where children were fondled and asked to perform acts of oral sex.

Documents detailing the abuse had also been lost, with the school unable to offer an explanation or excuse.

The history child sexual abuse claims were dated from the 1970s to 2009.

One incident also involved the sexual assault of a 14-year-old boarder in November 1998, by an offender wearing a balaclava. Police, however, were never informed.

Former headmaster, Dr Ian Paterson was singled out for his role in fostering an environment conducive to the abuse.

“During Dr Paterson’s time as headmaster of Knox, his attitude and the culture he fostered at the school were dismissive of allegations of child sexual abuse,” a statement from the royal commission said.

“He deliberately withheld information from Knox Council, the body responsible for the management of the school.”

Originally published as Knox Grammar School: Inside troubled history of Sydney’s richest school