Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School turns 100
Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School in Essendon has turned 100. The school, based out of a historic mansion, has celebrated the momentous occasion by recreating an old photo.
North West
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While Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School looks very different to when it opened in 1920, the spirit of the girls has never wavered.
The school celebrated 100 years of education on February 11 with the burial of a time capsule, as well as the recreation of one of its earliest school photos from its first year.
The school started when Winstow Girls’ Grammar School and Blinkbonnie Ladie’s College merged.
The school grounds were formed out of the old mansion of Edward William Cole, the founder of Cole’s Book Arcade, who’s daughters sold it to the Anglican Church when he died.
Melbourne Anglican Archbishop Lowther Clarke, who was determined to start an Anglican school in the west, then turned the mansion into the school that we know today.
Deputy Principal Tracy Healy has been working at the school for 30 years and said the mansion became a bit of a cornerstone for the school.
“It became an option for young women in Essendon and nearby to be offered an education that they previously had not,” she said.
“The interesting thing is we know a lot has changed over the last 100 years but the core values haven’t changed at all.”
The heritage-listed building is still in use today, and is predominantly used for music classes.
“Thirty years ago cooking classes were still held upstairs in the mansion kitchens – it was quite amazing,” Ms Healy said.
Since then, the school has undergone significant refurbishments in the past 20 years, including the addition of a new Early Learning Centre – called Blinkbonnie – in 2018.
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The school has grown from 135 to 800 students, and has kept the traditional navy blue school colours.
“The uniform used to be a white shirt and a navy blue pinafore, so navy blue has been a constant thread from the very beginning,” Ms Healy said.
Ms Healy said the school produced wonderful, empowered women who were ready to make a change in the world.
“My favourite thing I’ve ever heard a student say is there’s so many people here trying to make you a good person, you can’t help but become one,” Ms Healy said.
The school marked the centenary with a founder day assembly and a time capsule containing the school roll, a map, written memories and student artwork.
It will be opened in 2120.
Each student was presented with a centenary badge and a centenary cupcake to mark the occasion.