The school of schools – if your parents can afford it, and your marks are decent – is the Brisbane Grammar School. Students in smart navy blue blazers piped in pale blue move with seemingly effortless grace through their beautifully appointed campus. Past pupils have had stellar careers in business, the arts and public life.
It all began on February 1 1869, when Queensland’s second Governor, Sir Samuel Wensley Blackall, formally opened the first campus in Roma Street.
Sir Samuel Wensley Blackall had the unenviable task of taking over the vice-regal reigns in a time of constitutional crisis. His predecessor, the first Governor, was Sir George Ferguson Bowen, who had departed for New Zealand with his exotically aristocratic wife, Diamantina, the Contessa di Roma.
Blackall’s kindly and conciliatory manner won him the undying admiration of the people of Queensland, but he could not resolve the political crisis in the Colony. He was also in poor health as a result of his service in Africa, and passed away barely two years after the Grammar School festivities. Sadly, it is hard to find a photograph of him not looking exhausted. This is one of the better ones.
The prospectus:
The advertisement for the school showed the academic program intended for the sons of the gentry, which at that time comprised well-to-do station owners, businessmen and politicians. Actually, come to think of it, very little has changed in that regard.
THE BRISBANE GRAMMAR SCHOOL has been established with the view of providing a liberal education for the youth of Brisbane, and of Queensland in general.
In the Lower School. The following will be the subjects taught: The English, Latin, French, and German Languages; Australian and Political Geography; History; Arithmetic; and the Elements of Algebra; Writing and Drawing; the Elements of Natural History; Vocal Music.
In the Upper School. -The English, Latin, French, German, and Greek Languages; Political and Physical Geography; History; Mathematics; the Elements of Natural and Physical Science; the Elements of Logic, Jurisprudence and Political Economy; Drawing; Vocal Music.
All the pupils will be required to learn Latin and one modern language, and to attend the drill class. They will also have the opportunity of studying both French and German, without extra charge.
No boy will be permitted to attend the School who cannot produce a Treasurer’s order authorising the Head Master to admit him as a pupil.
A limited stock of school requisites will be placed in the charge of the Head Master and will be supplied upon payment of the regulated charges. With this exception, it has been arranged that the Masters shall have nothing to do with the receipt of money.
The Vacations will be six weeks at Christmas, one week at Easter, and two weeks at Midwinter.
The whole holidays will be: Every Saturday throughout the year; Foundation Day, February 27; St. Patrick’s Day; St. George’s Day; the Queen’s Birthday; the Prince of Wales’ Birthday; St. Andrew’s Day; and Separation Day.
The School will be opened on the 1st of February 1869.
Parents who propose sending their sons to the School are requested to intimate the fact as early as possible, either to the Treasurer or to the Head Master.
By the order of the Board of Trustees,
THOMAS HARLIN, Head Master.
A Brisbane Girls Grammar School opened in 1875, initially as an offshoot of the Boys’ school.
In 1881, the demands of commerce and infrastructure caused the Grammar School to be moved several hundred metres to Gregory Terrace. Roma Street Railway Station took up the original site, and has been to varying degrees an eyesore for the last 140 years.
The Grammar School’s new buildings, designed by James Cowlishaw, were completed in 1881, and have been classified as “Collegiate Gothic.” I think that is a wonderful description of my own high school days, a kilometre or so away, and in considerably less elegant surroundings. I like to imagine that Grammar doesn’t have that pervasive odour of heavily used sports socks and disinfectant, mingled with very stale sandwiches.
Today the Great Hall (pictured below) stands amongst the tropical palm trees, and represents the past. Newer buildings on campus appear shockingly modern beside it, but as is to be expected, they are all incredibly well-appointed. One Old Boy of my acquaintance has told me of the annual “suggested amounts” of donations to the old Alma Mater. Suffice it to say, all of Brisbane’s homeless would be very comfortably accommodated for life if every past pupil ponied up that kind of cash.
A. A. Morrison, ‘Blackall, Samuel Wensley (1809–1871)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
The Brisbane Courier February 2, 1869
The Brisbane Courier January 3, 1869
Moreton Bay and More 