Brinsley Road Community School was a state-run high school (years 7-12) in the suburb of

Camberwell Camberwell () is a district of South London, England, in the London Borough of Southwark, southeast of Charing Cross. Camberwell was first a village associated with the church of St Giles and a common of which Goose Green is a remnant. This e ...

, in Melbourne, Victoria,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. The school was established in February 1973 under the umbrella of Camberwell High School with the support of Camberwell High School's progressive principal Margaret Essex. The school was formally referred to by the Education Department as the "Camberwell High Annex".

School philosophy and history

The concept for the school was developed by Roy Irvine, its initial coordinator, who convinced Mr Schrum, then Director of Secondary Schools in Victoria, of the need for the alternative form of education that the school would offer. The school started with 100 students from forms 1 to 6 (years 7 to 12), many of whom with talents and aspirations that had little chance of being developed in conventional more structured state high schools of the time. The school occupied a rambling old mansion that was previously used as a children's hostel by the Salvation Army. The mansion was originally owned by the Baillieu family. The school buildings have now been demolished. The site and grounds now form the Brinsley Nature Reserve. The school, also referred to as an "open school", aimed to provide opportunities for students to become both experience-oriented and knowledge-oriented. After several relocations, the original school concept is still operating as the Caulfield Park Community School. The school was located at: * Brinsley Road from 1973 to 1974 * Argo Street South Yarra during 1975 * Fitzroy Street St Kilda, from 2nd term 1976, in the hall of the St Kilda Uniting Church, later including the house attached to the church on Princes St. * Balaclava Road Caulfield up to 2007 The school was well known for art, mathematics, science, media and practical subjects such as welding and woodwork. Many of its 'Graduates' have found a great deal of personal and professional success and attribute some of this to the extremely supportive nature of the schools community .

Principals

(Irvine, Smith, Schapper and Tasker were titled 'School Co-ordinators') * Roy Irvine, 1973-1974 (Brinsley Road) * John White, 1975 (Argo Street) * David Schapper, 1976 (St Kilda Alternative School) * Alan Tasker, 1977 (St Kilda Alternative School) * David Roycroft, 2007 (Caulfield Park Community School)

Notable teachers

Rod Moss Rod Moss (born April 1948) is an Australian painter and writer. Life Moss was born in Ferntree Gully, April 1948 and completed both primary and secondary schooling in Boronia before gaining Secondary Art Teaching credentials and serving the ...

, Artist

Notable alumni

*Dr.

Catriona Moore Catriona Moore (born 1956) is an Australian art historian, art theorist and academic. Background and research interests Dr. Catriona Moore's education and research since the 1970s has explored modernism, Australian feminist art, environment ...

, feminist art scholar * Polly Borland, photographer * Richard Lowenstein, film director *

Ray Argall Raymond Charles Argall (born 31 May 1957) is best known as a cinematographer and director for both film and television. He has also worked as an editor. His multi-award-winning feature film ''Return Home'' (1990) is regarded by many critics as ...

, filmmaker * Lisa Gerrard, singer/composer

References

{{Reflist

External links

Caulfield Park Community School
Public high schools in Victoria (state) Educational institutions established in 1973 Defunct schools in Victoria (state) 1973 establishments in Australia