, motto_translation = Nothing without labour , address = Gregory Terrace , city = Spring Hill , state =

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, postcode = 4000 , country = Australia , coordinates = , type =

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

secondary day school , denomination =

Non-denominational A non-denominational person or organization is one that does not follow (or is not restricted to) any particular or specific religious denomination. Overview The term has been used in the context of various faiths including Jainism, Baháʼí Fait ...

, gender =

Girls A girl is a young female human, usually a child or an adolescent. When a girl becomes an adult, she is accurately described as a ''woman''. However, the term ''girl'' is also used for other meanings, including ''young woman'',Dictionary.c ...

, established = , principal = Jacinda Euler , colours = Royal blue , slogan = , enrolment = , num_employ = , homepage = , sister_school =

Brisbane Grammar School , motto_translation = Nothing Without Labour , established = 1868 , type = Independent, day & boarding , gender = Boys , denomination = Non-denominational , slogan = , key_people = , ci ...

, affiliations = Brisbane Girls Grammar School is an

independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

non-denominational A non-denominational person or organization is one that does not follow (or is not restricted to) any particular or specific religious denomination. Overview The term has been used in the context of various faiths including Jainism, Baháʼí Fait ...

secondary day school for girls, located in Spring Hill, an inner suburb of

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

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 ...

. Founded in 1875, the school is one of eight grammar schools in Queensland that were established under the ''

Grammar Schools Act The Grammar Schools Act 1860 was passed by Queensland's first parliament in 1860 and allowed for the establishment of a grammar school in any town where £1000 could be raised locally. Between the years 1863 and 1892, ten grammar schools were o ...

'' of 1860. The school originally opened as a branch of the

with fifty students under the direction of a principal, Janet O'Connor. Brisbane Girls Grammar is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), the

Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia The Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia (abbreviated as AGSA) is a non-profit organisation that promotes the education of girls in single-sex girls' schools, and promotes the image of, and support the development of, girls' schools in Australa ...

(AGSA), and is a member of the

Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association The Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association Inc (QGSSSA) is a sporting association for girls from eight private girls' schools, one co-educational private school, and one co-educational public school, based in Brisbane, Queensla ...

(QGSSSA). Brisbane Girls Grammar School has approximately 1,370 students enrolled in Years 7 to 12. Its brother school is Brisbane Grammar School.

History

Brisbane Girls Grammar School was founded in March 1875, six years before women were admitted to universities in Sydney and Melbourne. The school opened as a branch of Brisbane Grammar School with fifty female students under the direction of a lady principal, Janet O'Connor, in premises on George Street, Brisbane. Within six months the school outgrew these premises and subsequently moved to a site on

Wickham Terrace Wickham Terrace is one of the historic streets of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is known as the street of private medical specialists. Geography Wickham Terrace commences at the western corner of the intersection of Ann Street and Whar ...

. By July 1882, the school was well established and a decision was made to separate from Brisbane Grammar School, so as to operate independently under the ''Grammar Schools Act''. Plans were also made to move the school to its present location on Gregory Terrace, Spring Hill. In 1884, the Main Building, designed by architect

Richard Gailey Richard Gailey, Sr. (22 April 1834 – 24 April 1924) was an Irish-born Australian architect. Gailey was born in Donegal, Ireland and emigrated to Australia in 1864, becoming an influential and prolific architect in colonial-era Brisbane. He di ...

, was opened to one hundred students. The school's

motto A motto (derived from the Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of an individual, family, social group, or organisation. Mot ...

is ''Nil Sine Labore'',

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

for "Nothing Without Labour". It was adopted from the Brisbane Grammar School, which in turn borrowed it from

Horace Quintus Horatius Flaccus (; 8 December 65 – 27 November 8 BC), known in the English-speaking world as Horace (), was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus (also known as Octavian). The rhetorician Quintilian regarded his ' ...

's Second Book of Satires. The school badge is an open book on a shield with the school motto on a ribbon underneath. The open book was also borrowed from

Oxford University Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

, where over half of the original staff of Brisbane Grammar School were originally secured.The School colour is royal blue, adopted from the colours of Brisbane Grammar School, which were originally derived as a compromise between the Oxford colour of light blue and the Cambridge colour of dark blue. In 2007, the $25 million, six-level Cherrell Hirst Creative Learning Centre opened, winning several awards including the prestigious Sir Zelman Cowen Award for public architecture in 2008. In 2009 a new suspended swimming pool and multi-purpose covered area were completed. The Gehrmann Building, constructed in 1986, was renovated in 2011. In 2015, the five-storey, $17.4 million Research Learning Centre opened, to coincide with the introduction of Year 7 to the School. Home to a collection of more than 55,000 resources, the Research Learning Centre provides numerous flexible

contemporary learning spaces Learning space or learning setting refers to a physical setting for a learning environment, a place in which teaching and learning occur. The term is commonly used as a more definitive alternative to "classroom," but it may also refer to an ...

as well as space for individual study.

Co-curriculum

Brisbane Girls Grammar offers 18 competitive and non-competitive sports. The School is a founding member of the Queensland Girls’ Secondary Schools Sporting Association (QGSSSA) competition, and participates in a range of Brisbane Club associations as well as operating a comprehensive Interhouse programme. QGSSSA: artistic gymnastics, athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, cross country, football, hockey, netball, rhythmic gymnastics, softball, swimming, tennis, touch and volleyball. CLUB: Fencing (QFA), Rowing (BRSA) and water polo (BWPI) Lifestyle: Yoga, pilates and rock climbing. The three core music domains (strings, band and choir) offer more than 900 places for students to pursue their musical talents at their specific level of proficiency. Specialist music staff provide instrumental and vocal tuition in group and private lessons.

Principals

House system

As with most Australian schools, Brisbane Girls Grammar School uses a

house system The house system is a traditional feature of schools in the United Kingdom. The practice has since spread to Commonwealth countries and the United States. The school is divided into subunits called "houses" and each student is allocated to o ...

. The house system provides a framework of support for students during their years at the school. The house system originated in 1964, with 10 houses that were amalgamated to five in 1966. In 1973 the house system reverted to Interform Competitions but was reintroduced in 1980. Since then, some of the previously discontinued houses have returned, while new houses have been created. There are currently nine houses, each named after past principals and teachers of the school as well as previous chairmen of the board of trustees: ;Beanland (Pink) Named after Sophia Beanland, the former Head Mistress of the school from 1882 to 1889. The house was first established in 1964 when the school had ten Houses, each with approximately fifty students. Beanland House and four other houses were discontinued in 1966, as the system of ten houses was not manageable. Beanland House was reintroduced in 1994. ;England (Blue) Named after John Edwyn England, one of the longest serving trustees of the school. He was a member of the trust for 20 years and was chairman of the board from 1952 to 1961. ;Gibson (Purple) Originally formed in 1964 and lasted until 1973 when the house system was discontinued in favour of a horizontal division based on year groups. Gibson House was officially reconstituted in February 1980 after a gap of seven years and is named in honour of Major John Lockhart Gibson, M.D. one of Brisbane's best-known doctors. Gibson was appointed Vice-Chairman of the School Board of Trustees in 1906. From 1929 until his resignation in 1940, he served as chairman of the board. ;Griffith (Red) Originally established in 1964 and combined with Mackinlay House in 1966 to form a larger Griffith house. It continued in this form until 1973, when the house system was discontinued. Griffith House was officially reconstituted in February 1980 and is named in honour of Sir Samuel Walter Griffith, former Chairman of Trustees, Premier of the Colony of Queensland, Chief Justice of Queensland and the first Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. ;Hirschfeld (Orange) Named after

Konrad Hirschfeld Franz Konrad Saddler Hirschfeld CBE (1904-1987) was an Australian medical practitioner and surgeon. He pioneered thoracic surgeries in Australia. He became a university academic, administrator and medical historian. Early life Franz Konrad Sa ...

(1904–1987) who served as chairman of the board of Brisbane Girls Grammar School between 1963 and 1976. Hirschfeld was involved in many aspects of the medical profession and also had an enduring passion and commitment to education. Hirschfeld House was formed in 1980 in recognition of his services to education and the school. ;Lilley (Green) One of nine houses established in 1964. Lilley House was named after Sir Charles Lilley, the former Premier and Chief Justice of Queensland, and the founder of Brisbane Girls Grammar School. Particularly influential in the educational arena, Sir Charles Lilley had a substantial influence on the Education Act 1875 and was responsible for the introduction of free education in Queensland in 1870. ;Mackay (White) Started in 1998 and named after Margaret Annie Mackay, a pupil at the school in its early days. She became a teacher at Brisbane Girls Grammar School and was appointed Head Mistress in 1916. She retired in 1924. ;O'Connor (Maroon) Named after Brisbane Girls' Grammar School's first Headmistress, Janet O'Connor. From 1875 to 1877, O'Connor led the fledgeling school which was then located on George Street. O'Connor House was established in 1964 and was discontinued in 1966. In 1990, it was re-established and adopted maroon as its colour. ;Woolcock (Yellow) First established in 1964 and named after John Laskey Woolcock in recognition of his contribution to the School and to education in general. In 1966, Woolcock and O'Connor Houses combined, keeping the name Woolcock. In 1973 the House was discontinued but was re-established in 1980.

Campuses and facilities

In addition to the main school site at Gregory Terrace, Spring Hill, the school has a Sports Campus in the Brisbane suburb of Fig Tree Pocket and an

outdoor education Outdoor education is organized learning that takes place in the outdoors. Outdoor education programs sometimes involve residential or journey wilderness-based experiences in which students participate in a variety of adventurous challenges and out ...

campus, Marrapatta, in the

Mary Valley The Mary River ( Kabi Kabi: ''Moocooboola'') is a major river system located in the South East and Wide Bay–Burnett regions of Queensland, Australia. Etymology The river was traditionally named ''Moocooboola'' by the indigenous Australian ...

. Brisbane Campus, Gregory Terrace, Spring Hill Since 1884, Brisbane Girls Grammar has continually developed their main campus. Recent building projects include the Cherrel Hirst Creative Learning Centre, opened in 2007 to house

music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect ...

, drama,

computer technology Computing is any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computing machinery. It includes the study and experimentation of algorithmic processes, and development of both hardware and software. Computing has scientific, e ...

and

art Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas. There is no generally agreed definition of wha ...

facilities, and a 25-metre suspended

swimming pool A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, paddling pool, or simply pool, is a structure designed to hold water to enable Human swimming, swimming or other leisure activities. Pools can be built into the ground (in-ground pools) or built ...

in 2009.Campuses , Brisbane Girls Grammar School (http://www.bggs.qld.edu.au/about/campuses/ ) In 2015, to coincide with the introduction of Year 7, the school developed the Research Learning Centre. Marrapatta Memorial Outdoor Education Centre The school operates a dedicated

Outdoor education Outdoor education is organized learning that takes place in the outdoors. Outdoor education programs sometimes involve residential or journey wilderness-based experiences in which students participate in a variety of adventurous challenges and out ...

Centre in the

at Imbil, approximately 2 hours drive north of Brisbane. Rangakarra Recreational and Environmental Education Centre In 2013, Brisbane Girls Grammar School acquired a 13-hectare site in Fig Tree Pocket, which comprises two playing fields and three ovals. It is from the CBD and is the home ground for sports such as hockey, cricket and touch. The campus is also used to teach environmental sciences, with school groups working with local organisations to rehabilitate areas of ecological significance. The site was officially named Rangakarra Recreational and Environmental Education Centre on 23 May 2015 and the Main Field was renamed the Daphne Welch (1949) Oval in honour of past student and sporting legend

Daphne Pirie Daphne Pirie, Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, MBE Order of Australia, AO née Welch; (21 December 1931 – 1 April 2022) was an Australian Track and field, athlete, Field hockey, hockey player, and golfer, and a Sport management, spor ...

(Welch) MBE, AO.

Notable alumnae

Minna Atherton Minna Atherton (born 17 May 2000) is an Australian competitive swimmer who won the gold medals in the 100- and 200-metre backstroke events at the 2015 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships in Singapore. She tied the junior world record (hel ...

Australian competitive swimmer and 100m backstroke world record holder *

Betty Churcher Elizabeth Ann Dewar Churcher (''née'' Cameron; 11 January 193131 March 2015) was an Australian arts administrator, best known as director of the National Gallery of Australia from 1990 to 1997. She was also a painter in her own right ea ...

artist and former director of the Australian National Gallery (attended

Somerville House Somerville House is an Independent school, independent, Boarding school, boarding and day school for girls, located in South Brisbane, Queensland, South Brisbane, an inner-city suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Es ...

from age 7–15) *

Shelley Craft Shelley Craft (born 21 June 1976) is an Australian television personality. She is most well known for her long-running presenting roles on the Seven Network programs ''Saturday Disney'' from 1996 until 2002, and '' The Great Outdoors'' from 200 ...

television presenter * Professor Adele Green Queenslander of the Year 2013, epidemiologist, Queensland Institute of Medical Research. *

Air Vice Marshal Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes u ...

Julie Hammer Air Vice Marshal Julie Hammer, (born 17 February 1955) is an Australian engineer and a retired senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). She was the first woman to be promoted to one-star rank, and also the first woman to be promo ...

engineer *

Gwen Harwood Gwen Harwood (née Gwendoline Nessie Foster, 8 June 19205 December 1995) was an Australian poet and librettist. Harwood is regarded as one of Australia's finest poets, publishing over 420 works, including 386 poems and 13 librettos. She won nu ...

poet * Professor

Dorothy Hill Dorothy Hill, (10 September 1907 – 23 April 1997) was an Australian geologist and palaeontologist, the first female professor at an Australian university, and the first female president of the Australian Academy of Science. Education Doroth ...

geologist * May Darlington Laheylawyer and judge *

Margaret McMurdo Margaret Anne McMurdo (born 30 August 1954) is the former president of the Queensland Court of Appeal. Appointed on 30 July 1998, she was the first female president of an appellate court in Australia. She resigned effective 24 March 2017 afte ...

president and judge of Queensland Court of Appeal *

Margy Osmond Margy Osmond is an Australian businesswoman and current Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF), the peak national industry group for the tourism, aviation and transport sectors. Prior to joining TTF in October 2014, she was ...

businesswoman * Professor

Cheryl Praeger Cheryl Elisabeth Praeger (born 7 September 1948, Toowoomba, Queensland) is an Australian mathematician. Praeger received BSc (1969) and MSc degrees from the University of Queensland (1974), and a doctorate from the University of Oxford in 197 ...

mathematician *

Judith Rodriguez Judith Catherine Rodriguez (13 February 1936 — 22 November 2018) was an Australian poet. She was a recipient of the Christopher Brennan Award. Life Rodriguez was born Judith Catherine Green in Perth and grew up in Brisbane. She was educate ...

(née Green)poet *

Myf Shepherd Myfanwy Amy Elizabeth Shepherd (born 4 April 1991), known professionally as Myf Shepherd, is an Australian fashion model. Early and personal life She was born in Cairns, Australia in 1991 and attended Brisbane Girls Grammar School. She auditio ...

international model * Lenore Tayloreditor of

The Guardian Australia ''Guardian Australia'' is the Australian website of the British global online and print newspaper, ''The Guardian''. Available solely in an online format, the newspaper's launch was led by Katharine Viner in time for the 2013 Australian fede ...

Edith Alice Waterworth Edith Alice Waterworth (18 October 1873 – 6 November 1957) was an Australian welfare worker, columnist and women's rights activist from the 19th century. She fought to liberalise Tasmania for women and she often petitioned the government to i ...

OBE welfare worker, columnist and women's rights activist * Grace Wilson

References

External links

*
Brisbane Girls Grammar School website
{{Authority control Girls' schools in Queensland Educational institutions established in 1875 Private secondary schools in Brisbane Nondenominational Christian schools in Brisbane Spring Hill, Queensland Richard Gailey buildings 1875 establishments in Australia Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia