Urrbrae Agricultural High School

Urrbrae Agricultural High School is a public high school in the Australian state of South Australia, with approximately 1,016 students. The school is located in the Adelaide suburb of Netherby, about south-east of the Adelaide city centre. It is adjacent to the Waite Agricultural Research Institute of the University of Adelaide, the CSIRO Agricultural Research facilities in the suburb of Urrbrae, and various other agricultural and horticultural facilities established by Peter Waite, the University of Adelaide, and the South Australian state government.

The school is designated as a Special Interest School in Agriculture and the Environment, and is the only comprehensive special interest agricultural secondary school in South Australia. UAHS web site
Retrieved 1 July 2010 Its courses are strongly focused on agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, aquaculture, environmental aspects of the earth, and other environmental subjects. In those aspects, it awards certificates. Urrbrae also has a strong science and technology background, with extensive technology workshops, and many related courses available to students; (e.g. environmental technology and automotive technology). It also offers education programs for adults, and houses a TAFE campus.

Urrbrae Agricultural High School has an application process for students in Year 6 (before 2022 year 7) who wish to attend Urrbrae in their secondary school years. Unlike most public schools, Urrbrae is not part of the zonal system, and does not necessarily accept students based on where they live; being the only comprehensive special interest agricultural secondary school in the State, it has students from all over the state. Students from country and distant areas often board locally, and many students travel long distances to school.

The campus includes a 35 hectare farm, (total size including farm, wetland, school and TAFE is 45 hectares) and year 10 Urrbrae students give tours to visiting students from other schools. Urrbrae also has a swimming pool, a rock climbing wall, asphalt tennis courts and playing fields. A large corner of the site has been turned into a wetland, which is open to other schools to visit.

History

The school was founded in 1932 through a bequest from Peter Waite, (a South Australian pastoralist and public benefactor), as a school to teach agriculture to boys. In 1972 it enrolled its first two female students, and in 2002 it achieved its first year-level that was equally represented by both genders.

The Urrbrae Old Scholars Association was established in 1934.

Buildings

Farm

The UAHS farm is a 35 hectare farm which has many enterprises, including:

*Sheep
*Cattle
*Poultry
*Aquaculture (such as Barramundi and Yabbies)
*Horses
*Orchard
*Bees
*Alpacas
*Marsupial Area (including native Australian animals, such as Wallabies, nocturnal species, lizards and snakes)
*Goats
*Vineyard (Wine is produced)
*Olive trees
*An extensive Wetland
*Pigs
*Native Animals

The Year 10, 11 and 12 students are involved in wine making, and with parental permission, are allowed to sample their own wine. Students are also able to make other produce, like butter and yoghurt, through Agriculture Studies courses. These include practical lessons during the week, where students are able to participate in hands-on activities in all the different enterprises at the school. Activities include grooming and caring for the animals, and making butter, olive oil, and dried fruit from the school orchard and vineyard. In Year 8, students undertake a "Home Project" where they care for an animal or a plant, and record their experiences. Students also make vegetable gardens (silver-beet, carrots, cabbages, beetroot, broccoli, olive trees, cauliflower etc.), and are permitted to take home or sell the produce they grow.

There are many lunch time clubs for students, with one for nearly every enterprise on the farm, including poultry, horses, plants and bee-keeping. Although club membership is voluntary, these clubs have high participation rates.

Uniform

;Females: (but not limited to females);
*Dress – Green Urrbrae dressDresses and skirts must be no more than 10cm above the knee.
*Skirt – Green Urrbrae skirt
*Shorts – Grey shorts
*Trousers – Grey trousers or bone moleskins
*DARK denim straight jeans
*Blouse – White with Urrbrae logo
*Blazer/Jacket – Green Urrbrae jumper of various styles
*Tights/Stockings/Pantyhose – Plain black or skin colour – no leggingsNo white socks on top of black stockings/pantyhose
*Socks – Black or white
*Footwear – Black leather shoes with no stripes or logos and matching laces or black/brown work boots
*Scarf – Bottle green or Maroon

;Males: (but not limited to males);
*Trousers – Grey trousers or bone moleskins
*DARK denim straight jeans
*Shorts – Grey shorts
*Socks – White or black
*Shirt – Green Urrbrae shirt with yellow logo
*Blazer/Jacket – Green Urrbrae jumper of various styles
*Footwear – Black shoes, no logos or stripes
*Hat – Green Bucket HatHead-ware is only required in terms 1 & 4.

;Show Uniform
*Shirt – Grey, available on loan
*Trousers – Bone moleskin
*School tie – available on loan

;Physical Education
*Shirt – Red with green stripes
*Shorts – Black gym shorts
*Shoes – White soled

;Agriculture Uniform
*Overalls
*Hat
*BootsBoots are recommended, but not required.
*Dark blue denim jeans (enforced 2023)

Notable alumni

Federal politicians

* Neil Andrew – former Federal speaker
* Graeme Campbell
* Patrick Secker

State politicians

* Robert Brokenshire
* Bruce Eastick – Liberals leader in SA in Dunstan era, later Speaker in Tonkin Government years
* Peter Lewis – SA speaker

References

External links

Urrbrae Agricultural High School official website







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Public schools in South Australia
Australian schools providing vocational education
Special interest high schools in South Australia
Educational institutions established in 1913
1913 establishments in Australia
Agriculture in South Australia