All Hallows' School (AHS) is a
Catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
day school
A day school — as opposed to a boarding school — is an educational institution where children are given instruction during the day, after which the students return to their homes. A day school has full-day programs when compared to a regular s ...
for girls, located in
Fortitude Valley, close to the central business district of
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...
,
Queensland
Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...
, Australia.
Founded in 1861, the school is a
day school
A day school — as opposed to a boarding school — is an educational institution where children are given instruction during the day, after which the students return to their homes. A day school has full-day programs when compared to a regular s ...
, having had a
boarding school
A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. They have existed for many centuries, and now extend acr ...
attached to it for many years. It follows in the tradition of the Irish
Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy is a religious institute for women in the Catholic Church. It was founded in 1831 in Dublin, Ireland, by Catherine McAuley. In 2019, the institute had about 6,200 Religious sister, sisters worldwide, organized into a number ...
, and caters for more than 1,550 girls from Years five to twelve.
The school was the first permanent home of the Sisters of Mercy in Queensland,
[ and is the oldest surviving secondary school in Brisbane.]
All Hallows' is a member of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australia, the Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association, and the Catholic Secondary Schoolgirls' Sports Association.[
]
The school's motto
A motto (derived from the Latin language, Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian language, Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a Sentence (linguistics), sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of a ...
is in French, ''Dieu et Devoir'' (English: "God and Duty"). This motto was formulated in 1911, 50 years after the school opened. The French language was chosen for the motto on the basis of the strong French influence in the school's early years.[
]
Many of the All Hallows' School Buildings have been listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.
In the 2017 NAPLAN Year 9 test, All Hallows' was ranked in the top 10 Queensland secondary schools.
History
19th century
The story of the foundation of All Hallows' School must be set against the rudimentary "pioneer" education system and bitter sectarian
Sectarianism is a debated concept. Some scholars and journalists define it as pre-existing fixed communal categories in society, and use it to explain political, cultural, or religious conflicts between groups. Others conceive of sectarianism a ...
disputes in Queensland education during the 1850s and early 1860s. According to Johnston, until 1860 "secondary education tended to receive a fairly low priority in state thinking – which was not surprising since the provision of a primary level was so difficult, too difficult to manage". He continues: "There were no state initiatives to provide its own system until 1912. Secondary education, seen as a perquisite of middle-class
The middle class refers to a class of people in the middle of a social hierarchy, often defined by occupation, income, education, or social status. The term has historically been associated with modernity, capitalism and political debate. Commo ...
life, suitable for the children of business and professional men and established pastoralists, was allowed to be offered by private and church bodies."
Queensland historian Ross Fitzgerald points out that until well into the twentieth century "the majority of (Queensland Catholics) ... belonged to lower socio-economic groups".
First Catholic secondary school in Queensland
Contrary to the development of most schools, All Hallows' School, as the first Catholic secondary school in Queensland, sought to serve those less fortunate in colonial society while operating under the same legislative framework as the more affluent grammar schools. Serving poorer, often Irish, Roman Catholic, immigrant women in the area of Fortitude Valley, the school did not raise the required subscription for government aid and, in a time of bitter sectarianism within Queensland, the school maintained fierce independence in curriculum from what was seen by many within the Catholic community as attempts by a hostile secular government at interference.
Relocation to Duncan's Hill
In 1863, with pupils and sisters growing in numbers, it was soon realised that a suitable place for a convent must be found. It was envisaged that a small House of Mercy would be established on the site of what would become All Hallows' School. 1 November 1863 saw the transfer of the party from a small structure adjacent to what is now Saint Stephen's Cathedral to 'Adderton House' overlooking the Brisbane River
The Brisbane River (Turrbal language, Turrbal: ) is the longest river in South East Queensland, Australia. It flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay on the Coral Sea. John Oxley, the first European to explore the ...
from high upon Duncan's Hill.
The Bishop has lately purchased the finest house and situation in Brisbane for a convent. The purchase money is 6,000 – where it is to come from I know not – but I trust God will send it. As soon as we get into it, we are to commence a House of Mercy ... The constant influx of Emigrants renders a House of Mercy desirable but it will not be a big one.
Mother Vincent Whitty marvelled at the position of the new house in a way that many visitors to the school have done since 1863. Writing to Ireland with news of the move to Duncan's Hill she stated:
I wish I could give you an idea of the beauty of the situation of this house. The view of the river from the Balcony is lovely and in the distance the thick bush, is here and there cleared away, with the town at one side of the River, it certainly is very beautiful.
Adderton House
Adderton House was constructed in 1858 by John Petrie for George Fullerton.
St Ann's Industrial School
St Ann's Industrial School was opened on 15 July 1894 by the Governor of Queensland
The governor of Queensland is the representative of the monarch, currently King Charles III, in the state of Queensland. In an analogous way to the governor-general of Australia, governor-general at the national level, the governor Governors of ...
Henry Wylie Norman. Its purpose was to provide a home and education to neglected or delinquent girls. It was designed by architect F. D. G. Stanley. In the 1940s it was partially converted to a boarding house for young women working in the Brisbane central business district or studying at the University of Queensland
The University of Queensland is a Public university, public research university located primarily in Brisbane, the capital city of the Australian state of Queensland. Founded in 1909 by the Queensland parliament, UQ is one of the six sandstone ...
. In 1964 it was remodelled as classrooms for the All Hallows' School.[
]
House system
All Hallows' has a mixed age house structure. Every student and staff member belongs to one of the eight houses which are named after people or places within the history of the school. Each house is given a colour.
* Adderton – green, named after Adderton House, the first building on the school grounds.
* Coolock – blue, named after the house in Ireland where Catherine McAuley lived.
* Gorry – gold, named after Queensland born Mercy Sister Jane Gorry.
* Loretto – pink, named after long serving school principal Sister M. Loretto Flynn. Principal: 1916, 1933–1959.
* McAuley – silver, named after the founder of the Mercy Sisters, Catherine McAuley.
* Mercedes – orange, pronounced as per the Spanish word for 'Mercy'.
* Tighe – purple, named after the first enrolled student at AHS, Annie Tighe.
* Whitty – red, named after the first principal of AHS, Mother Vincent Whitty.
Notable alumnae
Former students of All Hallows' are known as "Old Girls"; they may elect to join the Past Pupils' Association.
* Thea Astley
Thea Beatrice May Astley (25 August 1925 – 17 August 2004) was an Australian novelist and short story writer. She was a prolific writer who was published for over 40 years from 1958. At the time of her death, she had won more Miles Franklin ...
, author and novelist
* Fran Bailey, member of the House of Representatives, Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia (officially the Parliament of the Commonwealth and also known as the Federal Parliament) is the federal legislature of Australia. It consists of three elements: the Monarchy of Australia, monarch of Australia (repr ...
.
* Verity Barton, LNP member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland
The Legislative Assembly of Queensland is the sole chamber of the unicameral Parliament of Queensland established under the Constitution of Queensland. Elections are held every four years and are done by full preferential voting. The Assembly ...
for Broadwater
* Isabella Bliss, winner of '' Junior MasterChef Australia'' in 2010
* Caitlin Cronin, Australian rowing team (Olympics)
* Ellen Fanning, journalist
* Diane Fingleton, first female Chief Magistrate of Queensland[
]
* Teresa Gambaro, LNP member of House of Representatives, Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia (officially the Parliament of the Commonwealth and also known as the Federal Parliament) is the federal legislature of Australia. It consists of three elements: the Monarchy of Australia, monarch of Australia (repr ...
* Macy Gardner, netballer
* Tahli Gill, Australian curling team (Olympics)
* Grace Grace, ALP Queensland Minister for Education
* Dr Beth Hamilton, Director of Ubuntu Through Health and Queensland Rhodes Scholar 2018
* Ernestine Hill
Ernestine Hill (born Mary Ernestine Hemmings, 21 January 1899 — 21 August 1972) was an Australian journalist, travel writer and novelist. Known for her various travels across Australia and her writings about the diverse landscapes and cul ...
(1899–1972), journalist, travel writer, novelist
* Marguerite Houston, Australian rowing team (Olympics)
* Miranda Kerr
Miranda May Kerr (; born 20 April 1983) is an Australian model. She rose to prominence in 2007 as one of the Victoria's Secret Angels. Kerr was the first Australian Victoria's Secret model and also represented the Australian department store c ...
, model
* Mary Emelia Mayne (1858–1940), philanthropist
* Maxine McKew, ALP member of the House of Representatives seat of Bennelong
Woollarawarre Bennelong ( 1764 – 3 January 1813) was a senior man of the Eora, an Aboriginal Australian people of the Port Jackson area, at the time of the first British settlement in Australia. Bennelong served as an interlocutor between ...
* Kateena O'Gorman, barrister and Queensland Rhodes Scholar 2003
* Sarina Russo, entrepreneur
* Grace Sewell, singer and songwriter
* Tracey Wickham, Australian swimmer (Olympics and Commonwealth Games)[Swimming]
", ''All Hallows School''. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
Historic images
File:Jane gorry.jpg, Sister Jane Gorry, first Queensland-born Mercy sister
File:Mother Catherine McAuley.jpg, Mother Catherine McAuley – founder of Mercy Order
File:All Hallows Brisbane students c. 1890.jpg, Class with their Mercy Sister teachers in 1890
File:1902 from kangaroo pt.jpg, Main Street, Kangaroo Point, looking north across the Brisbane River to All Hallows' School, Duncan's Hill. The architect for the main building was Andrea Stombuco.
File:Dodge Lane 1915.jpg, 1915 photograph of the staff of Austral Carriage Works shows the facade of what is now beneath the Claver Theatre and Consilo Aquatic Complex. This facade is heritage listed and provides part of the All Hallows' School Boundary Street fence line.
See also
* Lists of schools in Queensland
References
Sources
*
*
*
*
External links
*
Official site of the Mercy Heritage Centre based at All Hallows'
All Hallows Convent and School Archival Recording
State Library of Queensland
State Library of Queensland (State Library) is the state public reference and research library of Queensland, Australia, operated by the Government of Queensland, state government. The Library is governed by the Library Board of Queensland, whi ...
{{Authority control
Girls' schools in Queensland
Catholic secondary schools in Brisbane
Educational institutions established in 1861
Sisters of Mercy schools
1861 establishments in Australia
Fortitude Valley, Queensland
Ann Street, Brisbane
History of Brisbane
Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia