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Queensland Grammar Schools
The Queensland Grammar Schools are unique education institutions that have a long history and tradition of providing excellence in education for the communities which they serve. The early history of the establishment of the Grammar Schools under the Grammar School Act 1860 and an establishment of the Grammar Schools of Queensland Association are outlined in this section.
Establishment of the Grammar Schools
In 1860, Queensland’s first Parliament passed the Grammar Schools Act which allowed for the establishment of a Grammar School in any town where at least £1,000 could be raised locally. The Act provided for a Government subsidy of twice this local contribution. These schools catered for an elite clientele in accord with the nineteenth century view that popular education beyond the elementary level was not desirable.
Ten public Grammar Schools were established in Queensland between 1863 and 1892, that is, during the 40 years immediately following Queensland’s constitution as a sovereign State after separation from New South Wales.
At that time, public Grammar Schools were seen as a means of encouraging the establishment of non-denominational secondary schools in Queensland through public subscription or donation at a time when economic circumstances obliged the State Government to give priority to the establishment of state primary schools.
No new public Grammar Schools have been established since 1892 and there have been no serious expressions of interest for the establishment of additional schools of this kind.
In 1936, the Maryborough Grammar School for Girls and Boys (established in 1883) was taken over by the Department of Education to become the Maryborough State High School and Intermediate School for Boys. There are now eight public Grammar Schools operating in Queensland.
- Ipswich Grammar School ( Est.1863)
- Brisbane Grammar School (Est.1868)
- Brisbane Girls Grammar School (Est.1875)
- Toowoomba Grammar School (Est.1875)
- Rockhampton Grammar School (Est.1881)
- Townsville Grammar School (Est.1888)
- Rockhampton Girls Grammar School (Est.1892)
- Ipswich Girls' Grammar School (Est.1892)
In keeping with tradition, Grammar Schools today provide a secular, broad liberal education which concentrates on academic scholarship, the pursuit of excellence in all fields of endeavour, and a commitment to community service and social responsibility.
In the same way the Grammar Schools of the nineteenth century responded to the needs of their communities, the Grammar Schools of today meet the expectations of their strong individual communities in a variety of ways whilst remaining true to their original foundations.
