Strathcona. Bring out her best.

Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School was established by its founding principals, Mrs Florence Livingstone and Miss Henrietta Hughes in 1924. Eventually the Baptist Union purchased Strathcona as a school for girls, building on a proud history as a leading independent school for girls.

History of Strathcona

Strathcona was commenced in 1924 by its founding principals, Mrs Florence Livingstone and Miss Henrietta Hughes, with a small number of pupils, both boys and girls.

In late 1942 the Baptist Union purchased Strathcona to be used as a school for girls. Finance was very difficult to obtain, so council members were obliged to do the preparatory work themselves. Concrete paths were laid during Saturday morning working bees and the re decoration was completed in the evenings over several weeks.

In 1943 Miss Featherstone commenced as Headmistress and served the school for 10 years. Enrolments increased rapidly and despite stringent building restrictions after World War 2, facilities were expanded providing for up to 200 girls.

Miss Menzies Smith then became Headmistress until 1957 when the Reverend John Morley was appointed principal. Mr Morley was followed by Mr Lyall who retired in 1989 after serving 17 years as principal of the school.

Mrs Ruth Bunyan retired at the end of 2000 after arriving at Strathcona in 1990 from St. Margaret’s School, Berwick, where she had been deputy principal.

Strathcona’s current principal, Mrs Helen Hughes, began in 2001 after being deputy principal of Pymble Ladies’ College (PLC) in New South Wales.

Senior Campus/Early Learning Centre

In August 2003 Strathcona took a huge step forward with the opening of the Senior Centre and refurbished Strathcona Information Resource Centre (SIRC). The concept of a state-of-the-art facility, which would meet the changing needs of Strathcona students at the upper secondary level, came to fruition after many months of planning. The Centre incorporates up-to-date information technology and the extensive library resources and provides the students in Years 11 and 12 with a more adult tertiary style facility. This recognises their maturity as well as their learning needs as we assist them to make the transition to university.

The new Creative and Performing Arts Building was opened in August 2008. A multimedia laboratory and recording studio provides a facility for this growing area of study in technology and caters for the creative application of technology in music and art. For the visual arts, the 3D room has been maintained on the ground floor and three further art studios are located on the first floor creating a more unified area for art and design. The drama studio on the second floor has been extended and includes a control podium for the development of backstage skills. The development also includes the renovation of the food technology area.

The ground floor music centre offers state-of-the-art facilities:

• a large central performance/rehearsal space to accommodate bands, choirs and drama groups;
• a studio for classroom teaching and recitals;
• a number of multi-purpose spaces of various sizes for tuition and rehearsal of individual and small ensembles in music, speech and drama;
• suitable staff facilities to accommodate our full-time and instrumental and speech teachers.

The commencement of the 2009 School year will see the opening of the refurbished Early Learning Centre which will now offer the flexibility within Strathcona to cater for 3 and 4 year olds in two or three day programs. This will be in addition to the full time Pre-Prep program which has been running successfully for many years.

The Centre will include two new rooms for the 3 and 4-year-old children, a large common area, meeting room and an additional play area for the new groups.

The Centre will allow for, and recognise, the different needs of young children at different ages. These programs will be led by expert teachers and maintain exceptional provision of small groups, modern facilities and engaging interactive activities.

The refurbishments add to the already excellent facilities on the senior campus including a modern Science and Middle School Centre, a gymnasium, heated indoor swimming pool and sporting field.

Tay Creggan: Year 9 Campus

Strathcona purchased Tay Creggan, the Year 9 campus located in Yarra Street, Hawthorn on the banks of the Yarra River, in November 1969. Over the years substantial renovation and extension works have been carried out including the re-roofing of the entire house, the new jetty which was officially opened in February 1997 and the total renovation and extension of the educational facilities at a cost of $1.3m completed in 1998. The atrium and commercial kitchen were completed in 2000. Now over 100 years of age, Tay Creggan is still adapting to new educational requirements and yet retains its dignity and sense of history.

Mellor House: Junior School

The acquisition of the Mont Calm Nursing Home site in 2001 was a catalyst for change which brought new possibilities to cater for the needs of Strathcona’s Junior School and improve facilities on the main campus for the Senior School. The redevelopment of the Mont Calm site has seen the blending of the Queen Anne home, Tynwald, with a beautifully designed renovation and extension to the nursing home building. The flexible, well-appointed classrooms and specialist areas for music, art, library and curriculum extension enhance an innovative and progressive curriculum. The official opening was held on 20 May 2005 by the Federal Treasurer, The Honourable Peter Costello.