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Somerville House

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Somerville House is an independent, boarding and day school for girls, located in South Brisbane, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Established in 1899 as The Brisbane High School for Girls, the School was eventually named after the British scientific writer, Mary Somerville (1780–1872), though the school's official name is still Brisbane High School for Girls. Today, Somerville House is owned by the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association (PMSA), and provides classes from Preparatory to Year 12, within three sub-schools — Junior (Years Prep to 6), Middle (Years 7 to 9), and Senior (Years 10 to 12). The school currently caters for approximately 1,200 students from Prep to Year 12, including 97 boarders from Years 7 to 12.

Somerville House is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA), the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia (AGSA), the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA), and is a founding member of the Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association Inc (QGSSSA).

History

The Brisbane High School for Girls (later to be known as Somerville House) was established with 39 students on Wickham Terrace, by Eliza Fewings in October 1899. Fewings aim was to create a school community where girls could be educated and equipped with social graces, and would be able to take a leading role in the management of the nation. Based on English models, within 3 years it became the largest girls' secondary school in Queensland, with 150 students.

Constance Harker and Marjorie Jarrett purchased the school in 1909 and so began their partnership as co-Principals. The two women gained little income from the school, as teacher-proprietors had little chance of financing a modern expanding school, especially one with boarding facilities. In 1918, due to these financial struggles, they transferred ownership to the newly formed Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association, while retaining their Principalship. In 1920 the school moved from Wickham Terrace to to its present site on Mater Hill, in South Brisbane, opening with an enrolment of 225 pupils. The boarding-school occupied "Cumbooquepa", the now National Trust listed, former home of Thomas Blacket Stephens (built 1890). At this time the school's name was changed to Somerville House, in recognition of the work of Mary Somerville (1780–1872), a famous Scottish scientist and mathematician of the 19th century. Over the next two decades the school carried out a major building programme and established a good reputation.

Harker retired in 1931, but continued to live at the boarding school until Miss Jarrett's retirement in 1940. During her time as Principal, she gained a repuation in Queensland as a pioneer in the education of girls. The academic achievements of Somerville House during her co-Principalship were amongst the best in the state, and she widened the interests of her pupils by encouraging visitors who were authorities on literature, music, art and international affairs. She encouraged good citizenship and social service, and during World War I formed the first school branch of the Red Cross Society in Queensland. The school subsequently had branches of the Australian Student Christian Movement and the League of Nations Union, two companies of Girl Guides, and a Cot Fund which supported the ill and disabled. The still functioning Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association (QGSSSA), was initiated by her.

Somerville House was commandeered by the Australian Military Forces in February 1942, and was later used as headquarters of the United States Army, East Asian Command. Pupils from north of the Brisbane River were transferred to Raymont Lodge, at Auchenflower, while those from the south went to the former Queen Alexandra Home, Coorparoo; boarding students were sent to Moiomindah at Stanthorpe, which became the school's administrative centre. Based at Stanthorpe, the Principal at the time, Elinor Frances Craig, managed the three dispersed centres and frequently commuted by rail to maintain a presence in Brisbane. The school returned to South Brisbane with minimal inconvenience in January 1945, and classes commenced on 6 February.

Principals

Period Details
1899 – 1909 Miss Eliza A Fewings
1910 – 1931 Miss Constance E Harker
1910 – 1940 Miss Marjorie K Jarrett
1941 – 1953 Miss E Frances Craig
1953 – 1956 Miss Ellen Christensen
1957 – 1969 Miss Isobel Taylor
1970 – 1973 Mr Rod Wells
1974 – 1987 The Reverend Sam Seymour
1988 – 2003 Dr Murray J Evans
2004 – present Dr Agnes Goodwin

Curriculum

Somerville House typically performs well in state-wide examinations, scoring the second highest rating for academic outcomes from girls' schools in the Queensland Studies Authority's 2005 report.

Technology

The deployment of laptop computers to the staff and students of Somerville House began in 2001 and continued to the pilot laptop deployment to Year 6 students during Semester 2, 2003. Laptops are currently used by all Year 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 students.

School badge

The School Badge appeared for the first time on the cover of the June Magazine in 1902, and was designed by architect, Robin Dods. The central figure represents Wisdom, standing upon or emerging from, the open book, representing Knowledge. In her hand is a lamp, representing Truth. The school motto, Honour before Honours, can be found at the base of the badge.

In 1912 the original school colours of yellow and white were changed to navy blue and green. The colours of the School badge are blue, green and white, with blue associated with loyalty, green representing growth, and white representing purity.

From 1949, the name Somerville House surmounted the badge and the side letters of B.G.H.S. were omitted.

House System

As with most Australian school, Somerville House utilises a house system. The school has six houses, each named after a famous Australian woman that was a pioneer in her field. The houses are:

There are inter-house competitions held throughout the year, inluding a Swimming Carnival, Athletics Carnival, Charity Trot, Chess Competition, Senior School Choral Festival (Years 10-12), and Middle School Arts Festival (Years 7-9).

Notable alumnae

Alumnae of Somerville House are known as Old Girls, and may elect to join the schools alumni association, the Somerville House Old Girls' Association (OGA). The OGA was established in 1901. Some notable Somerville House Old Girls include:

Academic
Business and philanthropy
Entertainment, media and the arts
Politics, public service and the law
Sport

References

  1. ^ "Somerville House". Schools. Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  2. Cite error: The named reference Report06 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Somerville House". Schools - Queensland. Australian Boarding Schools Association. 2005. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  4. "Queensland". School Directory. Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia. 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  5. "JSHAA Queensland Directory of Members". Queensland Branch. Junior School Heads' Association of Australia. 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  6. Butler, Jan (2006). "Member Schools". Members. The Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  7. "(What is) QGSSSA". QGSSSA. Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association Inc. 2005. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  8. ^ Clarke, E (1981). "Fewings, Eliza Ann (1857 - 1940)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 8 (Online ed.). Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. pp. pp.490-491. Retrieved 2008-03-16. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  9. ^ Gill, K.E (1983). "Harker, Constance Elizabeth (1875 - 1964)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 9 (Online ed.). Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. pp. p.199. Retrieved 2008-03-16. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  10. ^ Gill, K.E (1993). "Craig, Elinor Frances (1888 - 1969)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 13 (Online ed.). Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. pp. p.596. Retrieved 2008-03-16. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  11. "Somerville House Principals". Our Centenary 1899-1999. Somerville House. 1999. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  12. ^ "School Badge and Motto". Our Centenary 1899-1999. Somerville House. 1999. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  13. "Somerville House Old Girls' Association". Community Relations. Somerville House. 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  14. Swan, Geoffrey (1993). "Ashburn, Ida Nancy (1909 - 1980)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 13 (Online ed.). Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. pp. pp.76-77. Retrieved 2008-03-16. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  15. Suzannah Pearce, ed. (2006-11-17). "BAMBRICK Susan Caroline". Who's Who in Business Live!. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  16. Suzannah Pearce, ed. (2006-11-17). "SHERRY Ann Caroline". Who's Who in Business Live!. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  17. Suzannah Pearce, ed. (2006-11-17). "AAGAARD Jane Lesley, Hon.". Who's Who in Business Live!. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help)

See also

External links

Members of the Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association, Australia
Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association Colleges, Queensland, Australia
Categories: