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Firbank Girls' Grammar School

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Coordinates: 37°54′22″S 144°59′45″E / 37.90611°S 144.99583°E / -37.90611; 144.99583
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Firbank Grammar School
Firbank Grammar School crest
Address
Map
51 Outer Crescent

Brighton
,
Victoria
3186

Australia
Coordinates37°54′22″S 144°59′45″E / 37.90611°S 144.99583°E / -37.90611; 144.99583
Information
TypeIndependent, day and boarding
MottoLatin: Vincit Qui Se Vincit
(She conquers who conquers herself)
DenominationAnglican
Established1909
FounderArchbishop Henry Lowther Clarke
Sister schoolBrighton Grammar School
ChairJennine Ross
HeadmistressJenny Williams
ChaplainChristine Croft
Key peopleLeandra Turner (Head of Senior School)
Melanie Smith (Head of Campus: Turner House)
Brad Nelsen (Head of Campus: Sandringham House)
Years offeredELC–12
GenderCo-educational (junior school)
Girls (senior school)
Enrolment~1,200 (ELC–12)[1]
Colour(s)Green, gold and white    
SloganWhere all students find their place, now and for the future
AffiliationGirls Sport Victoria
Websitefirbank.vic.edu.au

Firbank Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school, situated in the suburb of Brighton, in the Bayside area of Melbourne, Australia.

Established on 26 April 1909,[2] by the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne, Henry Lowther Clarke, the school currently caters for approximately 1,200 students. The Early Learning Centre and primary school are co-educational, whilst the secondary school (years 7–12) is for girls only.

Firbank is a member of the Australian Anglican Schools Network, the British Schools and Universities Foundation and Girls Sport Victoria (GSV). Firbank has close ties with its brother school, Brighton Grammar School, a boys' school. Students of the two schools participate in a number of co-educational activities together such as music and drama.

History

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Firbank building, c. 1912

Firbank Grammar School was established as a Christian, day and boarding school for girls in 1909, by the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne, Henry Lowther Clarke who was left a legacy for educational purposes. The Archbishop purchased 'Gawsworth', a property which stretched between Outer and Middle Crescents, and named the school after Firbank, his birthplace in Westmorland, England. He chose the motto, Vincit Qui Se Vincit ("She conquers who conquers herself") and gave the School his Archbishop crest.

The school opened and in 1910 there was an experienced head in charge. Florence Emily Green had founded and run the New England Girls' School before she sold it. She stood in as a temporary head until 1911 but she was in poor health.[3]

Under the leadership of Maud Cameron, Firbank's longest serving Headmistress, enrolments grew and further land was purchased, including the 'Pen-y-bryn' estate and 'Atherstone' in Sandringham. Since its foundation, Firbank has maintained a strong connection with St Andrew's Anglican Church, Brighton where formal school services are held.[4]

In 1961 Dorothy Whitehead left the headship of Ascham School to become the head of Firbank. She served until 1970 and during her time the students were allowed more freedom. She had previously taught with the Dalton Plan at Ascham. She replaced exams with tests and removed the streaming of students. New buildings were introduced for physical education and to increase the boarding facility.[5]

Campus

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Firbank consists of three educational sections on two campuses: 'Sandringham House', a co-educational primary school in Sandringham offering a quality education; 'Turner House', a primary school for girls; and the Senior School catering for girls only in Years 7 to 12.[4] The houses are Sheppard Tyson, Aylwin Cameron, Tonkin Clarke and Hancock Crowther.

Sport

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Firbank is a member of Girls Sport Victoria (GSV). Firbank has competed in rowing since 1992. It has produced many nationally and internationally recognised swimmers.[citation needed]

GSV premierships

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Firbank has won the following GSV premierships.[6]

  • Badminton (2) – 2008, 2015
  • Diving (18) – 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
  • Soccer (4) – 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018
  • Swimming – 2004
  • Triathlon, Mini (2) – 2019, 2020
  • Triathlon, Sprint – 2015

Media

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The Brighton campus was one of the sites for filming the 2005 television series We Can Be Heroes: Finding The Australian of the Year, in two episodes of the television production Neighbours in 2007, the film Any Questions for Ben? in 2012, Ja'mie Private school girl in 2013 and Upper Middle Bogan also in 2013.

Notable alumnae

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Notable staff

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Firbank Anglican School: General Information". Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Firbank Grammar School Magazine: The Green, Gold & White No. 54 Winter 2019 by Firbank Grammar School - Issuu".
  3. ^ Grose, Kelvin; Robin, A. De Q., "Florence Emily Green (1862–1926)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 15 October 2023
  4. ^ a b Firbank Girls' Grammar: History Archived 30 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine (accessed:15-08-2007)
  5. ^ Langmore, Diane, "Dorothy Eleanor Whitehead (1908–1976)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 6 May 2024
  6. ^ "Archives » Girls Sport Victoria". Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Green, Jonathan (30 March 2005). "Famous alumni on Latham's hit list". Politics. Crikey. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 6 August 2007.
  8. ^ "Freeman, Mavis Louisa". The Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  9. ^ The Argus 4 January 1949
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