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University High School, Melbourne

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Coordinates: 37°47′50″S 144°57′19″E / 37.79722°S 144.95528°E / -37.79722; 144.95528
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The University High School
the North Building of The University High School
Location
Map
77 Story Street, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria

Australia
Coordinates37°47′50″S 144°57′19″E / 37.79722°S 144.95528°E / -37.79722; 144.95528
Information
TypeGovernment-funded co-educational secondary day school
MottoLatin: Strenue Ac Fideliter
(With Zeal and Loyalty)
Established1910; 115 years ago (1910)[1]
PrincipalNick Scott
Years7–12
Enrolment1,915 (2024)[2]
Houses  Coleman
  Gulam
  Johnston
  Triggs
ColoursGreen, white and tan    
Websitewww.unihigh.vic.edu.au

The University High School (abbreviated as UHS or Uni High) is a government-funded co-educational secondary day school.[3][4] As of 2024, the school has over 1,900 students and the school is currently experiencing high demand for new enrolments.[5] As a result, the Victorian Department of Education only allows students inside the designated school zone to be admitted.[6]

History and tradition

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The University High School traces its origins to 1910 when it was established in Carlton as the University Practising School, linked to The University of Melbourne's teacher training program.[3][4][7] It initially occupied a refurbished primary school building on Lygon Street, Carlton, with the dual role of educating secondary students and training Diploma of Education candidates from the university.[8] When World War One broke out in 1914, dozens of senior students and recent graduates volunteered to enlist, and a number of teachers also joined the armed forces.[9] Sadly, a number of University High alumni lost their lives in the conflict and the school was deeply affected. Their memory is preserved within the Parkville campus foyer, where photographs of the fallen, honour plaques, and banners are displayed. By late 1929, the growing school moved to a new purpose-built campus, in Story Street, Parkville where it remains to this day. The historic main building (opened 1930) is now heritage-listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, reflecting the school’s longstanding presence in Melbourne’s educational landscape.[8] During World War II, the school’s oval was requisitioned as a camp for United States Army troops, and students from MacRobertson Girls’ High School were temporarily accommodated at University High when their own school was also occupied by military personnel.[10]

Portraits of students who served in WWI and banners of the former school houses on display

In 1960, plans were formulated for substantial building extensions, including the construction of a hall, gymnasium, and associated facilities. The proposed additions were subsequently completed in 1965.[3][4] Academically, University High has often been at the forefront of innovation. In 1981, it pioneered an acceleration program for gifted students, one of the first programs of its kind in Australia.[11][12][13][14] Around 1995, an underground car park serving staff for both the adjacent Royal Melbourne hospital and Uni High was constructed beneath the school oval. In 1997 an extensive facilities upgrade was completed, modernising classrooms and specialist rooms for the growing student population.

University High School students in a history class, 1930s

To commemorate its fiftieth anniversary in 1960, the school published its first formal history, under the title A City Built to Music: The History of University High School, 1910–1960, a volume that documented the institution’s foundation, growth and early traditions.[4] Half a century later, on the occasion of its centenary in 2010, a second official history was commissioned from historian Caroline Rasmussen and published as A Whole New World: 100 Years of Education at The University High School. This latter work, more expansive in scope, traced the evolution of the school across an entire century and reflected on its role in the changing educational and social landscape of Melbourne.[3] The centenary itself was marked with celebrations that brought together alumni, former staff and the wider community.

Student life and culture

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A hallmark of Uni High’s student life is its diverse community. Students come from a wide range of cultural, linguistic and socio-economic backgrounds, reflecting Melbourne’s multicultural character. Since the post-war decades, when immigrant and international students began enrolling in large numbers, the school has embraced diversity as a strength. Its values emphasise respect, equality and global citizenship, fostering an environment where everyone belongs.

In keeping with this progressive ethos, the school does not mandate a uniform, an uncommon policy among Australian secondary schools. Students wear appropriate attire of their choice, a practice believed to encourage individuality and comfort.[15][16] This long-standing approach has even been cited in state education discussions as a model of a successful non-uniform culture, though guidelines ensure practicality and inclusivity. Students often choose to wear Uni High branded clothing each day, and particularly at inter-school events. Student life is further enriched by a broad array of clubs and activities. Lunchtimes typically feature games in the library, environmental gardening, dance rehearsals, and meetings of academic, creative and special-interest groups.[17]

The student-produced magazine Ubique (pronounced oo-bee-kweh), first published in 1946, has long provided a creative outlet and record of student life at Uni High.[18] Its title, from the Latin for “everywhere,” reflects its role in capturing the breadth of student voices and experiences. Featuring essays, poetry, art, photography and opinion, Ubique celebrates student creativity while preserving a lasting testament to Uni High’s traditions of expression and scholarship.[18]

House structure

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The University High School utilises a house system to promote community, competition and pastoral care. The school is divided into four houses (also referred to as sub-schools), each with its own colour, name and student leadership team.[19] In 2018, the houses were renamed in honour of distinguished alumni, reflecting the school’s pride in its former students. The four houses are:[20][21]

The current house names replaced a set of older house names which had honoured early headmasters and benefactors. Inside the school today, banners and plaques of those former houses (such as Sharman House, Brookes House), are displayed as nod to the school’s history.

Academics

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The University High School has consistently upheld a reputation for academic excellence across its history.[22] The 2024 academic year reinforced this tradition with the largest graduating Year 12 cohort in the school’s history.[22]

  • 11 students achieved an ATAR of 99 or higher, with two students sharing the position of Dux on an ATAR of 99.9.
  • 90 students (28.7%) achieved an ATAR of 90 or above.
  • The median ATAR was 80.3, with 51.3% of students (161 in total) attaining an ATAR of 80 or higher.

Within the Elizabeth Blackburn Sciences program, the school’s selective-entry science stream, 25% of students attained ATARs of 95 or higher, with a mean ATAR of 85.2, underscoring the success of the program in fostering high achievement in STEM.[22]

Campuses

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In 2025, The University High School now has two separate campuses.[23] The (main) campus at 77 Story Street in Parkville caters for Year 7, Year 8, Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12 students. This campus lies adjacent to the University of Melbourne and is within close proximity to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, placing it at the heart of Melbourne’s medical and research precinct. The second (new) campus is at 399 Lonsdale street in Melbourne's Central Business District and is set up exclusively for Year 9 students with a purpose built program.[24]

Lonsdale Street Campus

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The University High School’s Lonsdale Street (Year 9) Campus, was opened in Term 1, 2025 under a seven-year lease by the Victorian Department of Education. Most of the classrooms features floor-to-ceiling windows, providing panoramic city views. Conveniently positioned, near multiple public transport options, and with access to all the resources of the city, the location enables a rich blend of academic and cultural opportunities.[24]

Story Street Campus

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The Story Street campus is well connected, with direct access to the tram route 19 line along Royal Parade, and the school will soon also benefit (opening 2025) from the Parkville train station as part of the Metro Tunnel project.[25] This main campus has several distinct areas.

North Building - At Story Street, the North Building (main building) was constructed in 1930 during the Great Depression.[8] It connects with the West Building and Music Wing, which spans three levels, and contains rooms numbered 100 through 405. The main foyer displays photographs, plaques and banners honouring past academic and sporting achievements, as well as former principals. The 100s include the General Office, Student Services counter, Performance Centre, food technology classrooms, and general-purpose rooms. The second floor (200s) contains Year 7 and Year 8 sub-school offices, as well as junior science laboratories, and a prayer room. The third floor (300s) houses the Maths and LOTE offices, computer labs, mathematics, LOTE and English classrooms. The 400s are an extension of this level and contain the EAL classrooms.

South Building - On the opposite side of the courtyard stands the South Building, a four-storey block added and expanded in stages from the 1960s to 2007. The South Building houses the much loved school Library on its ground floor and humanities classrooms (600s) and multiple science laboratories (700s) on the upper floors. In 2007, a fourth floor known as the VCE Centre was added to the top of the South Building, providing senior students with their own space. This area includes a VCE staff office as well as private study spaces and classrooms. A footbridge links the South and North buildings at the third-floor (700s) level, symbolically connecting the old and new parts of the school.

West Building - The West Wing is the smallest of the buildings, but is conjoined with the Music Wing. The west wing features many lockers as well as English and Humanities classrooms. The Music Wing consists of music classrooms, composition classrooms, practice rooms and the Music Office. Rooms in the West and Music wings are numbered as part of the 100s and 200s as they are connected to the North Building.

Portables - In 2021, portable classrooms were added to the campus to increase the school's capacity after the temporary closure (due to fire) of the South Building and the rising student enrolment numbers.[26] There are 12 portables that sit around the perimeter of the oval and they are numbered from rooms 1001 through 1012.

Sharman Hall + Canteen & Gymnasium - Sharman Hall is the school’s assembly and performance hall, used for whole-school gatherings, musicals and public events. The hall is named after a long-serving principal of the school. It adjoins the Gymnasium and Canteen Complex that contains a full indoor sports court (upstairs) and the student canteen and cafeteria area downstairs. The canteen level provides additional indoor seating and locker space. The gymnasium supports court sports and physical education classes.

Art & Technology Building - The Art and Technology Building is a three-storey building (800s and 900s classrooms) that serves as the centre for creative and practical learning. It is dedicated to the visual arts and design technology, providing a broad spectrum of specialised classrooms for painting and drawing, as well as classrooms for woodwork and metalwork, and textiles classrooms for sewing and fabric design.

Music wing - The Music Wing provides a dedicated environment for the study and performance of music at The University High School. This specialist facility includes a suite of classrooms designed for ensemble rehearsals, theory instruction and music technology, together with a number of sound-proofed practice rooms that allow students to refine their instrumental and vocal skills individually or in small groups.

EBS Building - One of the most significant additions to the campus in recent years is the Elizabeth Blackburn School of Sciences building. Opened in 2014 on land adjacent to the main campus (formerly part of Melbourne University’s Veterinary Science school), the EBS building is a modern two-storey facility tailored to advanced science education.[27][28][29] It includes university-style lecture theatres, cutting-edge laboratories, collaborative study areas and its own resource centre.[30] Named after Nobel laureate and UHS alumni Elizabeth Blackburn AC, this building allows Year 10–12 science students to engage in a specialised curriculum in an inspiring setting. The EBS initiative is a joint venture with the University of Melbourne and nearby research institutes, reflecting a forward-thinking approach to science education at Uni High.

GTAC Centre - In 2004, the school became home to the Gene Technology Access Centre (GTAC) – a state-of-the-art genetics and biology laboratory complex built in partnership with the Victorian state government and various research institutes. GTAC is not only used by Uni High students but also serves as a science outreach facility for school students across Victoria.

Notable alumni

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The University High School maintains a proud alumni history, with generations of former students having distinguished themselves across public life, science, the arts, business and sport. This legacy of accomplishment is regarded within the school community as a source of inspiration for current students, linking present achievement with a tradition of excellence and service for more than a century.[3][4][31]

Academic

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Business and government

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Media, entertainment and the arts

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Military

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Politics and the law

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Sport

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Others

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List of principals

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As the figure responsible for shaping vision and direction of Uni High, the principal provides strategic guidance, ensures high standards of teaching and learning, and safeguards the traditions and values of the school. The principal is also pivotal in fostering a positive school culture, supporting staff, and inspiring students through example and leadership. The current Principal is Nick Scott.[41]

Officeholder Period Notes
Leslie J. Wrigley[3][4][7] 1910–1914 Foundation Principal
Matthew S. Sharman[3][4] 1914 – 24 April 1941 Longest serving Principal
Leslie R. Brookes[3][4] 24 April 1941 – 1951
Robert E. Chapman[3][4] 1952–1960
George W. Ellis[3][7] 1961–1969
Gordon M. Williamson[3][7] 1969 Retired
Graeme Hayter[3][7] 1970–1971 Acting principal
Jack Clark[3][7] 1972–1985
Peter D. A. Bryce[3] 1986–1996
Bronwyn Valente[3][7] 1997 – 1 April 2005 Retired before the end of the contract
Robert Newton 18 April 2005 – 18 September 2015
Heather Thompson 5 October 2015 – 2020 Retired
Noel Creece 2020 – June 2020 Acting Principal
Ciar Foster June 2020 – April 2025 Retired before the end of the contract
Arthur Soumalias April 2025-July 2025 Acting Principal
Nick Scott[41] July 2025-

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "School Profile". Profile. University High School. Archived from the original on 3 March 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  2. ^ "Annual Report to the School Community".
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Rsamussen, Caroline (2010). A whole new world: 100 Years of Education at the University High School. Australian Scholarly Publishing. ISBN 9781921509995.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hoy, Alice (1961). A city built to music : the history of University High School, Melbourne, 1910 to 1960. Wm. Caulfield & Sons (Printer).
  5. ^ ACARA. "School Profile". My School. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  6. ^ "Enrolment policy – University High School". Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "A history of our school: Our past Principals and their achievements". University High School.
  8. ^ a b c "Victorian Heritage Database Report Report University High School". Heritage Council.
  9. ^ Carew, Ann. "Mr Sharman's album: University High School and the Great War" (PDF). State Library of Victoria.
  10. ^ "Schools taken over by Defence Force". The Sun Newspaper. Trove. 27 February 1942. p. 8.
  11. ^ "The fast and the curious". The Age. Melbourne. 1 March 2004. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  12. ^ Plunkett, Margaret; Kronborg, Leonie (2007). "Gifted education in Australia: A story of striving for balance". Gifted Education International. 23 (1): 72–83. doi:10.1177/026142940702300109. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  13. ^ Kronborg, Leonie; Cornejo-Araya, Claudia A. (2018). "Gifted educational provisions for gifted and highly able students in Victorian schools, Australia". Universitas Psychologica. 17 (5): 1–14. doi:10.11144/Javeriana.upsy17-5.gepg. hdl:10554/39097. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Acceleration Program SEAL Year 7". University High School. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  15. ^ "Student Code of Conduct" (PDF). University High School.
  16. ^ "University High School About us | Good Schools Guide". www.goodschools.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Clubs and groups – University High School". Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  18. ^ a b "History of UBIQUE". ubique. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  19. ^ "Sub-school – University High School". Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  20. ^ "Sub-schools". The University High School. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  21. ^ "Origins and structure – University High School". Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  22. ^ a b c "Achievements & student pathways – University High School". Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  23. ^ "New Uni High School Campus Gives Students Room To Grow". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  24. ^ a b "Year 9 – Booeegigat Program – University High School". Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  25. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (14 September 2025). "Building Parkville Station". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  26. ^ "Building works update". The University High School. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  27. ^ "Science school opening a boost for bright sparks | 3010". Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  28. ^ "The Elizabeth Blackburn School of Sciences by ClarkeHopkinsClarke | Architecture & Design". www.architectureanddesign.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  29. ^ "Program Overview – University High School". Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  30. ^ "Facilities and environment – University High School". Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  31. ^ "Alumni – University High School". Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  32. ^ Johnson, Brian (25 November 2011). "Norman Greenwood tells his life story (May 2011)". Web of Stories. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  33. ^ Johnson, Natasha (25 April 2021). "ABC's Patricia Karvelas on her experience of Parliament's toxic 'sexist' culture and how a childhood tragedy shaped her". ABC Backstory. ABC. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  34. ^ "Personal History". I'm Cornish, and very proud of it. It's where I live now.
  35. ^ "Hon Robert Clark (Box Hill)". Parliament of Victoria. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  36. ^ "Retirement – The Honourable Justice Julie Anne Dodds-Streeton". Victorian Bar. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  37. ^ "Joan Elizabeth Kirner (OAM, AC)". State Government of Victoria. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  38. ^ "Antipodean Resistance and the Lads Society". The White Rose Society. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  39. ^ Silva, Kristian (22 March 2024). "Prosecutors seek jail over 'terrifying' neo-Nazi attack on Victorian hikers". ABC News. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024.
  40. ^ "'She's no dope': Who is the host of Australia's most infamous lunch?". Who is Erin Patterson, the host of Australia's infamous mushroom lunch?. 8 July 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  41. ^ a b "University High School Newsletter - Issue 5: Principal's Message". newsletters.naavi.com. Retrieved 18 September 2025.

Notes

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Further reading

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  • Hoy, Alice (1961). A City Built to Music. Parkville: University High School.
  • Rasmussen, Carolyn (2010). A Whole New World: 100 Years of Education at University High School. North Melbourne: Australian Scholarly Publishing.
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