Matthew Flinders Girls' Secondary College is an all-girls State secondary school located in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. It provides education for students from years 7–12.
The school opened as Flinders National Grammar School in January 1858. The foundation stone was laid on 5 December 1856 by the administrator of the Colony of Victoria, Colonel Edward Macarthur.[1] It is believed that the architect involved was the local German-born architect, Frank Kawerau, of Ryrie Street, Geelong, who also designed many government buildings across Victoria, including Willsmere (formerly Kew Lunatic Asylum (1864)), which has very similar architecture. The school was to be named the Geelong National Grammar School but, at the foundation ceremony, Macarthur asked permission to name it the "Flinders National Grammar School", after Captain Matthew Flinders, the first European explorer to circumnavigate Australia, who had climbed the local You Yangs range and described the Geelong area.[2]
When the school opened in January 1858, 116 boys were enrolled, but there was no room for girls. Falling enrolments forced the school to become coeducational in 1864. The buildings were extended and remodelled in 1879, due to increased student numbers. When the extensions were opened in April 1880, it was officially named Flinders State School no. 260, but was unofficially known as "Link's School", after fifth headmaster, George Link, who was in charge from 1879 to 1894. During that time enrolments increased to 1000 students.
By 1938, enrolments were still increasing but there was not enough space. As a result, the decision was made in 1939 for the school to become "Matthew Flinders Girls School", under Ada Knowles. The school was led by Frances Higgins from 1942 to 1947.[3] In 1948, Minnie Elizabeth Cawthorn was appointed as the new head. Historian Diane Langmore has written that, at that time, the school was "dilapidated", and "a dumping ground" for girls who would work in the mills as soon as they were fourteen.[4] Cawthorn decided that the students should not be trained as housewives but to have a life. The school was renamed "Matthew Flinders Girls School", building extensions were made and the grounds became pristine. In 1950, Matthew Flinders students were the first in the state to sit the "Girls' Leaving Certificate".[4] In 1956, Mary Lausza became the new head of the school.[3]
In 1966, under Dr J. S. Bowden, the school gained high school status and it was renamed "Matthew Flinders Girls High School".[3] It is now called Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College.
Todayedit
The college operates on two campuses. Years 7, 10, 11 and 12 students are located on the Main Campus, whilst Years 8 and 9 are on the smaller Helen Fraser Campus.
^Victorian Heritage Database Report (3 March 2020). "MATTHEW FLINDERS SCHOOL NO.8022". Victorian Heritage Database Report. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
^ abcZada, Susie (11 June 2019). "Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College". Geelong and District. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
^ abLangmore, Diane, "Cawthorn, Minnie Elizabeth (1898–1966)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 30 March 2020
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College.
Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College
Kids Voice Magazine
Peter Begg (1990). Geelong - The First 150 Years. Globe Press. ISBN0-9592863-5-7
matthew, flinders, girls, secondary, college, matthew, flinders, girls, secondary, college, girls, state, secondary, school, located, geelong, victoria, australia, provides, education, students, from, years, address2, little, ryrie, stgeelong, victoriaaustrali. Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College is an all girls State secondary school located in Geelong Victoria Australia It provides education for students from years 7 12 Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary CollegeAddress2 Little Ryrie StGeelong VictoriaAustraliaInformationTypePublic secondaryMottoLooking ForwardEstablished1856School districtBarwon South WesternPrincipalMichelle CroftsGrades7 12GenderAll femaleNumber of studentsapproximately 750CampusUrbanColour s Blue yellow redWebsitehttp www mfgsc vic edu au Contents 1 History 2 Today 3 References 4 External linksHistory editThe school opened as Flinders National Grammar School in January 1858 The foundation stone was laid on 5 December 1856 by the administrator of the Colony of Victoria Colonel Edward Macarthur 1 It is believed that the architect involved was the local German born architect Frank Kawerau of Ryrie Street Geelong who also designed many government buildings across Victoria including Willsmere formerly Kew Lunatic Asylum 1864 which has very similar architecture The school was to be named the Geelong National Grammar School but at the foundation ceremony Macarthur asked permission to name it the Flinders National Grammar School after Captain Matthew Flinders the first European explorer to circumnavigate Australia who had climbed the local You Yangs range and described the Geelong area 2 When the school opened in January 1858 116 boys were enrolled but there was no room for girls Falling enrolments forced the school to become coeducational in 1864 The buildings were extended and remodelled in 1879 due to increased student numbers When the extensions were opened in April 1880 it was officially named Flinders State School no 260 but was unofficially known as Link s School after fifth headmaster George Link who was in charge from 1879 to 1894 During that time enrolments increased to 1000 students By 1938 enrolments were still increasing but there was not enough space As a result the decision was made in 1939 for the school to become Matthew Flinders Girls School under Ada Knowles The school was led by Frances Higgins from 1942 to 1947 3 In 1948 Minnie Elizabeth Cawthorn was appointed as the new head Historian Diane Langmore has written that at that time the school was dilapidated and a dumping ground for girls who would work in the mills as soon as they were fourteen 4 Cawthorn decided that the students should not be trained as housewives but to have a life The school was renamed Matthew Flinders Girls School building extensions were made and the grounds became pristine In 1950 Matthew Flinders students were the first in the state to sit the Girls Leaving Certificate 4 In 1956 Mary Lausza became the new head of the school 3 In 1966 under Dr J S Bowden the school gained high school status and it was renamed Matthew Flinders Girls High School 3 It is now called Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College Today editThe college operates on two campuses Years 7 10 11 and 12 students are located on the Main Campus whilst Years 8 and 9 are on the smaller Helen Fraser Campus References edit Hill A J Macarthur Sir Edward 1789 1872 Australian Dictionary of Biography National Centre of Biography Australian National University ISSN 1833 7538 Retrieved 28 March 2021 Victorian Heritage Database Report 3 March 2020 MATTHEW FLINDERS SCHOOL NO 8022 Victorian Heritage Database Report Retrieved 30 March 2020 a b c Zada Susie 11 June 2019 Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College Geelong and District Retrieved 30 March 2020 a b Langmore Diane Cawthorn Minnie Elizabeth 1898 1966 Australian Dictionary of Biography National Centre of Biography Australian National University retrieved 30 March 2020External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College Kids Voice Magazine Peter Begg 1990 Geelong The First 150 Years Globe Press ISBN 0 9592863 5 7 38 09 00 S 144 21 12 E 38 15000 S 144 35333 E 38 15000 144 35333 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College amp oldid 1215639727, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
