The Hostory of Warwick Schools

Warwick has many firsts when it comes to Schools

Warwick is very famous for it's Schools, the city can lay clam to having the first school in the State of Queeensland, and the first High School outside Brisbane. Warwick is noted for having some of the finest private boading Boading Schools in the country, taking in students from all corners of the globe. The schools have a davise range of eduction from…………

If Toowoomba could have a girls school for Presbyterians, so could Warwick. After all wasn't Toowoomba a 'Johnny come lately' on the Downs? Hadn't Toowoomba been just a raw bullocky's camp when Warwick was already an established town, patronised by some of Australia's wealthiest graziers?

(B.T. de Conlay and R. J. Shilliday )

The Warwick National School Easts State School

The Warwick National School was established at the instigation of George Leslie of Canning Downs and he chose the first Headmaster and Headmistress. They were Mr. and Mrs. George Abbott, who were sent to train at the Model Training School at Fort Street, Sydney. The Abbott's were educated people who came from England in 1849, but they had not previously been teachers. Persons of intelligence were considered to be an asset to the developing colony and were encouraged to seek any opportunity.

"Thuruna" Glennie Heights Warwick

Thuruna built in 1856 and was originally called "Hillside" it was first opened as a school on the 8th of February 1857 by Rev. Glennie, who went on to become the first Anglican Rector of Warwick from 1860 till 1872.

School of Arts

The School of Arts was established in Warwick before the 1870c. It moved into a shop opposite to where the C.B.A Bank is at present in Palmerin Street. A man who was town beneficiary, one Michener, gave a piece of ground on the corner of Guy and Fitzroy Street to the school where it functioned until the council took it over in 1963.
The School of Arts was run by a committee under government control and had the jurisdiction of a Technical College.

St Mary's Convent

The Convent was founded on the 29^th of October 1874 and was opened on the 19th of March 1893

Central School

On June 25 1875 the foundation stone was laid for the Warwick West Boys', Girls' and infants' School, today known as the Warwick Central School. The event was marked by a public holiday was proclaimed. At the time, it was the largest gathering every assembled in the town. A procession was held; the band led the procession, followed by the Volunteer Corps, the Mayor, aldermen and officers of the Corporation, the Odd-fellows in full regalia, the Good Templars, and the school children followed up.

Warwick High School

In 1908 the Technical College committee decided to separate from the School of Arts and function on it's own. A young lady, late to become Mrs Sterne, was appointed to be the first secretary. Her name was Elizabeth Hanrahan.
The School of Arts donated and block of land in Market Place to the Technical College, the land was deemed unsuitable because of its location, so a site was chosen at the corner of Palmerin and Victory Streets where buildings were erected, and the school stands today.
In July 1910 the Technical College established secondary education and started preparing students for the junior (grade 8) examination. Dick Leeper, a well-known solicitor of Warwick was one of the first pupils to pass junior. The Warwick High School was the first secondary State school established in Queensland by the State Government.

Christian Brothers College

St. Joseph's Christian College, a substantial brick building situated in Palmerin Street, was open in 1912 to provide a religious and secular section for the Catholic boys of Warwick and district.

Presbyterians Girls College

Scots College

The Lion and the Thistle
The College opened on 28 July 1919 in front of an informal gathering of members of the Committee, clergymen, parents and the foundation students and staff. The formal opening did not occur until the following year, 4 September 1920, in a ceremony, which was conducted by the Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church, the Right Reverend John Walker

Warwick West State School

The New Age School