Warwick High School

Warwick State 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 (outside Brisbane) to be established in Queensland by the State Government

Extract from the Warwick Examiner and Times
Tuesday 9th August 1910.

The official open of the Warwick Technical High School took place in the College building yesterday morning. The Director (Mr. S. J. Harwood) presided, and had on his right hand Sir Arthur Morgan and Rev. Canon Hay, and on his left Mr. G. P. Barnes, M.L.A., and Rev. R. Kerr and A. G. Smith.
There were also present the whole of the staff of the institution, many of the pupils and a large number of parents and other visitors, including Mesdames Harwood, O'Sullivan, Leeper, Sterne and Atkinson, Messrs. J. W. Wild, C. C. Dornbusch, H. Eizenberg, R. J. Leeper and Jas De Conlay, and press representatives.
The Director explained that there were several reasons why the official opening had not taken place until that day, one principal one being that they were specially anxious that the function should be performed, for obvious reasons, by Sir Arthur Morgan. (applause)

None had taken interest in the institution than he had, and he was the head of the movement when, as far back as 1895, it was first stated. In October of that year technical classes were commenced in connection with the School of Arts, and Sir Arthur was the moving spirit in the matter. In 1901 the speaker was made chairman of a committee which when formed, and from the first most it was seen that it was seen that it was highly desirable that the classes be separated from the School of Arts.
There was some opposition to this proposal, but it soon died out, and he submitted that events had since fully justified the action. Five years later a new committee was formed, and from the present building was open.

That committee consisted of Sir Arthur Morgan, himself (Mr. Harwood) and Messrs. C. A. Lambert, J. W. Wild, H. Eizenberg, L. W. Tweedie and C. C. Dornbusch
That committee had been in office since then up till 30th June last, when the school was inaugurated. . It was only four and a half years ago since the room they were then in had been in the presence of Sir Arthur Morgan, Mr. J. D. Story (Under Secretary to the Department of Public Instruction) and Mr. R. M.L. Riddel (Inspector of Technical Colleges), and they would agree with him that in that comparatively short time much had been accomplished. (applause)

He thought that he might not inappropriately apply the words that 'What Warwick thought today, Queensland would think tomorrow', for they occupied the proud position of having the first Technical High School - after Brisbane, of course, but in the country.

The school was to run on three lines. It was, firstly, to supply a good standard education, starting where the State schools left off; secondly, the Warwick High School would also follow the Grammar Schools in a way which was not even done in Brisbane - they would teach languages, and then, in the third place, there was the agricultural side, for which the Hermitage State Farm was to be utilised.
In this last connection they would permit him to say that in his opinion the farmer was, in contrast to what had been customary in the past, to be the best educated man in the country.
Continuing, the Director said that there was one thing he particularly wished to impress upon the minds of the pupils, viz., that their success would depend largely upon themselves, and by no means altogether upon their teachers.
He had been connected with Queensland boys and girls in the north and in the south, east and west of the State, and he pleased he could say he had always found them everywhere excellently conducted. (applause)

He felt sure that the pupils of the High School would do credit to themselves, and to the College, and to all connected to the institution. There was as yet no history; the traditions of the school had yet to be created, and that was in a way perhaps somewhat of a drawback; he felt that when he recalled the fact that for instance one school he had charge of had a history of more than four centuries' existence to look back upon
But they had made a start with sports and badges, which would bear the fine motto (which had been suggested by Mr. Bennett), "Virtute et Labore", which meant "By Courage and Industry". It was fervently hoped that by some at least among the students the credit of Warwick would be held high at the University.

Other State schoolboys had risen high; he would only mention the late Hon. T. J. Byrnes and Sir Arthur Morgan, who was there with them that day.
Of the former there was a nephew there among them now, and it was hoped he would do his best to follow the great example set him by his relative. (Hear, hear). Both these great men had obtained their high positions without enjoying anything like the great advantages the students had now.
Very significant were the numbers showing the average enrolments year by year since 1906. In that year there were 44 students, in the next 80, then 113, last year there 166, and in 1910 it was a fair forecast to say there would be 225, for already the number actually on the books was over 200; in fact, in a few months he hoped to be able to show that the enrolment had been bought up to 300. (applause)

He would like to say that they had been well treated by the Government, but Warwick too had done its duty in finding money. The Government had liberally granted subsidies for the building of 4 to 1, and for the front part out of 750 pounds, the Government had given 600 pounds; but before that Warwick had found the bulk of the money. The monies raised in fees, etc. had been on an upgrade also, but the charges they now made were proportionately less.
In 1908, for instance, this amounted to 315 pounds, the next year to 407 pounds, and for the past half year 306 pounds. It was pleasing to note that the College had at length been transferred to Government control absolutely free of debt. (applause)

The College had done well in the past Sydney University examinations, and the only senior pass for Sydney University from Warwick had come from the Technical College classes, also a Gatton bursary, and he hoped that there might now be many more. The staff was an excellent one.
To the five old teachers (Mrs. Cooper, Miss Bourke and Messrs. Williams, Astley and Harris) there were now added three new ones - Miss Brown, B.A., Mr. Bennett (who came to them with high credentials from Adelaide University) and Dr. Hankins, also an old university lecturer. With the exception of one small class was at present practically paying its way.

In one respect a problem which had at first looked somewhat puzzling had been solved by the pupils themselves - as to whether languages should be taught or not. A large number had expressed themselves anxious to take up languages, and it had only been found necessary for girls to postpone domestic subjects, and for boys to temporarily to drop carpentry and booking, for the study of languages took time. Mr. Harwood then resumed his seat amidst applause
Mr. Barnes, in the course of his speech, making reference to certain of the information given by the Director in his interesting address, congratulated all and sundry

congratulated all and sundry on bringing about the success which, as they had just heard, had in the history of the Warwick College been gained all along the line, and he expressed himself hopeful that they should see their brightest expectations for the future realised.
He would like to mention a few more facts reflecting the highest credit upon the makers of the Warwick Technicial College from its inception. During the past 4½ years 5,312 pounds had been expended upon it, and not less than 2,450 pounds of that had been raised locally by subscriptions, fees and in various other ways. That was something indeed to be pleased at and proud of. The Government subsidies amounted to nearly 2,900 pounds.
There was one thing that had struck him, and that was that the building would not do duty very much longer, he thought, and it seemed time that they should look about them for a site for a larger building which would offer the advantages required to develop not only in the direction of the mind, but also physically.
He felt sure that the sympathy of the people of Warwick would go with every effort of that kind. He had been assured only that morning that whereas the cost of the building and site had been 2,500 pounds, they were now worth fully 3,000 pounds. That the institution should have been handed over free of debt was a splendid monument of Warwick effort and faith.
The speaker concluded his remarks with making further reference to the affiliation of the College with the Hermitage State Farm and the excellence of the staff, wound up by encouraging the students, among whom he was sure there must be many bright pupils, to do their best, saying that Warwick would be amply rewarded if they should achieve the distinctions it was hoped they would gain. (applause)