Wesley College, Melbourne

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This article is about the school in Melbourne, VIC, Australia. For other institutions of the same name, see Wesley College (disambiguation).

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Wesley College is an independent, co-educational, day school, located at St Kilda Road, Glen Waverley, Elsternwick & Clunes, in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Established in 1866, Wesley is a member of the Associated Public Schools of Victoria (APS) and is a school of the Uniting Church, a Christian denomination.

Wesley is the largest school in Australia by both student enrollment & school size, with approximately 3,511 students and 750 staff in total (2007).[1] The College has an open entry policy, meaning that there are no entrance examinations or particular entrance requirements. A report in November 2007 cited Wesley's fees as among the highest of any school in Victoria.[2]

In 2001, The Sun-Herald ranked Wesley College sixth in Australia's top ten schools for boys, based on the number of its male alumni mentioned in the Who's Who in Australia (a listing of notable Australians).[3][a]

Structure

Wesley College has three metropolitan day campuses - the original campus in Prahran (named the St. Kilda Road Campus from 2004 onwards), and campuses in Glen Waverley and Elsternwick. A residential campus in Clunes and a campus in the Melbourne CBD's Collins Street where the College's City Curriculum Project is held. It owns and operates three main camp sites in Victoria, at Chum Creek, Mallana and Portland. Each has an Early Childhood Learning Centre catering for children aged 3 and 4.

The College's City Curriculum Project is for students in Year 9, who each spend four weeks in Melbourne's CBD and prepare project work based on their experience.

The school was the first registered school in Australia,[4] and caters for students from kindergarten through to Year 12, offering the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), Vocational Education and Training Programme (VET) and the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) programmes for Senior College students.[4] In 2007, 7 of the 11 perfect IBDP ENTER Score achievers in Asia Pacific were from Wesley College, this caused Wesley College to be ranked as the biggest and most successful IBDP school in the Southern Hemisphere & Asia Pacific.[5]

In 2006, Wesley College introduced a new school structure, with the Senior School comprising students from Years 10 - 12, the Middle School from Years 5 - 9 and the Junior School comprising from Kindergarten to Year 4.

History

Genesis and 19th century

The beginnings of Wesley College came from a decision of the state government of Victoria in the wake of the Victorian gold rush to grant land and funds to four religious groups, including the Wesleyan Methodist Church, for the purpose of establishing colleges in Melbourne.[6] Major benefactor Walter Powell encouraged other Wesleyan Methodists to bridge the gap in funds between the government grant and that required to build the school. Daniel Draper and others contributed sufficient funds and the foundation stone was laid at the present site of the St Kilda Road campus on 4 January, 1865. Draper drowned at sea on the day of the school's official opening on 11 January 1866.[7] James Waugh was President of the school from foundation until 1883, while Dr James Corrigan was the first headmaster. Wesley had seven headmasters in its first 35 years, and struggled for numbers over some of this period. The Depression of the 1890's provided a particular challenge when Arthur Way was headmaster, and came to a head in 1897 under Arthur Stephenson when enrolment dropped to 90 boys and closure was threatened.[8]

Adamson Era

Lawrence Adamson is generally regarded as the single most important figure in the school's history.[9] Adamson was headmaster from 1902-1932 and his teaching career had begun there in 1887. His influence on Wesley survived well into the latter part of the century from staff who were either appointed or were students during his tenure. Enrolments rose sharply in the 1900s and a recent history of the school defined his contribution as giving Wesley "prosperity, direction and reputation".[10] Adamson personally contributed thousands of pounds of his personal fortune to the school. Adamson was considered less effective in his last decade as headmaster, and the centenary history published in 1967[11] provided the first overt criticism of Adamson.[9]

Rebuilding and Second World War

The Wesley College campus in St Kilda Road was substantially rebuilt and expanded between 1933 and 1939 following an extraordinarily generous bequest from Alfred and George Nicholas. The gift of around £200,000 (approximately $A75 million in 2004) funded twin double-storey buildings, science laboratories, a Junior School building, swimming pool, gymnasium, chapel and other facilities.[12]. In 1942, the Australian Government, in response to the growing threat of Japanese attack, requisitioned that Wesley hand over its campus to the Australian Army for use as headquarters for its military ordnance.[13] Wesley was accommodated at Scotch College from 1942 to 1943. Headmaster Neil MacNeil planned for Wesley to expand by taking over Box Hill Grammar School (now Kingswood College), but these plans were halted by his death in office in 1946.[14]

Coates and Prest eras

Thomas Coates (1957-1971) and David Prest (1972-1991) were long-serving headmasters during a period of substantial change, particularly during Prest's tenure. The school purchased land at Syndal in 1955, and for the next few years considered the potential sale of the St Kilda Rd campus to fund building at its new location.[15] However, by 1959 it had decided to retain its St Kilda Road location and move the Junior School and establish playing fields at Syndal. Following a period of fund-raising, the new campus (renamed Glen Waverley campus in 1978) opened in 1966.

The school opened enrolment to girls in 1978. Boarding was discontinued in 1980 in order to accommodate more students at its St Kilda Road campus. Wesley first approached Cato College, Elsternwick in the late 1970s regarding possible amalgamation. By the mid 1980s, Cato was struggling financially and in 1986 agreed to integrate into Wesley, which was completed by 1989.[16]

In November 1989, a fire caused substantial damage to the St Kilda Road campus. Significant archival material was lost with the virtual destruction of the school library. The damaged areas were rebuilt by 1991. [17]

Since 1992

Historian Andrew Lemon characterised Glen McArthur's tenure as headmaster (1992-1996) as leaving a sense of "unease".[18] With the two larger campuses becoming more autonomous and competitive, McArthur was encouraged by the school council to engender a greater sense of a single school, but in doing so challenged the positions of both campus heads, who subsequently left the school during his tenure. Ill-health affected the latter period of McArthur's tenure, and he died in 1998. David Loader became principal of Wesley in 1997 after 18 years as head of Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne and brought to fruition the country-based year 9 learning campus at Clunes in 2000. Former Glen Waverley campus head Helen Drennan became Wesley College principal in June 2003.

Motto, Crest, Colours, Lion and slogan

The Wesley College motto Sapere Aude appeared in the first College prospectus in 1866. Sapere Aude translate into English from Latin means: "Dare To Be Wise".

The College crest first appeared in the first edition of the Wesley College Chronicle in 1877. It was designed by Frank A Goldstraw, later headmaster (1893-95), in order to interpret the school motto.

The colours purple and gold, which distinguish Wesley College in Melbourne, were chosen when the school was established in 1866. They were changed in 1875 to light blue and white (after Cambridge University and University of Melbourne)[19], but reverted to purple and gold in 1902 upon the appointment of Lawrence Adamson in 1902. The Wesley College lion was also introduced in the early years of headmastership of Lawrence Adamson. The various representations of the lion by Wesley College can all be traced to the crest.

The current slogan 'Success has a Purple Lining' was introduced in 2005 and was chosen to represent the school's "stand out academic, music, sporting & theatre excellence".[20]

Campuses

Metropolitan Day Campuses:

File:St Kilda Rd - Wesley College.jpg
Wesley College in St Kilda Road.

The St. Kilda Rd. campus (established in 1866) has approximately 1,480 students from kindergarten (ECLC) through to year 12.

The Glen Waverley campus (established in 1966 and comprising 59 hectares) has approximately 1,420 students from kindergarten (ECLC) through to year 12.

The Elsternwick campus (Former Methodist Ladies College & Cato College) has approximately 600 students from kindergarten (ECLC) through to year 9.

The Collins Street campus (established 1991) caters for the College's City Curriculum Project.

Residential Campus:

The Clunes campus (established 1999) is located north of Ballarat in Victoria. Year 9 students spend eight weeks living in a house with other Wesley students in a village. Students are responsible for cooking, cleaning, shopping, washing and also participate in many courses throughout the term including voluntary work, art and craft, drama and music.

Outdoor Education Campuses:

Wesley's 300-acre outdoor education campus at Chum Creek dates to the 1950s and is the oldest compulsory school camp in Victoria[citation needed]. It is situated in the foothills of the Yarra Ranges in the Chum Valley, between Toolangi and Healesville. The original 200 acre site was donated in 1952 by Alfred Wall, a parent whose family still owns land adjacent to the camp. The remaining 100 acres was purchased in late 1999. Camp Mallana is located on five hectares on Banksia Peninsula between Bairnsdale and Paynesville with frontage to Lake Victoria and the Duck Arm shoreline. The 80-hectare Lochend Campus, purchased in 1988, is located in Portland in a setting of freshwater lakes, sand dunes and turbulent surf.

Sustainability

Wesley College is adopting several measures in regards to sustainability. Following a successful trial, classrooms across the college have adopted automatic sensors to control lighting. At the Glen Waverley campus, a desalination plant with four 260,000 litre tanks is being installed to treat water sourced from a bore originally installed at the campus in 1996. Following this, it's planned to recycle storm water and run-off irrigation water. At the St Kilda Road campus, a joint venture with the College's neighbour Deaf Children Australia is in place to drill a bore and two 55,000 litre tanks are to be installed. These tanks will be supplied primarily by the bore but also supplemented by rain water catchments from the Art Department roof. At the Elsternwick campus artificial turf will be installed. Bio-diesel is being implemented for all suitable vehicles across the College. In 2007 the Glen Waverley Junior School became the first independent school in Australia to receive a five-star energy rating from the Australian Government Sustainable Schools Program.[21]

Performing arts

The St Kilda Road & Glen Waverley campuses have separate student theatre companies. Theatrical productions at the St Kilda Road campus are performed as the Adamson Theatre Company, named after its performance venue, and conceived in 1988 by the then campus head, Tony Conabere. Wesley Student Theatre at Glen Waverley Campus has performed in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, Canada, America, England, Ireland, France, Italy and Germany since 1987, and since 2001 has been recipient of awards at the Ararat Australian One Act Play Festival, Ballarat Her Majesties One Act Play Festival and the Maroondah One Act Play Festival.

Sports

The College was one of six founding members of the Associated Public Schools (APS) competition, and is a member of the Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria (AGSV) for girls' sport. Over 120 teams compete each week from Year 7 to open Firsts level. Sport is compulsory, requiring at least two seasons of sport in Years 7-10 and one season each year in Years 11 and 12. A Year 5 & 6 sport program is offered, with weekly matches against other APS schools. As a member of the APS competition, Wesley competes in the three seasons of sport - Summer, Winter and Spring. 19 sports for girls and boys are offered.

Notable alumni

For a list of notable Old Wesley Collegians, see List of alumni of Wesley College, Melbourne.

Notable staff

Notes

References

  1. ^ Wesley College (2007). Wesley College Chronicle 2007: Campus Roll. Wesley. ISBN 0522853254.
  2. ^ "Private school fees break through the $20,000 barrier". The Age, Melbourne. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
  3. ^ Walker, Frank (2001-07-22). "The ties that bind". Sunday Life. The Sun-Herald. p. 16. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
  4. ^ a b School Choice Victoria: Wesley College (accessed:15-06-2007)
  5. ^ [Wesley College Yearly Publication] (accessed:07-01-2008)
  6. ^ Lemon, Andrew (2004). A great Australian school - Wesley College examined. Helicon. pp. p.27. ISBN 0958678588. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  7. ^ Lemon, Andrew (2004). A great Australian school - Wesley College examined. Helicon. pp. p.28. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  8. ^ Lemon, Andrew (2004). A great Australian school - Wesley College examined. Helicon. pp. p.99. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  9. ^ a b Lemon, Andrew (2004). A great Australian school - Wesley College examined. Helicon. pp. p.121. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  10. ^ Lemon, Andrew (2004). A great Australian school - Wesley College examined. Helicon. pp. p.127. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  11. ^ Blainey, Geoffrey (1967). Wesley College: the first 100 years. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ Lemon, Andrew (2004). A great Australian school - Wesley College examined. Helicon. pp. pp.247-248. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  13. ^ Lemon, Andrew (2004). A great Australian school - Wesley College examined. Helicon. pp. pp.281-283. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  14. ^ Lemon, Andrew (2004). A great Australian school - Wesley College examined. Helicon. pp. p.288-289. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  15. ^ Lemon, Andrew (2004). A great Australian school - Wesley College examined. Helicon. pp. p.364-367. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  16. ^ Lemon, Andrew (2004). A great Australian school - Wesley College examined. Helicon. pp. p.517-520. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  17. ^ Lemon, Andrew (2004). A great Australian school - Wesley College examined. Helicon. pp. p.527-537. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  18. ^ Lemon, Andrew (2004). A great Australian school - Wesley College examined. Helicon. pp. p.542. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  19. ^ Lemon, Andrew (2004). A great Australian school - Wesley College examined. Helicon. pp. p.54. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  20. ^ Stone, Richard (2005). "'Success has a Purple Lining'...". Wesley College. pp. pp.51-52. {{cite magazine}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help); Unknown parameter |booktitle= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ "Our Environment" (PDF), Lion Magazine, Wesley College: pp 3-7, August 2007 {{citation}}: |pages= has extra text (help)

See also

External links


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