СƵ

In the latest episode of Ompelliargo, our G150 podcast, we travel back to 1875 to learn about School House, still the heart of our campus.

School House in 1907

Constructed in 1875, School House is more than just a structure - it’s a symbol of the community’s commitment to education and a cornerstone of the School’s heritage. Designed by Toowoomba architect Willoughby Powell and built by local craftsman John William Garget, the building reflects the Gothic Revival style, a design language that blends classical proportions with pointed arches, intricate fretwork and a sense of grandeur.

Heritage architect Ms Stephanie Keays, a former Chair of the Toowoomba National Trust and advisor to both the Toowoomba Regional Council and TGS, shares her admiration for the building in this episode. With over 30 years in the region, she still counts School House among her favourite buildings in the city.

Ms Stephanie Keays adores TGS's School House
“It obeys all the rules of architectural language - good proportion, symmetry and setting - it’s a beautiful building that still resonates 150 years later.”
— Ms Stephanie Keays

Built using local materials like Murphy’s Creek bluestone, red clay bricks and Toowoomba timber, School House was ahead of its time. It incorporated not only classrooms and a headmaster’s residence but also modern features for the era, such as a sick room and laundry facilities - all thoughtfully designed to serve a growing boarding school in a young colony.

It's still regarded as a beautiful building

The building’s enduring beauty and functionality are a testament to the vision of its creators and the community that rallied to establish the School under the Grammar Schools Act of 1860. That same spirit of innovation and pride continues to shape СƵ today.

Listen to Episode 2 of Ompelliargo to explore the full story.


Latest Blog

Boarding
/
Friday, 07 Oct 2022

A Holistic Approach to our Boarders' Activities Program

A true education is about much more than just lessons in a classroom. It’s about providing experiences that challenge a child, physically and mentally. It’s about providing opportunities that build independence, resilience and that help develop their good character. СƵ is proud to offer a broad and liberal education that stretches way beyond the walls of a classroom and equips our boys with the skills to flourish as an individual. We offer a diverse and engaging…

Read More
Teaching & Learning
/
Wednesday, 28 Sept 2022

A Beginner's Guide to Manga

If your son has brought home a book with big eyed characters, and he seems to be reading backwards, chances are, he's discovered Manga. The Dent library has a Manga collection that would be the envy of many schools, with over 100 unique titles. It Is easily the most visited section in the library, over half of the top 100 titles borrowed this year are Manga! But what is Manga? Manga is an umbrella term for a variety of print comics and graphic novels originating from Japan. Unlike western…

Read More
Boarding
/
Thursday, 15 Sept 2022

A Safe, Welcoming and Joyous Community

Tell us about yourself My background, at least that associated with boarding and teaching, is long and varied with a number of different aspects leading to this chosen career path. For the most part, I was schooled in Canberra but had extended periods in Lesotho, Norfolk Island, and Samoa as a result of my father’s work in foreign aid. My schooling was quite disruptive, and I wasn’t a model student! I was always passionate about English; often distracting myself (amongst other things) immersed…

Read More
Character & Wellbeing
/
Thursday, 08 Sept 2022

Facilitating Respect

Recently the 2022 TGS Prefect group spoke at the Headmaster’s Assembly about respecting individuality. But what does this mean? The foundations for a successful relationship with peers, family, co-workers, and others is framed and supported by a two-way street of respect. However, for this two-way street to be functional it is important to know that respect cannot be demanded, it can only be earned. СƵ is no different and respect is nurtured in various forms such as in the…

Read More
Junior School
/
Thursday, 01 Sept 2022

The Benefits of Early Learning at TGS

Making a decision about our children’s education can be difficult; especially when there are so many options available. Once upon a time parents simply sent their children to the school that was a walkable distance from home. Much research has evolved since the early 1900s about what is best for our children to foster a love of learning and feel confident and safe in the classroom. Here at СƵ, we take this very seriously. Pastoral care comes before anything else; we see…

Read More
Teaching Excellence
/
Wednesday, 24 Aug 2022

Outside of the Text Book

“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” — Ludwig Wittgenstein There is no denying that learning a foreign language can sometimes be a challenging experience, particularly with limited opportunity to practise outside the classroom. However, learning a language is a skill that will add to many facets of your life, often without you even realising, and as part of a well-rounded education, the value of language learning cannot be underestimated. "A different language is a…

Read More
Boarding
/
Thursday, 18 Aug 2022

TGS Academic Enrichment Program for Boarders

СƵ provides an inspiring and broad curriculum for boys, delivered by dedicated educators who understand how to engage boys in their learning. Our staff go above and beyond in providing an outstanding education and support network for our boys. They are regularly available to answer questions, assist with homework and assignments and provide academic support for all our students. This is particularly so for our boarders, thanks to our Academic Enrichment Program (AEP). All…

Read More
People
/
Thursday, 11 Aug 2022

Teacher as a Student

As a teacher at СƵ, I teach mathematics and business studies, and manage the GPS Chess team. Prior to teaching, I worked as a financial analyst. Recently I have completed a master's degree in science at the University of Southern Queensland. My study was focused exclusively on data science, and I have become an expert in the management of big data with a specialisation in modelling and forecasting using machine learning techniques. The motivation for this study was…

Read More
Character & Wellbeing
/
Thursday, 04 Aug 2022

Developing Healthy Relationships

Healthy relationships are extremely important for the development of mental health in our youth. When you spend time with people you care about, who care about you, this can help you feel connected and supported. This term is one of the largest in regard to boys participating in activities and sports ranging from field, to court, to thought. This is in addition to music and drama programs. At СƵ, we believe this allows for plenty of opportunity to develop the ability to…

Read More