SCEGGS DARLINGHURST

'SCEGGS Darlinghurst' is an independent, non-selective, Anglican school for girls, located in the inner city suburb of Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia. The school caters for approximately 880 students from Kindergarten to Year 12. Whilst predominantly a day school, SCEGGS offers a small number of boarding places at St Vincent's College.
Founded in 1895, as the 'Sydney Church of England Girls Grammar School', the school's official name was replaced with 'SCEGGS Darlinghurst' in 1995.
SCEGGS is a founding member of the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools (AHIGS).

Contents

History

Principals

House system

Media, Entertainment and the Arts

Politics and Law

Science

Sport

References

See also

External links

History

On the 17 July, 1895, a new Grammar School for Girls was officially opened in Sydney under the auspices of the Sydney Diocese of the Church of England. The 'Sydney Church of England Girls’ Grammar School' (or 'S.C.E.G.G.S.') commenced in a terrace house at 65 (now 55) Victoria Street, Darlinghurst with one pupil, Mary Watson, one teacher, Miss Janet Uther and the Principal, Miss Edith Badham. Within a year, the school had increased to 50 pupils and moved to "Chatsworth", a larger home in Macleay Street.
Within five years, the school had 100 pupils, including a kindergarten and junior school. "Barham" in Forbes Street, Darlinghurst was purchased and the school moved there in 1901. The early curriculum included English Language and Literature, Geography, Modern and Ancient History, Latin, Classical Greek, Mathematics, French Language and Literature, German or Italian, Needlework and Drilling. Classes were also formed in Botany, Geology or other scientific subjects for pupils who reached a fair standard of proficiency in their ordinary subjects. Classes in Cookery and Dressmaking were also held whenever there was enough demand.
S.C.E.G.G.S. continued to expand and opened several Branch Schools - Bowral (1906-1929) relocating to Moss Vale (1930-1974), Hunters Hill (1912-1915), North Sydney (1911-1941) becoming Redlands (1945-1976), Wollongong (1955-1976) and Loquat Valley (1967-1976).
In 1974, financial difficulties due to the comptroller of the Anglican diocesan schools misappropriating school funds, threatened the school with closure. Within two years, contributions from the school community and the Sydney Diocese ensured that the original school, S.C.E.G.G.S. Darlinghurst, was not closed but continued to operate. Moss Vale closed in 1974 and two years later, Redlands, Wollongong and Loquat Valley became schools independent from S.C.E.G.G.S. Darlinghurst and have been governed by their own boards since that time.
A company, S.C.E.G.G.S. Darlinghurst Ltd, was formed in 1976, under a Board of Directors, to govern the school. On the school’s 100th anniversary in 1995, the school’s name was changed from Sydney Church of England Girls’ Grammar School, Darlinghurst (S.C.E.G.G.S.) to 'SCEGGS Darlinghurst'.
Five Heads of School have led SCEGGS since 1895 - Miss Edith Badham (1895-1920), Miss Dorothy Wilkinson, Miss Barbara Chisholm (1947-1977), Miss Diana Bowman (1978-1995) and Ms Jenny Allum (1996-). Under their leadership, SCEGGS Darlinghurst has expanded from a terrace house in 1895 to a campus incorporating a chapel, primary school, classroom blocks, assembly hall, science and library block, auditorium, sports hall, senior study building, Great Hall and performing arts centre. From 1965 to 1983, a preparatory school was operated at Bellevue Hill for boys and girls up to Kindergarten age.^[3]

Principals

Ms Jenny Allum 1996-
Miss Diana Bowman 1978-1995
Miss Barbara Chisholm 1947-1977
Miss Dorothy Wilkinson 1920-1947
Miss Edith Badham 1895-1920^[4]

House system

SCEGGS introduced the house system in 1926 as a way to encourage friendship between girls of different year groups. SCEGGS has 6 houses, and each girl is placed in a house upon enrolement. The houses are Badham (red and yellow), Barton (red and white), Beck (blue and yellow), Christian (red and black), Docker (blue and black) and Langley (green and yellow).
== Notable Alumnae ==

Business

★ Elizabeth Bryan - professional director, former head of NSW State Super

★ Ann Sherry - CEO of Westpac in New Zealand

Media, Entertainment and the Arts

★ Gillian Armstrong - Film director

★ Cadence Barkelew-Catt - Writer

★ Blanche d'Alpuget - biographer; Bob Hawke's 2nd wife

★ Anne Davies - SMH journalist and MEAA heavy

★ Claudia Karvan - Actress

★ Julie McCrossin - MC/Comedian

★ Karen Pang - Playschool presenter on the ABC

★ Pamela Stephenson - comedian, therapist and Mrs Billy Connoly

★ Kate Woods - TV and film director

★ Celina Edmonds - ABCTV, Channel 10 and Sky News newsreader

Politics and Law

★ Rebecca Graham - Lawyer, International Criminal Tribunal

★ Dr Liz Kernohan - Liberal politician

★ Karin MacDonald - ACT MLA

★ Helen Gray Annetta Morris - first wife of the late Sir Roden Cutler, former Governor of NSW

★ Kay Patterson - Liberal senator and former Health Minister

Science

★ Dr Joan Freeman - Nuclear Physicist

★ Vera Ramaciotti - philanthropist (established the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation for biomedical research)

Sport

★ Margaret Elaine Dovey - champion swimmer, social worker and Gough Whitlam's wife.

References

1. SCEGGS Darlinghurst: Festival on Forbes (accessed:25-05-2007)
2. SCEGGS Annual Report 2006 (accessed:25-05-2007)
3. SCEGGS History (2007). [1].
4. Heads of New South Wales Independent Girls' Schools (accessed:23-07-2007)

See also

★ List of Non-Government schools in New South Wales

External links

★ SCEGGS website

★ The Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools

★ Anglican Church of Australia