Milestones

1923

Five boys and a tutor meeting in a private home are the beginnings in 1923 of what is now Kilvington Grammar School. Mrs Caroline Barrett and her daughter Constance establish the Ormond Girls’ School in February, using the facilities of the local Anglican Church Hall. The School’s original enrolment is 13 girls and two boys.

1925

Kilvington moves to a larger premises, ‘Merton Hall’, at the corner of Malvern Street and Wheatley Road, Ormond.

1927

The School moves again in February, to the Methodist Hall in Glen Orme Avenue. It continues there for another two years. In November, Caroline Barrett purchases land in Walsh Street, Ormond.

1928

The School begins another move to a new, larger site in Walsh Street, Ormond, quite close to its current location.

1929

The School is officially opened on 18 May. To commemorate this new identity, it is renamed Kilvington Girls’ Grammar School.

1933

Miss Muriel Fysh leases the School from Caroline Barrett. Enrolment is now 43 students.

1943

Mrs Mabel Ross agrees to take over as Headmistress of Kilvington, shortly before the passing of Miss Fysh in November.

1944

Mrs Ross formally takes over as Headmistress of Kilvington.

1948

Kilvington is officially opened as a Baptist School on 7 February, and is renamed Kilvington Baptist Girls’ Grammar School. Enrolment has grown to 188 students: 100 in Kindergarten, 87 in the Junior and Senior Schools, and only one in Intermediate level. A new science laboratory is built.

1949

Mrs Roberta McKie is appointed Headmistress of Kilvington.

1950

Two new Houses – ‘Barrett’ and ‘Muriel Fysh’ – are formed, named after Kilvington’s first two Headmistresses. Enrolment is now 240 students.

1951

The land occupied by the current Leila Road site is purchased. Construction begins on Collard House, the name given to the new Senior School building.

1953

A portion of Ormond Plant Farm in Leila Road is purchased. Construction begins on a science laboratory and classrooms there.

1954

The new science laboratory is opened on 2 October.

1955

Kilvington moves to its current site in Leila Road. Collard House is officially opened on 7 May.

1956

Kilvington's first Matriculation student receives their certificate.

1958

A second storey is added to Collard House. The previous Junior School is sold.

1959

Kilvington's first university graduate, Christine Corless, gains her Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Bacteriology and Biochemistry. Kilvington’s Junior School, Ratcliffe House, is opened.

1963

Kilvington purchases the remainder of Ormond Plant Farm. A new classroom wing and science laboratory are constructed on the site.

1965

The new classroom wing (named in honour of the Reverend P E Evans) and the new science laboratory (named in honour of Mr F H Swann) are officially opened on 7 October.

1970

The Roberta McKie Library is officially opened. Enrolment is now 384 students.

1973

After a remarkable 25 years as Headmistress, Mrs Roberta McKie retires, enrolments having grown to 529. During this period and since, significant purchases of property and a major building program have been pursued.

1974

Dalton Hall is officially opened.

1996

Kilvington's Early Learning Centre is officially opened.

2002

Kilvington’s new Junior School is officially opened.

2004

Kilvington's Patsy Venn Music Centre is officially opened.

2009

Kilvington’s refurbished McKie Resource Centre is officially opened.

2010

The new Sports Pavilion and Sports Courts are opened to students. In June, Kilvington announces that it will begin the transition to coeducation in 2011.

2011

Boys attend Kilvington's Junior School.