Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College

Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College
Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College
Address
	2 Little Ryrie St; Geelong, Victoria; Australia
Information
Type	Public secondary
Motto	Looking Forward
Established	1856
School district	Barwon South Western
Principal	Michelle Crofts
Grades	7–12
Gender	All-female
Number of students	approximately 750
Campus	Urban
Colour(s)	; Blue, yellow, red
Website	http://www.mfgsc.vic.edu.au/

Matthew Flinders Girls' Secondary College is an all-girls State secondary school located in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. It provides education for students from years 7–12.

History

The school opened as Flinders National Grammar School in January 1858. The foundation stone was laid on 5 December 1856 by the administrator of the Colony of Victoria, Colonel Edward Macarthur.^[1] It is believed that the architect involved was the local German-born architect, Frank Kawerau, of Ryrie Street, Geelong, who also designed many government buildings across Victoria, including Willsmere (formerly Kew Lunatic Asylum (1864)), which has very similar architecture. The school was to be named the Geelong National Grammar School but, at the foundation ceremony, Macarthur asked permission to name it the "Flinders National Grammar School", after Captain Matthew Flinders, the first European explorer to circumnavigate Australia, who had climbed the local You Yangs range and described the Geelong area.^[2]

When the school opened in January 1858, 116 boys were enrolled, but there was no room for girls. Falling enrolments forced the school to become coeducational in 1864. The buildings were extended and remodelled in 1879, due to increased student numbers. When the extensions were opened in April 1880, it was officially named Flinders State School no. 260, but was unofficially known as "Link's School", after fifth headmaster, George Link, who was in charge from 1879 to 1894. During that time enrolments increased to 1000 students.

By 1938, enrolments were still increasing but there was not enough space. As a result, the decision was made in 1939 for the school to become "Matthew Flinders Girls School", under Ada Knowles. The school was led by Frances Higgins from 1942 to 1947.^[3] In 1948, Minnie Elizabeth Cawthorn was appointed as the new head. Historian Diane Langmore has written that, at that time, the school was "dilapidated", and "a dumping ground" for girls who would work in the mills as soon as they were fourteen.^[4] Cawthorn decided that the students should not be trained as housewives but to have a life. The school was renamed "Matthew Flinders Girls School", building extensions were made and the grounds became pristine. In 1950, Matthew Flinders students were the first in the state to sit the "Girls' Leaving Certificate".^[4] In 1956, Mary Lausza became the new head of the school.^[3]

In 1966, under Dr J. S. Bowden, the school gained high school status and it was renamed "Matthew Flinders Girls High School".^[3] It is now called Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College.

Today

The college operates on two campuses. Years 7, 10, 11 and 12 students are located on the Main Campus, whilst Years 8 and 9 are on the smaller Helen Fraser Campus.

References

^ Hill, A.J. "Macarthur, Sir Edward (1789–1872)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
^ Victorian Heritage Database Report (3 March 2020). "MATTHEW FLINDERS SCHOOL NO.8022". Victorian Heritage Database Report. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c Zada, Susie (11 June 2019). "Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College". Geelong and District. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
^ ^a ^b Langmore, Diane, "Cawthorn, Minnie Elizabeth (1898–1966)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 30 March 2020