Great Public Schools Association of Queensland
The Great Public Schools Association of Queensland Inc. (GPS ) is an association of nine south-east Queensland secondary schools established in 1918. With the exception of Brisbane State High School , GPS schools are all-male, private schools. Similar associations exist in New South Wales (AAGPS ) and Victoria (APS ).
Schools
Current member schools
Source:[ 1]
There have been critics of the GPS competition of Brisbane State High's membership to the GPS Competition, primarily because it is the only Public School in the GPS competition. However, its membership is maintained despite dispute. The term "Public Schools" in the GPS acronym encompasses all public education including the Grammar Schools who are indeed themselves Public Schools. (Grammar Schools Act, 1860)
School
Location
Enrolment
Founded
Denomination
Day/boarding
Year entered
School colours
School nickname
Anglican Church Grammar School [note a] East Brisbane
1,800
1912
Anglican
Day & boarding
1918
Blue and grey
Churchie
Brisbane Boys' College
Toowong
1,600
1902
Uniting Church /Presbyterian
Day & boarding
1918
Green, white and black
BBC or College
Brisbane Grammar School
Spring Hill
1,700
1868
Secular or Non-denominational
Day & boarding
1918
Dark blue and light blue
Grammar or BGS
Brisbane State High School
South Brisbane
3,361[ 2]
1913[ 3]
Secular
Day
1921
Cerise and navy blue
State High
Ipswich Grammar School
Ipswich
1,080
1863
Non-denominational
Day & boarding
1918
Red and white
Ipswich or IGS
St Joseph's College, Nudgee
Boondall
1,750
1891
Catholic
Day & boarding
1918
Blue and white
Nudgee
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace
Spring Hill
1,691
1875
Catholic
Day
1918
Red & black
Terrace or Gregory Terrace
The Southport School
Southport
1,305
1901
Anglican
Day & boarding
1920
Maroon, navy and white
TSS or Southport
Toowoomba Grammar School
Toowoomba
1,258
1875
Non-denominational
Day & boarding
1920
Blue and gold
Toowoomba or TGS
Central Technical College High School , a Government-run school, was initially a member from 1918 but merged with Brisbane Junior State High School and High Top Wynnum State School in 1921* to form Brisbane State High School, which is still a member of the association. Brisbane state high school has gone on to win many of these GPS competitions.
St. Laurence's College was forced to leave the GPS in the 1920s because it did not have a cricket pitch and a football oval. They competed at least up to and including the September 23, 1928 Athletics Carnival. They are now members of the Associated Independent Colleges (AIC) Competition.
Physical recreation
Basketball
The schools have competed in an annual basketball premiership since 1986.
School
Premierships
Outright
Shared
Outright years
Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 6
2
4
2001, 2003
1990, 1991, 1992, 1998
Anglican Church Grammar School 8
6
2
1988, 1989, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2020
1990, 2019
Brisbane State High School 11
6
5
1999, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2016
1998, 2000, 2004, 2011, 2022
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 4
1
3
1997
2000, 2004, 2019
The Southport School 5
4
1
2009, 2012, 2021, 2023
2022
Ipswich Grammar School 8
6
2
1986, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2015, 2018
1991, 1992
Toowoomba Grammar School 1
0
1
2022
Brisbane Grammar School 0
0
0
Brisbane Boys' College 5
4
1
1987, 1995, 2005, 2017
2005
Notes
Results up to and including 2023 season.
Brisbane State High School has been the most successful school in GPS Basketball based upon premierships.
Cricket
The schools have competed in an annual cricket premiership since 1919.
School
Premierships
Outright
Shared
Outright years
Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 10
9
1
1925, 1937, 1938, 1964, 1991, 1994, 1998, 2001, 2009
1922
Anglican Church Grammar School 19
15
4
1934, 1935, 1940, 1941, 1948, 1950, 1959, 1963, 1967, 1976, 1984, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2012
1929, 1931, 1955, 1962
Brisbane State High School 7
7
0
1949, 1966, 1977, 1979, 1992, 1993, 2002
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 3
2
1
1952, 2004
2020
The Southport School 24
19
5
1926, 1927, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1980, 1981, 1982, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
1920, 1923, 1928, 1929, 1971
Ipswich Grammar School 13
12
1
1937, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1968, 1969, 1975, 1989, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2016
1922
Toowoomba Grammar School 12
10
2
1924, 1932, 1933, 1936, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 2000, 2005
1923, 1928
Brisbane Grammar School 18
14
4
1919, 1921, 1930, 1946, 1951, 1954, 1956, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1978, 1983, 2013, 2022
1920, 1931, 1955, 1971
Brisbane Boys' College 6
4
2
1947, 1985, 1995, 2003
1962, 2020
Notes
No competition held from 1942 to 1945 inclusive due to World War II .
Current Premiers (2024): The Southport School
Results up to and including 2024 season.
The Southport School has been the most successful school in GPS Cricket based upon premierships.
Cross Country
The schools have competed in an annual cross-country championship since 1971.
School
Wins
Outright
Shared
Outright years
Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 4
3
1
1999, 2005, 2015
2010
Anglican Church Grammar School 17
15
2
1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2009, 2012
1975, 2007
Brisbane State High School 3
3
0
2020, 2021, 2023,
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 9
7
2
2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014
2004, 2010
The Southport School 1
1
0
1990
Ipswich Grammar School 4
2
2
1991, 1992
2004, 2007
Toowoomba Grammar School 0
0
0
Brisbane Grammar School 16
15
1
1974, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2016, 2017
1975
Brisbane Boys' College 4
4
0
2018, 2019, 2022, 2024
Ipswich Grammar School 4
2
2
1991, 1992
2004, 2007
Notes
Current Premiers (2023): Brisbane State High School
Results up to and including 2023 competition.
Anglican Church Grammar School has been the most successful school in Junior GPS Cross Country based upon premierships.
Junior Cross Country
The schools have competed in an annual cross-country championship since 2014.
Notes
Current Premiers (2023): Anglican Church Grammar School
Results up to and including 2023 competition.
Nudgee College has been the most successful school in Junior GPS Cross Country based upon premierships.
Gymnastics
The schools have competed in an annual gymnastics competition from 1915 to 2021, making it the oldest GPS sport, dating before the establishment of the GPS Association in 1918.[ 4]
Notes
Ipswich Grammar School has never competed in gymnastics. Anglican Church Grammar School, Toowoomba Grammar School and Nudgee College no longer consistently compete in gymnastics (occasionally, small teams/individuals have represented these schools at the championships).
Although never officially involved, Brisbane State High School has occasionally is involved with few individuals.
Gymnastics was contested between schools in 1915, 1916 and 1917, prior to the founding of the GPS in 1918, with Brisbane Grammar School, Nudgee College and Brisbane Grammar School winning in the respective years
No competition in 1924 or from 1929 to 1932 inclusive.
Results up to and including 2023 competition.
Brisbane Grammar School in 2012 won Division 3 by 0.5 points and Division 1 by 0.1 points, while losing Division 2 by over 20.0 points. It has been unofficially dubbed one of the greatest premierships in GPS history.
Brisbane Grammar School has been the most successful school in GPS Gymnastics based upon premierships.
Brisbane Grammar School has over a decade-long premiership, winning all championships from 2011 and 2023.
GPS Gymnastics has been officially discontinued after the 2020 GPS Championships on September 5, ending with a 105 year history. This was due to a continuing decline of participating students and viable competition across all schools, making GPS Gymnastics one of three sports to be discontinued by the GPS Association.
The GPS Gymnastics Foundation Cup has been contested since 2021
Rowing
The schools have competed in an annual Head of the River rowing championship since 1918.
Notes
Ipswich Grammar School and Toowoomba Grammar School do not take part in rowing competition.Gregory Terrace first competed in 1928 but did not compete again until 1954.Nudgee College first competed in 2002.No competition 1942 to 1945 inclusive due to World War II .
There have been 2 ties for first place – 1928 and 1965.
In all, there have been 5 ties for a podium (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) position; the most recent of which was for 3rd in the 2019 race.
A "No Race" was declared in 1983 due to multiple protests regarding the outcome of the race.
Results up to and including 2024.
Brisbane Boys' College has been the most successful school in GPS Rowing based upon 1st VIII premierships. The schools have also competed for the Old Boys Cup for best overall school at Head of the River since 1988.
Notes
There has been 1 tie for first place – 2012.
Not awarded in 2010 due to inclement weather conditions.
Results up to and including 2024.
Anglican Church Grammar School has been the most successful school in the Old Boys' Cup.
Rugby
The schools have competed in an annual rugby premiership since 1918 (initially playing rugby league until 1928, when the schools reverted to rugby union).[ 5]
School
Premierships
Outright
Shared
Outright years
Shared years
St. Joseph's Nudgee College 45
37
8
1920, 1921, 1923, 1925, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1946, 1952, 1953, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2023, 2024
1924, 1932, 1950, 1954, 1993, 2010, 2017, 2022
Anglican Church Grammar School 19
13
6
1939, 1949, 1951, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1967, 1982, 1999, 2014, 2015
1950, 1954, 1974, 2003, 2005, 2022
Brisbane State High School 15
7
8
1947, 1964, 1969, 1975, 1983, 2009, 2016
1973, 1974, 1976, 1984, 1992, 1993, 2005, 2010
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 10
8
2
1927, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1996, 2004
1954, 1956
The Southport School 12
8
4
1922, 1926, 1933, 1938, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2019
2003, 2010, 2017, 2022
Ipswich Grammar School 8
6
2
1918, 1919, 1934, 1985, 1988, 1989
1984, 1993
Toowoomba Grammar School 6
2
4
1930, 1948
1924, 1932, 1954, 1956
Brisbane Grammar School 7
3
4
1958, 1972, 2012
1956, 1973, 1976, 1992
Brisbane Boys' College 2
1
1
2020
1954
Notes
Premiers are determined by win–loss records only and not by bonus points or points differential.[ 6]
St. Joseph's College, Nudgee has been the most successful school in GPS Rugby based upon premierships.
No competition 1942 to 1945 inclusive due to World War II .
No competition 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Sailing
An annual sailing competition was instigated in 2000.
School
Wins
Win years
The Southport School 11
2002, 2003, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
Anglican Church Grammar School 4
2001, 2004, 2009, 2010
Brisbane Grammar School 5
2000, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2022
Brisbane Boys' College 3
2007, 2008, 2011
Notes
Brisbane State High School, Gregory Terrace, Nudgee College, Toowoomba Grammar School and Ipswich Grammar School do not compete in sailing.
Not awarded in 2012 due to bad weather.
Not awarded in 2020 due to COVID-19
Up to and including 2024.
The Southport School has been the most successful school in GPS Sailing based upon premierships.
GPS Sailing has been officially discontinued after the 2020 GPS Championships, ending with a 21 year history. This was due to a continuing decline of participating students and viable competition across all schools, making GPS Sailing one of two sports to be discontinued by the GPS Association.
The GPS Sailing Foundation Cup has been contested since 2021
The schools have competed in an annual Association football competition since 1991.
School
Wins
Outright
Shared
Outright years
Shared years
Brisbane Grammar School 6
4
2
1992, 1994, 2000, 2007
1999, 2006
Ipswich Grammar School 7
5
2
1996, 2008, 2009, 2017
1998, 1999
Brisbane Boys' College 5
5
0
1991, 1993, 2004, 2010, 2011
St Joseph's Nudgee College 11
7
4
1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2018, 2022, 2023
1998, 2013, 2014, 2016
Brisbane State High School 2
1
1
2005
2006
Anglican Church Grammar School 2
2
0
2019, 2024
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 1
1
0
2021
The Southport School 4
2
2
2012, 2020
2013, 2014
Toowoomba Grammar School 2
1
1
2015
2016
Notes
Current Premiers (2024): Anglican Church Grammar School
Up to and including 2024.
St. Joseph's Nudgee College have been the most successful schools in GPS Football based upon premierships.
Swimming
The schools have competed in an annual swimming competition since 1918.
School
Wins
Outright
Shared
Outright years
Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 23
22
1
1923, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023
1954
Anglican Church Grammar School 21
21
0
1930, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1956, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 2014
Brisbane State High School 13
13
0
1933, 1968, 1969, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 16
15
1
1918, 1919, 1921, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1970, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1900, 1991
1954
The Southport School 8
8
0
1922, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016
Ipswich Grammar School 0
0
0
Toowoomba Grammar School 1
1
0
1935
Brisbane Grammar School 21
21
0
1920, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024
Brisbane Boys' College 0
0
0
Notes
No competition took place in 1932, 1938, 1942, 1951, 1966 or 1967.
Up to and including 2024.
Nudgee College has been the most successful school in GPS Swimming based upon premierships.
Junior Swimming
The schools have competed in an annual swimming competition since 2014.
Notes
Up to and including 2024.
Anglican Church Grammar School has been the most successful school in Junior GPS Swimming based upon premierships.
Tennis
The schools have competed in an annual Tennis competition since 1918.
School
Wins
Outright
Shared
Outright years
Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 10
7
3
1935, 1936, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994
2003, 2011, 2013
Anglican Church Grammar School 11
8
3
1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2005
1941, 1948, 1957
Brisbane State High School 5
4
1
1954, 1959, 1973, 1984
1972
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 7
5
2
1955, 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999
2002, 2003
The Southport School 9
6
3
1924, 1926, 1930, 1956, 2000, 2001
1921, 1934, 2018
Ipswich Grammar School 6
2
4
1929, 2010
1921, 1941, 2002, 2009
Toowoomba Grammar School 12
10
2
1927, 1932, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1952
1948, 1957
Brisbane Grammar School 43
36
7
1918, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1928, 1931, 1933, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1991, 2012, 2021, 2022
1921, 1934, 1972, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2013
Brisbane Boys' College 16
12
4
1983, 1987, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023
1934, 2011, 2013, 2018
Notes
No competition took place from 1945 to 1945 inclusive due to World War II .
Up to and including 2023.
Brisbane Grammar School has been the most successful school in GPS Tennis based upon premierships.
Track and Field
The schools have competed in an annual athletics competition since 1918.
School
Wins
Outright
Shared
Outright years
Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 18
17
1
1920, 1921, 1931, 1940, 1955, 1969, 1970, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2023
1919
Anglican Church Grammar School 21
19
2
1923, 1943, 1944, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1974
1929, 1935
Brisbane State High School 14
14
0
1946, 1947, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 5
5
0
1927, 1930, 1934, 1950, 1951
The Southport School 5
3
2
1918, 1922, 1933
1919, 1929
Ipswich Grammar School 24
24
0
1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024
Toowoomba Grammar School 3
3
0
1945, 1971, 1972
Brisbane Grammar School 14
13
1
1924, 1926, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1941, 1948, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995
1935
Brisbane Boys' College 6
6
0
1925, 1939, 1942, 2016, 2017, 2018
Notes
Up to and including 2024
Ipswich Grammar School has been the most successful school in GPS Track & Field based upon premierships.
Junior Track and Field
The schools have competed in an annual athletics competition since 2014.
Notes
Up to and including 2024
Nudgee College has been the most successful school in Junior GPS Track & Field based upon premierships.
Volleyball
The schools have competed in an annual volleyball premiership since 1994.
School
Wins
Outright
Shared
Outright years
Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 2
1
1
2022
2002
Anglican Church Grammar School 7
6
1
1998, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024
2020
Brisbane State High School 0
0
0
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 8
3
5
1997, 2014, 2021
1996, 2000, 2010, 2015, 2020
The Southport School 0
0
0
Ipswich Grammar School 1
0
1
2002
Toowoomba Grammar School 0
0
0
Brisbane Grammar School 14
10
4
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013
2000, 2010, 2015, 2020
Brisbane Boys' College 6
5
1
1994, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2019
1996
Notes
Up to and including 2024
The Southport School do not take part in Volleyball
Brisbane Grammar School has been the most successful school in GPS Volleyball based upon premierships.
Academic Events
Chess
The schools have competed in an annual chess premiership since 1995.
School
Premierships
Outright
Shared
Outright years
Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 0
0
0
Anglican Church Grammar School 15
14
1
1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
2010
Brisbane State High School 2
2
0
2004, 2005
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 0
0
0
The Southport School 0
0
0
Ipswich Grammar School 0
0
0
Toowoomba Grammar School 1
0
1
2006
Brisbane Grammar School 13
11
2
1995, 1996, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019
2006, 2010
Brisbane Boys' College 0
0
0
Notes
Results up to and including 2023 season.
Anglican Church Grammar School has been the most successful school in GPS Chess based upon premierships.
Debating
The schools have competed in an annual debating premiership since 2002.
School
Premierships
Outright
Shared
Outright years
Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 0
0
0
Anglican Church Grammar School 4
4
0
2007, 2012, 2020, 2022
Brisbane State High School 1
0
1
2024
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 5
3
2
2006, 2019, 2023
2002, 2005
The Southport School 0
0
0
Ipswich Grammar School 0
0
0
Toowoomba Grammar School 0
0
0
Brisbane Grammar School 16
13
3
2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021
2002, 2005, 2024
Brisbane Boys' College 0
0
0
Notes
Results up to and including 2024
Brisbane Grammar School has been the most successful school in GPS Debating based upon premierships.
GPS Music Showcase
The GPS Competition holds an Annual Music Showcase where member schools present a set repertoire that is decided by the school who is hosting for that particular year. Students then rehearse for a final concert which, in 2019, was held in the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). The event celebrates the creative talent of students across all 9 of the member schools.
Additionally, there was previously GPS Shooting which got removed because of safety hazards. Toowoomba Grammar School had very many premierships in the time it was a GPS competition. When the GPS allowed you to enter 3 teams, Toowoomba Grammar School won 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
See also
Notes
References
Bibliography
Hawkins, T. Max (1965). The Queensland Great Public Schools - A History . Brisbane: Jacaranda Press.
External links
