A History of One of the Top Private Schools in Townsville

Since 1888, Townsville Grammar School has been a leading source of education for children in Queensland. From our inception, right through to the current day, our community has provided our young students excellent academic direction, extensive co-curricular options and a bevy of leadership and civic engagement opportunities. Here, we celebrate 140 years of excellence in education and development and look back over our history of success. If you have any questions, or if you’d like to enquire about enrolment openings, please get in touch with us! 

An Inspired Beginning

Established in 1888 as one of the first secondary schools in Townsville and in Northern QLD, Townsville Grammar School was extremely fortunate to have a group of community-minded and farsighted trustees appointed and elected to our board. With just the one school building, the headmasters house and a small gymnasium/laboratory, it was our fundamental values of determination, connection and curiosity that has led to us becoming QLD’s premier choice for education and development. 

Academic Excellence

With a wonderful tradition of academic excellence, we’ve always placed an exceptionally high priority on educational instruction. Our students truly began to stand out to the world in 1891, when  M.C.L.Chubb and F.T.Perkins were named Sydney University Examination Prize winners. We’ve gone from strength to strength, with Rhode scholars, Liley Medal winners and Brynes Medal recipients amongst our alumni. In more recent times, our annual Cum Laude and Alan Morwood Awards have helped our school become an environment which inspires a nurturing environment, hard work and high standards of achievement. 

Co-Curricular Distinguishment

We also have a distinguished history in co-curricular activities from sports to performing arts. During Mr. Rowland’s tenure as headmaster from 1904 to 1938, a culture of music and performing arts was fostered, with school singalongs on Friday afternoons and plays such as Julius Caesar and The Odyssey being performed by students! Once again, we’ve only improved in this area, with sports programs and performing arts opportunities taught and led by dedicated coaches and tutors. 

We’re one of the most highly regarded boarding, junior and secondary schools in Townsville and Northern QLD. Call us or contact us online with any questions, or to enquire about enrolments.