Our History

The House System was introduced into the Boarding School in 1936 and was extended to the Day School in the following year.

Beginnings

1908-1916

Fairholme College had its beginnings in Spreydon Girls’ College, opened by two sisters, Miss Beth and Miss Jessie Thomson, on 4 February 1908 at a house in Russell Street, Newtown, Toowoomba. By 1911, the need for more room resulted in Spreydon College moving to a more spacious home in Rome Street, Newtown, that was named ‘Spreydon’ after the College.

• Miss Beth Thomson and Miss Jessie Thomson were Co-Principals of Spreydon from 1908 to 1914, before returning to Melbourne and becoming joint Principals of Stratherne Presbyterian Girls’ Grammar School.
• From May 1909, Spreydon College had been under the patronage of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland.
• The Presbyterian Church of Queensland purchased Spreydon College from the Thomsons in December 1914. The Presbyterian Ladies College Limited opened in January 1915 at ‘Spreydon’, with Miss Sarah Amelia (Amy) Carson as its first Principal.

Moving to ‘Fairholme’

1917-1919

With enrolments increasing, the Presbyterian Ladies’ College quickly outgrew ‘Spreydon’. In April 1917, the PLC Board purchased ‘Fairholme’, a larger property on the Range generously offered for sale by its owner, Mrs Margaret Anne Cameron. 

• On 17 July 1917, the first three Primary students began classes at ‘Fairholme’ with more following during the year. In February 1918, the whole school relocated to Wirra Wirra Street, becoming the Presbyterian Girls’ College, ‘Fairholme’ Toowoomba, with Miss Amy Carson as Principal (1915-1919). 
• Ardens sed Virens (Burning yet Flourishing), the motto of the Presbyterian Ladies’ College Limited, was chosen as the PGC ‘Fairholme’ motto. 
• The Presbyterian Girls’ College, Toowoomba was officially opened by Lady Helen Munro Ferguson on 12 August 1918, with 18 Boarders and 63 Day Girls enrolled. (The name ‘Fairholme College’ was not used officially until 1978, although it had been known as ‘Fairholme’ since 1917.)

Growth and Depression Years

1920-1939

Miss Nancy Jobson, Principal of Fairholme 1920-1921, was instrumental in the construction of the first new building on site in 1920. Now the Patrea O’Shea Performing Arts Centre, this building was designed by Marks and Co Architects. It featured three classrooms, able to be converted into an Assembly Hall by folding back wooden dividing walls.

• In 1920, the College’s first drama production, The Merchant of Venice, was staged in the new Assembly Hall and the first Athletics carnival was held. 
• The Fairholme Old Girls’ Association (FOGA) was established in September 1921, with Miss Jobson as President and Lady Nelson of ‘Gabbinbar’ as its Patroness.
• At the end of 1921, Miss Jobson resigned to become Principal of PLC Pymble in Sydney.

Miss Daisy Culpin, Principal from 1922-1940, guided the College through years of growth in the 1920s and some very difficult years during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

• Fairholme’s first sporting teams were Tennis and Basketball (Netball), with the first Premiership Pennant being won by the Tennis team in 1923.
• The College’s first major excursion was to the Jenolan Caves NSW in 1926.
• More new buildings were opened in October 1929, including a separate Kindergarten bungalow for the youngest students and WR Black Dormitory, named after a great Fairholme benefactor, William Robert Black. The SG Stephens Palm Avenue also was opened in 1929 after being planted by another great College benefactor, Mr Samuel George Stephens.
• The House System was introduced in 1936 for Boarders only, before being extended to the whole school in 1937. The original three Houses were named for significant benefactors: Black, for Mr WR Black, Cameron for Mrs MA Cameron, and Stephens, for Mr SG Stephens. Powell House was added in 1959 due to increasing enrolments, and was named for Mr Ray Powell, a long-term Board member and significant supporter of Fairholme.

Wartime and beyond

1940-1953

Miss Jean Tassie was PGC Fairholme’s Principal from 1940 to 1948. Recognition should be made of Miss Tassie’s ingenuity and hard work in sustaining the College through the difficult years of World War II. After leaving Fairholme, Miss Tassie returned home to Adelaide, where she continued teachings.

• Enrolments at Fairholme peaked at 170 in 1942, partly due to an influx of students from Brisbane schools who were forced to evacuate.
• Building programs were restricted due to a dearth of materials during the war. 
• A shortage of staff caused further problems for Miss Tassie, as did the wartime rationing of food and clothing items. 
• In 1948, more land was added to the campus and an oval for Athletics was created.

The Rev Norman Joughin, Principal from 1949 to 1951, was able to oversee a long overdue post-war building program at Fairholme.

• Additional classrooms (now C Block) were completed and the Music Block (under the old Black Dormitory) was refurbished.
• The original Cabarlah Court House building, which once housed the Highfields Shire Council, was acquired and transported to Fairholme in 1951. Initially located near the Homestead, it became the Home Science Room. In the 1970s it was moved closer to the first Ray Powell Pool, before being moved again to the North-East corner of the campus in 1989, where it became the Old Chapel. Currently it is used as the Drama centre.

Rev Joughin resigned in April 1951, due to ill-health, and Mr Richard A Kerr, former Principal of Ipswich Grammar School, became Acting Principal until the end of the year. Rev RMS (Maxwell) Crawford was Principal from 1952 to 1953, before resigning to continue in Ministry.

• In a significant development, the Fairholme Parents’ and Friends’ Association was formed in 1953. Over the years since, the Fairholme P & F Association has provided wholehearted support and fundraising for the College. Their first purchase was a film projector for the Boarders.

Expansion at PGC

1954-1972

It was becoming apparent that Ministers of Religion were not able to make the necessary full-time commitment to the position of Principal while also carrying out their parish duties. The next Principal of Fairholme was a professional educator, not a clergyman. Miss Nancy Shaw (1954-1968) formerly Deputy Principal at Somerville House Brisbane, became Fairholme’s Principal in Term 2 1954. Significant academic and campus developments followed her appointment, and major fund-raising programs were undertaken in the 1960s.

• One of Miss Shaw’s first actions as Principal was to select the current College Hymn, ‘Praise to the Lord, the Almighty’ in 1954.
• In 1958, the College Assembly Hall was built. Also in 1958, the College’s first full-time Physical Education Teacher was appointed. 
• Fairholme’s first swimming pool was opened in March 1961 and named for Mr Ray Powell who played a significant role in its development. 
• In 1963, Fairholme acquired the Talara property on its South-Eastern boundary, completing the College campus. A cottage for the Principal was built on this site.
• A substantial Commonwealth Grant led to the constriction of the College’s first dedicated Science block in 1966 and the expansion of science courses.
• Enrolments reached 360 students in 1963 and the large numbers of Boarders (172) meant that additional dormitory accommodation was needed urgently. The South Dormitory Block was opened in 1964, providing accommodation for 64 students and 6 staff members.
• In the same year, the Daisy Culpin Gates at the Wirra Wirra Street entrance were opened, following a FOGA fundraising campaign, to honour this much-loved Principal.

After serving as Principal for almost 15 years, and firmly establishing Fairholme as a leading independent girls’ school in Queensland, Miss Shaw resigned at the end of 1968 and returned to Brisbane. Miss Pamela Harris (1969-1972) succeeded her as Principal.

• In 1970, The new Administration Centre (now the principal’s office and FOGA Archives Foyer) and the Library (now the Amy Carson Room) were built.
• Miss Harris introduced the MacLaren tartan summer uniform dress in 1971, as well as berets to be worn with the winter uniform. 
• The Principal’s Office was relocated to an enclosed section in the North-West corner of the Cameron Homestead veranda.

Interesting times in the 1970s

1973-1979

Mr Robert Clinch (1973-1974) was appointed as Fairholme’s first lay Headmaster, having previously been Deputy Headmaster at The Scots School, Bathurst. He resigned in May 1974, and the College was then run by the College Council’s Education Sub-Committee, with Rev Neil Key (Chairman) and Mrs Rita Moreton as Acting Principals, until a new Principal was appointed in December. These six months at Fairholme were difficult, as the Acting Principals were not qualified teachers and they also held full-time positions outside of the College.

•  In 1974, the construction of G Block classrooms began, and the Dining Hall complex was opened. 
• 1974 also saw a new sports uniform was introduced, comprising a blue tunic and shorts, long gold socks and gym boots. This replaced the previous sports uniform of a brown tunic and white blouse, dating from the 1930s.

Mrs Belle Gillies (1975-1979) became Principal in 1975, having taught previously at Canberra Church of England Girls’ Grammar School. In what was a very challenging time for the College, internal and financial problems worsened, and enrolments fell from 371 in 1974 to 286 in 1976. 

• The College Prayer was introduced by Mrs Gillies in 1975 and the first Valedictory Dinner for Senior students was held. Both have become significant aspects of Fairholme’s culture.
• New kitchens were in stalled in the Home Economics centre, and the old College Dining Room in Cameron Homestead became a student Common Room. 
• In January 1976, a severe hailstorm followed by cyclonic rain wreaked havoc at Fairholme and across East Toowoomba. Considerable damage to the school buildings occurred, with almost 800 windowpanes being shattered. 

In May 1979 the College Council terminated Mrs Gillies’ appointment as Principal, and the Deputy Principal, Miss Ann Waxman, reluctantly accepted the position of Acting Principal for the rest of the year. 

Officially Fairholme

The Uniting Church in Australia was established in June 1977 when members of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational Churches joined together. This development had a significant impact on PGC Fairholme and its College Council.

• Not all Presbyterians joined the UCA, and the Presbyterian Church of Queensland continued as a separate denomination.
• St Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Toowoomba joined the UCA.
• Fairholme College remained with the Presbyterian Church of Queensland, and it remains the only College in Queensland owned by the Presbyterian Church.
• A new College Council was established in July 1977, with Rev Reginald Joughin as Chairman. Rev Norman Barker was appointed as College Chaplain, replacing Rev Key.

In March 1978, the name of the College was changed officially to ‘Fairholme College, a College of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland’. At last, Fairholme was now officially Fairholme. 

Building and Growing

1980-1999

Mr Allan Faragher (1980- April 1994) was appointed as Principal of Fairholme in 1980. A vigorous and dynamic Council, led by its Chairman, Mr Linsday Statham, as well as the Head Matron, Miss Margaret Lawson, assisted Mr Faragher in restoring and enhancing the College’s reputation as a leading girls’ school. Discipline tightened, morale improved, enrolments increased, and the College’s financial and general management improved markedly. By 1992, there were over 700 students at Fairholme and an extensive building program was in progress.

• A new Principal’s residence was built near the Talara entrance and the Town Houses were opened in 1984.
• 1986 saw the opening of the Nancy Shaw ‘Link’ Building and dormitory, plus the Daisy Culpin Courtyard, as well as the extension of the 1958 Assembly Hall. 
• In 1990, a new pool and gymnasium complex was opened on the old Primary School site, a new Classroom Block (L Block) was built and the P & F Courtyard space was developed.

Mr Stan Klan (April 1994-April 2009) was appointed Principal on the retirement of Mr Faragher at the end of Term 1 1994. Further development projects and expansion continued.

• The Jean Tassie Dormitory was opened in 1995, as was the Refectory building (now the Art space). South Dormitory was refurbished.
• The Amy Carson Room, a lecture theatre and study space, was developed out of the old Library. Lower G Block was restructured and expanded in 2000 to incorporate the computer laboratories and create a new and larger learning centre, now known as the Greta Centre. 
• The restoration and refurbishment of the original ‘Fairholme’ Homestead, a FOGA and Fairholme Foundation project, was completed in 1999 and the wide verandas were opened up again.
• The original 1920 Classroom block was raised, rotated 90 degrees and renovated to create the Patrea O’Shea Performing Arts Block in 1999. 
• Fairholme Preschool was re-established in 1996 in the old Fairholme Preparatory School building and Kindergarten bungalow.

21st Century Fairholme

2000-2016

• In 2001, the College was reconstituted under a Board of Directors, rather than a College Council. Mr Bill Munro became Chairman of the Board from 2001-2007. He was followed by the current Board Chairman, Mr Ian Andersen. 
• Cameron Homestead underwent further renovation and restoration in 2001-2002, with the Cameron Room, the MacLaren Room and the Spreydon Room being created from the original dining room and Principal’s office area.
• Fairholme Junior was established in 2003 when Fairholme Primary School, Preschool and Kindergarten were amalgamated. Fairholme Kindy opened in 2003, and Fairholme still has boys in the Kindy groups.
• 2007 saw the introduction of the Preparatory Year (Prep) at Fairholme. The Year 7 girls became the inaugural members of Fairholme’s Middle School (Years 7-9), established in July 2007. 
• The new Middle School complex, comprising 14 classrooms and Fairholme New Chapel, was officially opened on 2 May 2008 by the then Queensland Governor, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AM. 
• In 2008, Fairholme College also celebrated the centenary of the founding of Spreydon Girls’ College, the forerunner of Fairholme, by the Misses Thomson. 

Dr Linda Evans (2009 - current) was appointed Principal of Fairholme on the retirement of Mr Klan in April 2009. Dr Evans came to Fairholme in 2003 as Deputy Principal (Pastoral). 

• On 10 September 2010, Fairholme’s new Junior School Library (now known as Greta Junior) was opened by Senator Claire Moore.
• Parts of the College were flooded in January 2011, with damage occurring across many buildings – including carpets, computers, library resources and boarding house furniture. The clean-up involved a number of teaching staff and their families who volunteered their time over many days to pull up carpets across the school, move furniture and remove debris.
• Laptops were introduced for Middle and Senior School students in 2010 and iPads for Junior School students in 2014. 
• Many areas in the Boarding Houses were renovated and remodelled, including South Dorm and Black Dorm, and teaching areas in S Block, G Block, L Block and the Junior School were upgraded. Further renovations over the next few years transformed the Dining Hall, C Block, the Learning Centre (The Greta Centre), Nancy Shaw Dorm and the Assembly Hall. 
• Former Principal, Miss Nancy Shaw, passed away in 2011, aged 98. Known as ‘Boss’ she was revered by Fairholme girls in the 1950s and 1960s. 
• The tradition of biennial Musical Co-productions with Toowoomba Grammar School continued, with The Music Man, South Pacific, Titanic- The Musical, and Oliver! – the Musical being staged at the Empire Theatre from 2011. 
• Fairholme Junior joined the Andrews Cup competition for Independent Primary Schools in 2012, representing the College in Netball, Gymnastics, Cross Country, Tennis, Athletics, Swimming, Basketball, Touch Football and Softball. The Junior School introduced the ‘Better Buddies’ program to enhance student support and connections between Year 6 students and younger students, and iPads were introduced for classroom use. 
• Fairholme Kindy celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2012, and the Kindy’s outdoor play area was redesigned and rebuilt, as was the Junior School play area and P & F Courtyard.
• 2014 saw the introduction of the Middle School student Arts Concert, ‘A Box of Chocolates’.
• New subjects introduced in the Senior School included Agricultural Science and, in 2019, Psychology.

Celebrating 100 Years at Fairholme - 2017

It was a year of celebrations in 2017, as we marked 100 years since the first students arrived at ‘Fairholme’ in July 1917. Students were issued with special ‘100 Years at Fairholme’ uniform badges at the commencement Assembly in January, where the commemorative Heritage Trail was launched by two significant Old Girls, Mrs Jocelyn Mercer and Mrs Heather Harrison. 

Highlights of this amazing year included:

• A lively gathering of the Cameron Clan to honour the generosity of their ancestor, Mrs Margaret Anne Cameron, who sold her home ‘Fairholme’ to the Presbyterian Church in April 1917 on the condition that it be used as a girls’ school. 
• The Inaugural ‘Facets of Fairholme’ Art Exhibition and the ‘Artists in residence’ program during the year. ‘Living Pillars’ mural painted on the outside wall of the Dining Hall by Old Girl, Bronte Naylor. 
• A whole-school Picnic at Spring Bluff, keeping up a tradition established by Miss Culpin in the 1920s
• The Junior School Musical, ‘The Spirit of Fairholme’ especially written by Junior School Performing Arts Co-ordinator, Mrs Belinda Eldridge, and based on Fairholme’s history.
• Musical compositions, ‘Live it and Love it’ written by Fairholme students and Mr Josh Arnold, and recorded by the students, and ‘Join as One’ an Orchestral piece by composer, Catherine Milliken, using original words by student Ila Torrance.
• 100 Years at Fairholme Commemoration Service on 17 July 2017, and formation of a human 100 on the oval by students, staff and Old Girls
• Unveiling of two commissioned sculptures by past parent, Mr Grant Lehmann, and located at the Eastern and Western entrances to the College campus
• Placing of a Time Capsule adjacent to the Cameron Homestead veranda.

Also see 100 Years at Fairholme »

Into the next century at Fairholme

2018 onwards

• 2018 saw the release of the 2018-2022 Strategic plan, as the College charted its course into its second century at Fairholme.
• The College Master Plan was introduced in 2019, following community engagement and planning sessions involving people from all parts of the ‘Fairholme family’ – students, parents, staff, past students and interested members of the community. Stage 1 of the campus development was to commence in 2021.
• In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on life at Fairholme, with remote learning via Zoom and Microsoft Teams being introduced for most students, even those in the Junior School, and many sporting events and competitions being cancelled. 
• In true Fairholme spirit, the Head Girls of 2020 released a new student publication, Flourish, containing stories, artwork and competitions. The title comes from the College motto, Ardens sed Virens (Burning yet Flourishing), and it reflects the strength and resilience of the students in 2020. 
• Also introduced in 2020 was the ‘COVID Cup’ virtual Cross Country event, where students in isolation ran the Cross Country course individually, contributing their times for their House. The ‘COVID Cup’ Athletics Carnival was held along similar lines.

2022 marks 105 Years at Fairholme. 

For a more detailed history of Fairholme, the following books are recommended:

"Fairholme - The First 75 Years 1917-1992" - John Moore.

"School Ties - A History of Private Schooling in Toowoomba".