In 1898, Christ Church Grammar School was established as a choir school for boys
Christ Church Grammar School was registered in 1906 under the Education Act of that year as registered school number 330. The school was strictly a choir school until 1920 when the first girl was enrolled - seven-year-old Clarice Lindsay from St Kilda. Christ Church Grammar became coeducational approximately fifty years prior to recent trends. Since then parents have sought admission for their daughters and sons, recognising the importance of a premium quality, independent education.
Christ Church Grammar School is the only remaining Anglican parish primary school in Victoria and its student numbers have grown steadily since then, averaging 400 students each year since the 1980s.
Some key moments in our history
1898 - The doors open as a primary school (for boys only) designed to cater for families. Traditionally established to populate a boys' choir for the church. The church would provide an education in return for choir duty, in essence, the very first music scholarships in Victoria and maybe Australia
1921/1922 - The first provider of coeducational education in Melbourne. The first girl began in 1921, but it was not until 1922 that Miss Esdaile, then head, initiated the admission of girls as an ongoing initiative
1924 - Foundation Stone laid by the Governor General of Australia and Christ Church South Yarra parishioner, Baron Forster. As Canberra was not yet completed, the Governor General resided in Melbourne
1939 - Parents' Association began
1939/1940 - Kindergarten opens to meet demands during the war years as women went to work when their husbands went to war
1953 - State Education Department inspector said, "high appreciation of the standard of work of the school in all departments". The inspector also commented on the school's appearance and specifically its cleanliness, calling it "a very good school"
1969 - Remedial teaching began as a discipline and was integrated into teaching to help children with learning difficulties
1975 - After school care program begins
1990 - McLardy Music School and classroom complex opened
1998 - Centenary celebrations
2003 - Anne Wardley Wing opens, housing new classrooms and science laboratory
2018 - 120 year celebration and opening of new building by the Governor of Victoria, Hon Linda Dessau AC. The Resource Centre is named after long-serving Headmistress, Beryl Gregory OAM
