Kinross Wolaroi School

School in Orange, New South Wales From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kinross Wolaroi School is an independent Uniting Church co-educational early learning, primary, and secondary day and boarding school, located in Orange, New South Wales, 260 kilometres (160 mi) west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Established in 1886 it is the oldest school in Orange and operates across two campuses and serves students from early learning to Year 12. The modern school was formed in 1975 through the amalgamation of Wolaroi Methodist Boys' College and The Kinross School (formerly Presbyterian Ladies' College, Orange).

Former nameWolaroi Methodist Boys' College
MottoLatin: Scientia, Amicitias, Integritas
(Knowledge, Friendship, Integrity)
DenominationUniting Church[1]
Quick facts Information, Former name ...
Kinross Wolaroi School
Wolaroi College Crest
Central West

Information
Former nameWolaroi Methodist Boys' College
TypeIndependent co-educational early learning, primary, and secondary day and boarding school
MottoLatin: Scientia, Amicitias, Integritas
(Knowledge, Friendship, Integrity)
DenominationUniting Church[1]
Established
  • 1886; 140 years ago (1886)
    (as Wolaroi College)
  • 1928; 98 years ago (1928)
    (as Presbyterian Ladies' College, Orange)
  • 1975; 51 years ago (1975)
    (as Kinross Wolaroi School)
FounderThomas Henry Richards
ChairmanRev. A. Cunningham
HeadmasterMr Timothy Kelly
ChaplainRev. S. Yabsley-Bell
Employees320
YearsEarly learning and K–12
GenderCo-Educational
Enrolmentc.1,100 (2020)
Campus typeRegional
Colour  Two Blues
RivalSt Stanislaus' College
YearbookThe Tower
Affiliations
Alumni nameWolarovians
Websitekws.nsw.edu.au
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Kinross Wolaroi is a non-selective school and educates approximately 1,100 students, including around 350 boarders, across three sections: Pre-Preparatory, Preparatory, and Senior School.[2]

The school's affiliations include the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia, Junior School Heads Association of Australia, Australian Boarding Schools' Association, Association of Independent Co-Educational Schools, the Independent Schools Association, and Round Square.[3][4][5]

History

The school traces its foundation to Weymouth House (est. 1886), later Wolaroi Methodist Boys' College, and Presbyterian Ladies' College, Orange (est. 1928), renamed The Kinross School in 1973. The two institutions amalgamated in 1975 as Kinross Wolaroi School, subsequently entering the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977.

Wolaroi Methodist Boys' College

1886-1925

Weymouth House, a small privately owned school for boys, was established in 1886, in the Union Bank building, Orange. The School was established by Mr. Thomas H. Richards, the sole owner and teacher, having come to Orange from All Saints College in Bathurst. The School was a success, and in 1893 the Wolaroi mansion, built by Mr. John Charles McLachlan, was purchased, enabling the boys to move to a larger campus. The move led to a change of name for the school, to Wolaroi Grammar School.[6]

The Union Bank Building in Orange, where Weymouth House was established in 1886.
Very early Weymouth House photo with T. H. Richards seen in the centre

In 1913, Mr. Charles Campbell secured the site and became the third headmaster. In 1925 however, Mr. Connell, who had succeeded Campbell, left Orange to join the staff of The Kings School in Parramatta. He therefore sought someone to purchase the School. This provided an opportunity for the Methodist Church to secure the site and the continuation of a boy's college in Western New South Wales.[7]

Visit by the Governor-General, Lord Stonehaven, in 1926

1926-1945

In 1925, the Methodist Church took control of the school and changed the name of the school again, this time to Wolaroi Methodist Boys' College. The college reopened in 1926 under the direction of Mr. Stanley Brown who continued to expand the school and increase the diversity of subjects and programs offered at Wolaroi. He is widely credited with having saved the college from financial ruin. As thanks the College Council named the entrance gates to the School 'The Stanley Brown Memorial Gates'.[8]

1945-1975

The period following the Second World War and in particular the period from 1950-1962 was the greatest period of expansion for Wolaroi. It was during this period that enrollments more than doubled, and the construction of new facilities had been initiated by the Headmaster, Mr. Thrathen.[9] Additionally, this period of expansion also included a tightening of both academic and sporting standards.[10]

A Wolaroi Grammar Classroom, c.1905

In 1971 Wolaroi College received, as Speech Day guests, their Royal Highnesses the Sultan and Sultana of Selangor. One of the Sultans sons, Tengku Abdul Samad Shah, was attending Wolaroi College at the time.[11]

This expansion lasted until a drought hit the region in the 1970s. In 1973, suffering from financial difficulties, due to decreased enrollments, and with a change in societal attitudes regarding single-sex education the College Council began investigating the feasibility of becoming a co-educational school. This culminated with the decision to amalgamate with The Kinross School by the Wolaroi College Council in 1975.[6]

Presbyterian Ladies' College (The Kinross School)

There had been substantial Scottish immigration to Orange since its foundation in the 19th century which had led to a sizeable Presbyterian community. Throughout the 1920's the Presbyterian community realized that there was a need for the establishment of a girls' school that could provide a well-rounded education based upon the ideals found within reformed Christianity. In response to this The Presbyterian Ladies' College (PLC) opened in Orange in 1928 on a 43-acre site, named "Campdale". With Miss Eleanor Linck as its first Headmistress.[12] Dorothy Knox took over in 1932 and she led the school until 1936[13] when Ina Miller became headmistress.[12]

PLC Orange c.1950

For the next 33 years Miller would shape the direction of the College and set very high standards for the student body as well as staff.[12]

In 1973, PLC also became co-educational, and changed its name to The Kinross School.[6] During this time Wolaroi was suffering from financial difficulties and the Methodist Church approached the Presbyterian Church to take over management of Wolaroi. In 1975 both The Kinross School Council and Wolaroi College Council agreed to amalgamate.[7]

Kinross Wolaroi School

1975-2015

In 1975 Wolaroi Methodist Boys' College and The Kinross School amalgamated to become Kinross Wolaroi School. With the creation of the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977, the School became a part of that Church.[6]

After initial difficulties the school flourished in the region and a new era of development began. The direction came under the leadership of the school's second headmaster, Alan Anderson.[7] Anderson made a series of reforms upon being appointed in 1978, in order to attract more students and to improve both academic and sports results.[14] In 1979 Anderson made Cadets compulsory for boys, girls were allowed to join the unit from 1983. In that same year no Dux was announced 'because of low academic standards.'[14]

Anderson also reinforced traditional school discipline which led to adverse student reactions. This culminated in July 1979 when thirty boarders went on strike. The boarding students had decided to leave their boarding houses and sit on the Main (Wolaroi) Oval.[15] They were demanding a relaxation of the new rules and regulations. The students were given five minutes to return to their boarding houses or face expulsion. The boarders returned to their houses.[15] The students of Kinross Wolaroi were met with increased strictness with rules such as stricter uniform regulations, restrictions on leave downtown, and building team spirit through compulsory sport.[15]

After a period of expansion and after having pursued an aggressive marketing strategy in Western NSW to attract more regional boarders, the school entered a period of consolidation. This involved the upgrading and maintenance of the school's existing facilities and infrastructure.

By 1988, the school had grown to 728 students and was now the largest co-educational boarding school in New South Wales and the fourth largest in Australia, with 384 boarders.[7]

In 1989 continued expansion in boarding numbers led to the lease of the Victorian mansion 'Croagh Patrick House' by the school.[16]

In 1998, the former preparatory principal at Kinross Wolaroi, John Thomas Kennett, was convicted of sex offences against twelve boys.[17][18][19]

Reverend David Williams was appointed as the third Headmaster in 2002. He was succeeded by Brian Kennelly in 2007. Under Kennelly's leadership a building program was undertaken on the Wolaroi site, to upgrade much of the ageing infrastructure such as the Derek Pigot Auditorium (DPA) and many classroom facilities such as the Dr S. Pussell Science Block.[7]

2016-2025

In 2016, the school celebrated its 130-year anniversary and Dr Andrew Parry took over as the fifth Headmaster of Kinross Wolaroi School.[7][20]

In August 2016, SBS News reported that several Kinross Wolaroi School students were assaulted by adult spectators following a school rugby match between Kinross Wolaroi and St Stanislaus’ College in Bathurst. According to the report, a group of intoxicated spectators confronted players after the game, leading to a physical altercation in which a number of students were injured. The incident prompted discussion regarding spectator behaviour and supervision at inter-school sporting events, particularly between rugby rival schools Kinross Wolaroi and St Stanislaus'.[21]

In July 2020 several former students alleged they had been instructed to remove or alter naturally textured afro hair and protective braided hairstyles in order to comply with school grooming policy.[22] The school responded that its current grooming policy does not prohibit any specific hairstyles, but requires boys’ hair to be “near and off the collar without any "unorthodox" cuts or colours.” The headmaster said that "existing school grooming standards which do not accommodate the natural hair texture and growth of African and Indigenous students have been identified as one issue faced by these students".[22]

As of 2025, the school provides co-education and single-sex boarding using its two main campuses. Classes and boys' boarding are at the Wolaroi Campus on Bathurst Road, while female boarders live at the PLC Campus on Coronation Drive.[6]

Campus and heritage

Kinross Wolaroi has a campus of 100 acres in Orange, NSW.

The Wolaroi Mansion Building

Wolaroi Mansion Building

The heritage listed Wolaroi Mansion was built by the architect John Hale for John C. McLachlan in 1884.[23] The School, after having outgrown the original buildings, moved to Wolaroi Mansion and grounds in 1893. The building has housed the school dining hall, offices, classrooms, and functions as a boys boarding up until the present day.[23]

The original building consisted of a drawing room, sitting room, dining room, breakfast room, seven bedrooms, four servants bedrooms, a study, servants hall, pantry, kitchen, scullery, laundry, dairy, cellar, children's playhouse, and a lumber room.[24] The existing mansion was expanded following the taking over of the College by the Methodist Church in 1925.

The War Memorial Building

The War Memorial Building was constructed during the 1950's and acted as the first expansion of the school outside of the buildings that were original to the McLachlan estate. In 1951 it became apparent that new classrooms were required. The new classrooms were built with funds donated from the Old Boys' Association and help from the Church. The new building was opened on Monday, 8 December 1952 by the Rev. Professor G. Calvert Barber, President-General of the Methodist Church of Australasia and Professor of Theology, Queen's College, Melbourne.[25]

The Stanley G. Brown Memorial Gates

The Stanley G. Brown Memorial Gates act as the main entrance to the school's main site and are located on Bathurst Road. The naming of the gates occurred in 1956 after the death of Stanley Brown in 1953.[25]

The Music / Performing Arts Centre

The School Council made the decision to construct a Music and Performing Arts Centre and they engaged Mr. Roy Michael as the architect.[26] The Music and Performing Arts Centre was officially opened on Saturday November 2 by Alan Jones and was celebrated by a gala concert compered by Rolf Harris actively involved 600 students.[27]

'We went to the main oval for the Beating of the Retreat, an extraordinary performance by the Cadet Corps. Its a co-ed school and the girls are in the same gear as the boys... Holding the rifles, presenting arms, saluting, the lot. The discipline, the presentation in regard to detail was fantastic. It was impressive and inspiring and you couldn't help but feel how much other young Australians were being denied the benefits... Then there was a Gala Open Air Concert, an exhibition of the music talent of the school.' (Alan Jones, 2UE, November 1991)[28]

Sporting Facilities

Kinross Wolaroi's sporting facilities include:[29]

  • Eight playing fields
  • ERG Room
  • Indoor 8-lane heated swimming pool, and an additional outdoor swimming pool
  • Weights room
  • Gym
  • Boatshed
  • Cricket facilities
  • Courts for tennis, badminton, basketball and squash

Academic and music facilities

Kinross Wolaroi has numerous academic and music facilities including:[30]

  • Science Centre which contains six science labs
  • Library that houses over 2,000 books
  • Music and Performing Arts Centre which includes private music practice rooms and a performing arts theatre
  • An outdoor Amphitheatre
  • Full Sized Auditorium that can seat over 1,000 students with an attached chapel
  • Industrial technology and woodworking facilities

House System and Boarding

The school's house system is the framework for student pastoral care, community life, and co-curricular participation. Students remain in their house throughout their time at school. Houses form the basis for many school activities, including assemblies, competitions, and tutor group structures. Each student is provided with a Head Mentor and Wellbeing Mentor within their house upon enrollment.[31]

History of the house system

The system of sporting houses was first established in 1936 "to encourage greater keenness in all contests within the College".[9] The boys were divided into three Houses - the Sir Neville House, the McLachlan House, and the Campbell House.[9] In 1941 it was decided to reform the House system due to unhappiness surrounding the fairness of the current system,[clarification needed] and so in 1941 the existing houses were abolished and replaced by two new houses, Brown and Wesley.[9]

Day/Tutor Houses

More information House name, House Colours ...
House name House Colours Gender Years Active Named in honour of Link with the School Notes
Sir Neville House Unknown Boys 1936-1941 Sir Neville Howse Sir Neville was the MP for Calare and re-opened the Wolaroi building in 1926. [9]
Campbell House Unknown Boys 1936-1941 Mr C. R. Campbell The third Headmaster of Wolaroi from 1913-1925. [9]
Wesley House Unknown Boys 1941-1975 John Wesley The founder of the Methodist Church. Wolaroi was a Methodist church school. [9]
Brown House   Formerly Boys. Now Mixed 1941–Present Stanley G. Brown The first Headmaster of the College after the sale Methodist Church took responsibility for the running of the College. [8]
Weymouth House Unknown Boys
  • 1886-1890
  • 1955-1975
Weymouth House The School attended by T. H. Richards, Weymouth College, a public school in England. [10]
McLachlan House   Formerly Boys. Now Mixed
  • 1936-1941
  • 1969–Present
John Charles McLachlan The original owner of Wolaroi Mansion. [32]
Douglas House   Formerly Girls. Now Mixed 1950–Present James Stuart Douglas Was one of the founding members of Presbyterian Ladies College, Orange. He was Chairman of the P.L.C. council from 1932 to 1933. [33]
Gordon House   Formerly Girls. Now Mixed 1950–Present Mr D.W.T. Gordon Was one of the founding members of P.L.C. [34]
Dean House   Mixed 1986–Present William Douglas Johnston Dean The first chairman of the merged school from 1975–1976. [35]
Richards House   Mixed 1986–Present Thomas Henry Richards The owner, Headmaster, and sole teacher of the initial school, Weymouth House, which opened in June 1886. [36]
Williams House   Mixed 2016–Present Rev. David Williams Former Headmaster of Kinross Wolaroi from 2002–2006 [37]
Blackman House   Mixed 2016–Present Rev. Everard Harley Blackman OAM The school chaplain from 1979–1989. [38]
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Boarding Houses

Kinross Wolaroi offers co-educational boarding for students from Years 7 to 12. The school accommodates more than 350 boarders across two campuses in Orange. Boarding has been a feature of the school for over 130 years since the school was first established in 1886.[39]

Boarding is divided by the school’s two campuses, with boys’ boarding located on the original Wolaroi site and girls’ boarding located on the former PLC site. Boarding houses provide residential life programs, academic support, and structured routines.[40] Both sites contain modern boarding house facilities, recreation centers, swimming pools, chapel facilities, dining halls, gym facilities, and manicured gardens.[41]

The majority of boarders are drawn from across regional and rural NSW, Victoria, and Queensland. But boarders are also drawn internationally.[39]

More information House name, Years Active ...
House name Years Active Gender & Campus Named in Honour of Notes
Wolaroi House 2015–Present Boys - Wolaroi The Mansion was designed by John Hale and built by J. C. McLachlan. [42]
Trathan House 1958–Present Boys - Wolaroi Rev. D. A. Trathan, former Headmaster of Wolaroi Methodist Boys' College. [42]
Weymouth House 1982–Present Boys - Wolaroi The original school founded by T. H. Richards in 1886. [42]
Tower House 1890–Present Boys - Wolaroi The central tower, which forms an iconic part of the Wolaroi Mansion. [42]
Croagh Patrick House 1989-1995 Boys - Wolaroi Victorian Mansion designed by John Hale in 1883 for Edwin Lane [27]
New House 1950–Present Girls - PLC [42]
Stuart-Douglas House -Present Girls - PLC Mr James Stuart-Douglas, a founding member of P.L.C. [42]
Miller House 2003–Present Girls - PLC Miss Ina Miller who was Headmistress of P.L.C. for over 30 years. [42]
Loader House 1985–Present Girls - PLC Mr David Loader, the first Headmaster of the amalgamated school. [42]
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List of Headmasters

More information Ordinal, Headmaster ...
Ordinal Headmaster Years Periods Citation
1 Mr T. H. Richards 1886–1904 Wolaroi College (1886-1975) [43]
2 Rev A. J. Rolfe 1904–1912
3 Mr C. R. Campbell 1913–1925
4 Mr N. Connell 1924–1925
5 Mr S. G. Brown 1926–1940
6 Rev E. A. Bennett 1941–1949
7 Rev D. A. Trathen 1950–1962
8 Mr D. H. Prest 1963–1968
9 Mr P. Brownie 1969–1972
10 Mr R. W. Buntine 1973–1974
11 Mr D. Loader 1975–1978 Kinross Wolaroi School (1975–Present)
12 Mr A. Anderson 1978–2001
13 Rev D. Williams 2002–2006
14 Mr B. Kennelly 2007–2016
15 Dr A. Parry 2016–2025
16 Mr T. Kelly 2026–
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Co-curricular activities

A football team was formed at the school in its first year, 1886.[44] With other sports soon also being played at the school. Throughout the inter-war years a number of other activities were also offered including - Athletics, Cricket, Football, Swimming, and Tennis. Drama and debating were also offered.[44] Other clubs included Camera Club, Garden Club, Musical Club, Radio Club, and a branch of the Junior Farmers' Club.[44] In addition, until it was disestablished in 1934, there was a Wolaroi Scout Troop which was known as the Wyvern Patrol.[44]

Sport

The Kinross Wolaroi Prep School is a member school of both the Heads of Independent Co-Educational Schools (HICES) and Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA). Through these organisations, students have the opportunity to participate in Athletics, Swimming and Cross-Country through to a national level. Boys and girls from Kindergarten to Year 6 may play in a sports team during the winter season, and from Years 3 to 6 in the summer season. Sport is then compulsory for all students from Year 3 onwards.[45]

In the senior school, boys can participate in sports such as rugby, soccer, cricket, cross country, basketball, water polo, swimming, rowing and tennis. Girls may compete in sports such as hockey, netball, basketball, waterpolo, swimming, aerobics, squash, diving, rowing, softball, soccer and tennis. Sporting competition in the senior school is facilitated through the school's membership in a number of associations, including Orange Town Competitions, Western Associated Schools (WAS), Independent Schools Association (ISA), Association of Independent Co-Educational Schools (AICES), and NSW Combined Independent Schools (CIS).[45]

Rowing

Rowing is an important sport at Kinross Wolaroi.[46] Training is conducted on the Spring Creek Dam and the KWS team compete in both domestic and international regattas. These include the NSW Head of The River, The Nationals Regatta, and the Henley Royal Regatta in England.[46]

Rowing at Kinross Wolaroi begins in Year 8, where students are introduced to the fundamentals of the sport through their Physical Education (PDHPE) classes. Following on from learning the fundamentals there are two rowing squads:[46]

  • Junior Squad (Years 8-10)
  • Senior Squad (Years 11-12)

Since 2021, Kinross Wolaroi has held the title of top performing school at the NSW State Championships.[46]

Cadet Unit (KWSCU)

The Kinross Wolaroi School Cadet Unit (KWSCU) was established over 60 years ago, and has a unit strength of 300 cadets. KWSCU is a member of the Australia Services' Cadet Scheme, with a total enrolment of approximately 23,000 cadets Australia-wide. Unless a student is selected in the band or orchestra, membership of the Cadet Unit is compulsory for all students in semester two of Year 7, Year 8 and the first semester of Year 9, with further service encouraged following the award of rank. A camp, bivouacs and leadership courses are held annually. The unit parades through Orange on Anzac Day, and also conducts a farewell parade to Senior Cadets (Year 12) and band members, and in recent years a Ceremonial Parade on Open Day. A formal mess night is held annually for the Senior Cadets and Band members, their parents, and officers.[47]

Each platoon is commanded by a Cadet Under Officer (CUO), with the assistance of a Platoon Sergeant (SGT), and is divided into three sections, with each led by a Corporal (CPL). Rank is attained after a cadet with suitable experience attends and passes the relevant promotion course. Typically, a CUO is in Year 11, and has served for four years in the cadet corp.[47]

Music and performing arts

Kinross Wolaroi has a variety of music ensembles that students are encouraged to join including - Orchestra, Concert and Marching Band, Chamber Ensembles, Chamber Strings, String Quartets, Chamber Choir, and Vox Ensemble.[48] Each ensemble performs at school events and ceremonies including the Kinross Wolaroi Performing Arts Festival. The school also offers private tuition in woodwind, brass, strings, percussion, piano, speech and drama, voice and guitar.[48]

The Kinross Wolaroi School drama programme perform a musical annually at the Orange Civic Theatre.[48]

The Regional Engagement Enterprise (TREE)

In 2017, Kinross Wolaroi School launched The Regional Engagement Enterprise (TREE) initiative, which provides community-based learning experiences, especially opportunities in local agribusinesses, for all students from Kindergarten to Year 12.[49]

Other activities

In addition to sport, music, and the Cadet Unit, a number of other activities are available to students. These include: the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, stud cattle, cattle paraders, ski tour, public speaking, debating, art club, archives, computer club, photography club, crusaders, community service, peer support, young achievers, student representative council and library.[50]

School affiliations

Kinross Wolaroi School is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),[3] the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA),[51] the Australian Boarding Schools' Association (ABSA),[4] Association of Independent Co-Educational Schools (AICES) and is an associate member of the Independent Schools Association (ISA). In 2021 Kinross also joined the Round Square international schools program[5]

Notable alumni

Alumni of Kinross Wolaroi School, Kinross School, the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Orange, or Wolaroi Methodist Boys' College may elect to join the Kinross Wolaroi Ex-Students' Association.[52] Alumni of Kinross Wolaroi are represented across politics, media and culture, business and science, and sport.

Government, Law and Public Service

Arts, Media and Culture

Business, Science and Academia

Sport

Crest, Motto and Symbolism

With the merger of the schools the previous Latin mottos were abandoned and in 2008, the school adopted the new Latin motto of Scientia, Amicitia, Integritas (Knowledge, Friendship, Integrity).[62] The school's five core values are Courage, Respect, Inclusiveness, Resilience and Commitment.[63]

More information School Crest, Meaning ...
School Crest Meaning Reference
Symbolism:
  • The Wyvern surmounting the shield was part of the Coat of Arms of the family of John Wesley.
  • The Stars are symbolic of Ambition.
  • The open volume of Knowledge.
  • The laurel branch of Victory

Motto:

  • 'Agamus Pro Viribus' - 'Strive With All Our Might'
[25]
Symbolism:
  • A circular badge demonstrates the ideal of true community.
  • Eight stylised people form a stylised Latin Cross demonstrating the centrality of Christianity at the School.
  • The School's initials, 'KW', can be seen where the two figures meet in pairs.

Motto:

  • 'Scientia Amicitia Integritas' - 'Knowledge, Friendship, Integrity'
[64]
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See also

References

Further reading

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