The Hutchins School

The Hutchins School
Location
Hobart , Tasmania Australia
Coordinates	42°54′21″S147°19′46″E / 42.90583°S 147.32944°E / -42.90583; 147.32944
Information
Type	Independent, day & boarding
Motto	Latin: Vivit Post Funera Virtus (Character lives after death)
Denomination	Anglican
Established	1846;179 years ago (1846)
Sister school	St Michael's Collegiate School
Chairman	Andrew Walker
Principal	Dr Robert McEwan
Chaplain	Dr Lee Weissel
Employees	~250 [1]
Gender	Boys
Enrolment	1,100
Colour(s)	Black, gold & magenta
Athletics conference	SATIS
Website	www.hutchins.tas.edu.au

The Hutchins School, colloquially known as Hutchins, is an Anglican, day and boarding school for boys from pre-kindergarten to Year 12 in Hobart, Tasmania. Established in 1846, Hutchins is one of the oldest continuously operating schools in Australia.

Hutchins is a founding-member of the International Boys' Schools Coalition (IBSC), ^[2] and a member of Independent Schools Tasmania (IST). ^[3] The Hutchins School is one of two boys' schools in Tasmania.

History

The Hutchins School was established in 1846 at Hobart Town in memory of The Venerable William Hutchins, first Archdeacon of Van Diemen's Land. Arriving in the colony in 1837, Archdeacon Hutchins had worked to establish a faithful ministry, erecting churches and schools and laying the foundation for secondary education under the auspices of the Church of England. ^[4]

The School commenced operations under Headmaster John Richard Buckland at Ingle Hall, a large Georgian house dating from 1811 which still stands in lower Macquarie Street, Hobart. Three years later it moved several blocks up Macquarie Street to a purpose-built schoolhouse designed by Tasmanian architect, William Archer. ^[4]

In the early days of many and varied schools and tenuous longevity, Hutchins survived by absorbing pupils, staff and plant of other less robust institutions, including Christ's College (1846–1912), The High School (1850–65), Horton College (1855–93) and Officer College (1888–1900). When Hutchins joined forces with Christ's College in 1912 it was the signal for Arthur A. Stephens to close Queen's College, founded by him in 1893, and accept the post of vice-master of Hutchins. In 1905 Hutchins amalgamated with Buckland's School, opened in 1893 by William Harvey Buckland, son of founding headmaster J. R. Buckland and brother of second headmaster John Vansittart Buckland. Hutchins would go on to absorb King's Grammar School (1907), Franklin House School (1917) and Apsley House School (1928), and affiliate with Gryce (1934) and Gladwyn (1937) Schools. ^[4]

By the 1950s the School was growing too large for its inner-city site and in 1957 a new Junior School was built on an elevated site overlooking the River Derwent at Sandy Bay. This followed the opening at the Sandy Bay site of a sub-primary section in 1946 and the Memorial Oval and pavilion in 1955. The Senior School was later constructed on the adjacent site of the former Queenborough Cemetery, following a council referendum in which ratepayers voted '1 for educational purposes' in 1960. ^[5] As part of this arrangement the council committed to pay for 1,900 bodies to be exhumed from the cemetery with the school funding all other exhumations. As of 2024, it is unclear how many bodies were actually exhumed by the council. ^[6] By 1964 the Senior School campus encompassed a boarding house and science wing, quickly followed by an administration block and classrooms, while the Junior School campus across the road soon expanded to include a fledgling Middle School. The Macquarie Street building was sold in 1965, with Hutchins commencing full operations at Sandy Bay the following year.^{[ citation needed ]}

In March 2024, two graves were found during earthworks for a new building at the school. ^[7] An archaeology team was brought in and 1,973 human remains were exhumed upon completion of the project in late 2024. It is believed to be the largest mass exhumation ever undertaken in Australia. Due to poor management of the former cemetery it was difficult to identify most of the remains. ^[6] 1,717 out of 1,973 of the bodies were identified. ^[8] The remains were reinterred at the Cornelian Bay Cemetery. It is believed that hundreds of bodies remain buried under school property. ^[6]

Executive Leadership

• Dr Rob McEwan- Principal
• Mr Ken Kingston- Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School
• Mr Stephen Coventry- Head of Junior School
• Ms Fiona Moroney- Head of Middle School
• Ms Emma Nuttall- Deputy Head of Junior School
• Ms Rebecca Terry- Head of Student Engagement
• Ms Deb Lie- Head of Inclusive Education
• Ms Claire Taylor- Head of Teaching and Learning (Years 6-12)
• Ms Lauren Carr- Head of Thorold House (Asst. Head of SS)
• Ms Giovanna Padas- Head of Stephens House (Asst. Head of SS)
• Mr Martin Chambers- Head of School House (Asst. Head of SS)
• Mr Matt Sayers- Head of Buckland House (Asst. Head of SS)
• Ms Kate Nunn- Head of Year 6
• Mr Ivor Leonard- Head of Year 7
• Mr Mike Webster- Head of Year 8

Heads of Faculty

• Ms Alison Farmer- Head of English and Modern Languages
• Mr Anthony Peck- Head of Mathematics
• Dr Adam Grover- Head of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Mr Brett Smith- Head of Science
• Ms Michelle Weeding- Head of Visual and Performing Arts, Head of School of Performing Arts
• Ms Rachelle Robinson- Co-Ordinator of Visual Arts
• Mr Anthony Hyland- Head of Design, Production and Digital Technologies
• Mr Matt Groves- Director of Outdoor Education
• Mr Anthony Prior- Head of Health and Physical Education
• Mr Greg Stanton- Head of Music
• Ms Caitlyn Tulk- Co-Ordinator of the Power of 9 Program
• Mr Paul Bonnitcha- Career Education and Vocational Learning Officer

Divisions of The Hutchins School

The Hutchins School operates from a single consolidated site at Sandy Bay, where the institution is organised into four distinct divisions that together provide a continuous education from early learning through to Year 12. These divisions are housed within purpose-built facilities on the campus.

• Early Learning Centre (ELC)- Pre-Kindergarten to Year 1 (officially apart of the Junior School)
• Junior School (JS)- Year 2 to Year 5 (offically includes the ELC)
• Middle School (MS)- Year 6 to Year 8
• Senior School (SS)- Year 9 to Year 12

Expansion, Modernisation and Development Projects

In recent years, the Hutchins School has undertaken a number of campus expansions and redevelopment projects. These works, including new buildings and upgrades to existing facilities, have been designed to accommodate growth in enrolments and to provide modern, purpose-built spaces for teaching and learning. This section includes expansions, modernisations and developments from 2020 forward.

• Chris Rae Building- Named in honour of former teacher Chris Rae, was constructed as part of the school’s campus redevelopment program. It provides contemporary classroom spaces for Years 7 and 8, and serves as a central hub for students and staff within the Middle School
• Pre-Kinder Early Learning Play Space- In 2024, the Hutchins School unveiled a new indoor Pre-Kindergarten learning space, designed with flexible, open-plan areas to support dynamic play and early learning. The project was recognised with an award at the 2024 Tasmanian Architecture Awards.
• NJ Edwards Hub- The N J Edwards Hub is a major development at The Hutchins School, providing an auditorium, indoor sports facilities, and flexible learning spaces. Named in honour of former Headmaster N J Edwards, the Hub is designed to support student learning, wellbeing, and community engagement, while also serving as a central gathering point for school events and broader community activities. The building is set to be completed in mid to late 2026.
• Middle School Year 6 Corridor Modernisation and Redevelopment- The Hutchins School Year 6 Corridor is to be redeveloped in an effort to modernise the Middle School Campus. The modernisation includes a more modern interior and a new open Year 6 Bathroom, including new cubicles, sinks, showers and modernised changerooms. The bathroom will also include brighter skylights and will include modern architecture. The project is said to brighten the Year 6 common-area a provide for a happier, brighter and more open environment for the Year 6 cohort. The project is said to be completed by the end of 2025.

Co-curricular program

The school runs an extensive co-curricular program ^[9] offering music, performing arts, debating, sports and the Duke of Edinburgh International Award.

House System

As with most Australian schools, Hutchins uses a house system. The current house system consists of four houses (Thorold, Stephens (colloquially known as Steves), Buckland (colloquially known as Bucks), and School). Each house has a brother house from St Michael's Collegiate School. Buckland, Dundas and McPhee (Collegaite) are 'red houses'. School, Rivers and Stevens (Collegiate) are 'blue houses'. Thorod, Monty and Reiby (Collegiate) are 'green houses'. Stephens, Kilburn and Mitchell (Collegiate) are 'yellow/purple houses. Each year, these houses compete against each other in physical and mental contests for the 'House Cup'. These events include inter-house debating, house performance, house choir and athletics. There is also a 'House Spirit Cup' that goes to house with the most School Spirit.

Headmasters

Headmaster	Term begin	Term end	Notes
John Richard Buckland	3 August 1846 (1846-08-03)	13 October 1874 (1874-10-13)	[10] [11]
J V Buckland	1874	1892
H H Anderson	1892	1906
E G Muschamp	1907	1908
G A Gurney	1908	1912
L H Lindon	1912	1917
C C Thorold	1918	1929
J R O Harris	1929	1942
V S Murphy	1942	1945
P Radford	1946	1953
W H Mason-Cox	1954	1958
H V Jones	1958	1958
G H Newman	1959	1963
D H Lawrence	1963	1970
D B Clarke	1971	1986
J M B Bednall	1987	1996
W D Toppin	1997	2007
Warwick Dean	2007	31 December 2016 (2016-12-31)
Dr Rob McEwan	1 January 2017 (2017-01-01)	incumbent

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of The Hutchins School include:

• Errol Flynn, Hollywood actor
• Percy Abbot CMG , a soldier, politician and solicitor ^[12]
• Stuart Barnes, poet (1981–1995) ^[13]
• John Bisdee VC , first Australian winner of the Victoria Cross (1882–1885)
• Frank Bowden CBE , FRS , scientist ^[14]
• Tim Bowden, broadcaster, journalist and author (1946–54) ^[15]
• Sir Stanley Burbury KCMG KCVO KBE , Governor of Tasmania (1973–1982) ^[16]
• Bob Clifford, founder of Incat, shipbuilder and entrepreneur (1961) ^[15]
• Sir John Davies KCMG , politician, newspaper proprietor and first-class cricketer ^[17]
• Lyndhurst Giblin DSO , MC , economist ^[18]
• Stephen Gumley, engineer and first CEO, Australian Defence Materiel Organisation (1966–74)
• Richard Hewson, master mariner and navigator, winner of 2011–12 Volvo Ocean Race (1992–97)
• Mitchell Hibberd, AFL Footballer
• Michael Hodgman, Liberal MHR (1947–56)
• Roger Hodgman, theatre and television director
• Will Hodgman, Liberal Premier (1980–86)
• Kevin Hofbauer, actor (2006) ^[15]
• Paul Hudson, AFL footballer and coach (1988) ^[15]
• Leonard Huxley KBE , physicist and former President of the Australian Institute of Physics
• Thomas Murdoch CMG , politician ^[19]
• Brodie Neill, designer (1983–96)
• Harold Nicholas, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, judge and politician ^[20]
• Hamish Peacock, javelin olympian (2008) ^[15]
• Sir James Ramsay KCMG , KCVO , CBE , DSC , Governor of Queensland (1977–1985) ^[16]
• Arthur Smithies, Harvard economist
• John Stopp, President of the Legislative Council of Tasmania (1992–1995)
• Damon Thomas, Alderman and former Lord Mayor of Hobart, Tasmanian Crown Solicitor, State Ombudsman, CEO of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Korean Consul (1967) ^[15]
• James William Tibbs CMG , Headmaster of Auckland Grammar School, 1893–1922 (1867–72)
• Alan Walker, architect ^[21]
• Owen Walsh, Administrator of Norfolk Island (2008–2012) ^[16]
• Troy Pickard, politician and businessman ^[22]
• Denis Warner OBE , CMG , war correspondent, author and journalist (1928–35)
• Guy Wylly VC DSO, joint first Australian winner of the Victoria Cross (1889–1893)

Rhodes Scholars & Victoria Cross Recipients

As of 2024, The Hutchins School has had 26 ^[23] Rhodes Scholars, the latest being the 2024 Tasmania scholar, Billy Blackett. ^[24] Alumni have been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship for Australian states other than Tasmania, such as the 2016 New South Wales scholar, Harjeevan Narulla. ^{[25] [26]}

Notable Hutchins alumni to be awarded the Rhodes Scholarship include: ^{[23] [ self-published source ]}

• 1923 – Leonard Huxley
• 1979 – Stephen Gumley

Two Hutchins Old Boys have been awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration for valour in Commonwealth countries. They include:

• Major Guy George Egerton Wylly VC DSO (1st Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen; Boer War; 1900) ^[27]
• Trooper John Hutton Bisdee VC OBE (1st Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen, Boer War; 1900) ^[28]

See also

• List of schools in Tasmania
• List of boarding schools
• Education in Tasmania
• International Boys' Schools Coalition

References

1. "Positions of Employment". The Hutchins School. 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
2. "International Boys' Schools Coalition". International Boys' Schools Coalition. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
3. "Independent Schools Tasmania". Independent Schools Tasmania. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
4. Mason-Cox, Margaret (2013). Character Unbound: A History of The Hutchins School. Hobart, Tasmania: The Hutchins School. pp. 13–27. ISBN   978-0-646-90355-2.
5. "The Mercury". 5 April 1960.
6. Coulter, Ellen (14 December 2024). "Australia's largest mass exhumation reveals almost 2,000 bodies underneath school". ABC News. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
7. Murray, Will (6 March 2024). "Gruesome discovery at Hobart school a consequence of city's practice of building over top of cemeteries". ABC News. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
8. "Information: Former Queenborough Cemetery Exhumations". The Hutchins School. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
9. "Co-Curricular". The Hutchins School. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
10. Mennell, Philip (1892). "Buckland, Rev. John Richard"  . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
11. Dollery, E. M. "Buckland, John Richard (1819–1874)". Australian Dictionary of Biography . National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN   978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN   1833-7538. OCLC   70677943 . Retrieved 19 November 2013.
12. Hogan, Terry (1979). "Percy Phipps Abbott (1869–1940)". Australian Dictionary of Biography . Vol. 7. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN   978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN   1833-7538. OCLC   70677943 . Retrieved 11 January 2015.
13. https://www.uqp.com.au/authors/stuart-barnes/ Australian poet Stuart Barnes
14. McLaren, Alex; Spink, J.A. (1993). "Frank Philip Bowden (1903–1968)". Australian Dictionary of Biography . Vol. 13. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN   978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN   1833-7538. OCLC   70677943 . Retrieved 11 January 2015.
15. "Star students: The Hutchins School". The Mercury. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
16. "Hutchins 1979" (PDF). The Hutchins School. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
17. Boyer, Peter (1981). "Davies, Sir John George (1846–1913)". Australian Dictionary of Biography . National Centre of Biography, Australian National University . Retrieved 17 May 2015.
18. Cain, Neville (1981). "Lyndhurst Falkiner Giblin (1872–1951)". Australian Dictionary of Biography . Vol. 8. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN   978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN   1833-7538. OCLC   70677943 . Retrieved 11 January 2015.
19. Jones, Elizabeth (1986). "Thomas Murdoch (1868–1946)". Australian Dictionary of Biography . Vol. 10. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN   978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN   1833-7538. OCLC   70677943 . Retrieved 11 January 2015.
20. Ward, John M. (1988). "Nicholas, Harold Sprent (1877–1953)". Australian Dictionary of Biography . National Centre of Biography, Australian National University . Retrieved 17 May 2015.
21. "OBITUARY". The Mercury . Hobart, Tasmania. 14 December 1931. p. 6. Retrieved 11 January 2015– via National Library of Australia.
22. https://www.hutchins.tas.edu.au/assets/Hutchins_School_Magazine_No_143_1990.pdf ^{[ bare URL PDF ]}
23. Mizzen, Michelle (1 December 2020). "Our 25th Rhodes Scholar" (PDF). Magenta & Black Magazine. 112. Hobart: The Hutchins School: 17.^{[ self-published source ]}
24. Ewan, Tia (3 November 2023). "Tasmanian on Rhode to success after awarded prestigious scholarship to study at Oxford" . The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania.
25. Hamilton, S. 2015. UNSW wins fourth Rhodes Scholarship in three years.University of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
26. Henwood, Belinda (23 November 2020). "UNSW Law claims seventh Rhodes Scholar in seven years". University of New South Wales. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
27. Howard, Jessica (17 January 2021). "Descendants of Tasmanian Victoria Cross recipients to gather for first time at historic event in Hobart – search on for two missing families" . The Mercury. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
28. "Centenary of ANZAC - Trooper John Hutton Bisdee VC". www.centenaryofanzac.tas.gov.au. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

External links

• The Hutchins School website