HOUSE SYSTEM

There are four Houses, which act as vertical social and pastoral groups as well as teams for annual competition towards the Inter-House Shield. Students meet in their Houses fortnightly for planning and practice as well as sharing and celebrating.  

Each House is named after a strong female figure in Australia’s history, and has an Australian animal emblem and an assigned colour. 

Bates House takes its name from Daisy M O’D Bates. Daisy was an Irish journalist who having lived in Australia briefly before returning to England, was sent to investigate reports of poor treatment of Aboriginal people. She based herself mainly around Ooldea, camping, living and working among the aboriginal people of the Musgrave Ranges in north western South Australia for over thirty years from 1913. Bates’ colour is blue and its emblem is a platypus. 

Chisholm House is named after Caroline Chisholm. Caroline Chisholm is honoured as 'the immigrants’ friend'. She was appalled at the conditions of immigrant women in Sydney in the early 1800s when it was still a convict town. For the rest of her life she worked both in Australia and in England to improve living and working conditions for young women immigrants. Caroline Chisholm’s face was on the five dollar note for more than twenty years. The koala is Chisholm’s emblem and its members wear purple. 

Gilmore House is named for Dame Mary Gilmore, poet and writer. Mary Gilmore took part in William Lane’s ill-fated experimental utopia in Paraguay, before returning to Australia to continue to write. She is honoured on Australia’s ten dollar note. Gilmore's members wear yellow and their emblem is a kangaroo. 

Mackellar House is named after Dorothea Mackellar, probably Australia’s most famous female poet. Dorothea was born in Sydney and raised there and at family properties in the Gunnedah region. Dorothea spoke five languages and wrote her most famous poem My Country whilst feeling homesick in England. Mackellar's members wear orange and their emblem is a wombat.