Our Founding Story

On Sunday 8 May 1927, the Foundation stone of St Gabriel's School was laid by Bishop Radford of the Diocese of Goulburn. The School was opened by the Anglican Community of the Sisters of the Church with just ten students.

Now, almost 100 years later, St Gabriel's is known as Canberra Girls Grammar School. The school building where the Foundation stone was laid is now the Boarding House, one part of two state-of-the-art campuses in Deakin. The student population has risen from tens to over 1,300.

But the Sisters' spirit of fearless leadership, visionary thinking and passion for girls' education is as strong today as it was when they began their journey in 1926. From humble beginnings, Canberra Girls Grammar School has always been home to courageous, curious and compassionate young women, and we invite you to learn more about our journey.


The 1920s
The 1930s
The 1940s
The 1950s
The 1960s
The 1970s
The 1980s
The 1990s
The 2000s
The 2010s
The 2020s

The 1920s

Canberra was a very different place in 1926. The first federal Parliament House, then nearing completion, was surrounded by rural landscape and sheep paddocks, and serviced a population of fewer than 5,000.

On the other side of the Molonglo River, Bishop Radford of the then Diocese of Goulburn expressed a need for an Anglican school in the small community of Canberra – the future federal capital. He enlisted help from the Anglican order of the Community of the Sisters of the Church led by Mother Emily Ayckbowm, and St Gabriel’s School opened in the old St John’s Rectory (Glebe House).

Bishop Radford laid the Foundation stone of St Gabriel's just one day before the Duke and Duchess of York officially opened Parliament House.

Glebe House, 1920s.

The 1930s

Through the Great Depression, Canberra weathered an economic setback. In 1933, St Gabriel’s was renamed Canberra Church of England Girls’ Grammar School. Due to economic hardships and a declining city population, the School came close to closing down, but it was rescued in 1935 by Canon Robertson and a dedicated group of parents and friends who took the dramatic step of purchasing it from the Sisters.

A science class in 1934.

The 1940s

Following World War II, there was a boom in the birth rate and an increase in the number of migrants arriving in Australia. Canberra’s development accelerated with the expansion of suburbs and their associated services. As a result, the School’s student population increased.

Students pose under the CCEGGS sign in 1946.

The 1950s

Education as a concept was growing. Canberra Church of England Girls’ Grammar School was one of a number of government and independent schools which expanded to meet the enrolment demands of the ‘baby boomer’ generation.

Chapel servers in 1954.

The 1960s

Government science grants supported the School’s building program in the 1960s, as Canberra grew during a time of great optimism and buoyancy.

A language laboratory class in 1969.

The 1970s

In 1972, the Junior School moved to a new campus on Grey Street in Deakin to allow for the expansion of both the Senior and Junior Schools.

Students walk through the courtyard of the new Junior School Grey Street campus.

The 1980s

In 1988, the School received a new backdrop with the official opening of ‘new’ Parliament House, which can still be seen from the school grounds.

New buildings sprang up inside the Senior School campus as well, including the Waterman Arts Centre in 1984 and the Jubilee Sports Centre in 1987. The new Chapel was consecrated in 1988.

Opening of the Jubilee Centre at the Senior School in 1987.

The 1990s

In 1996, the Elizabeth McKay Aquatic Centre opened on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, strengthening the School's rowing and watersports program.

The Elizabeth McKay Aquatic Centre overlooking Lake Burley Griffin.

The 2000s

In 2001, the School changed its name to Canberra Girls Grammar School.

The Early Learning Centre opened in 2004, providing education to three- and four-year-olds.

Junior School students with a time capsule prepared in 2001.

The 2010s

A multipurpose building with flexible teaching and learning spaces was opened in 2011, along with additional staff and student facilities. 2012 saw the commissioning of a new, modern Science wing, and an Innovation Centre for the promotion of STEM subjects was added in 2016.

In 2018, a new multipurpose learning facility, known as Yhuuramulum (Ngunnawal for ‘to dream’), opened next to the School’s Elizabeth McKay Aquatic Centre, providing flexible curriculum delivery opportunities for students from Prep to Year 12.

In the same year, the Early Learning Centre building expanded its facilities creating a welcoming courtyard playground space and renovated learning spaces. The new facility received the Derek Wrigley Award for Sustainable Architecture and the Award for Educational Architecture at the 2019 ACT Architecture Awards.

ELC Director Kate Columbine and students at the ELC Groundbreaking in 2018.

The 2020s

From its humble beginnings of sheep paddocks and ten original students, Canberra Girls Grammar School has come a long way. As we progress into the 2020s, the School will continue to meet the demands of students and their parents – from defence force and embassy families, and students from rural, regional and overseas locations, to day students and boarders. We can’t wait for you to join us and, together, experience what the decade has in store for our exceptional school.