Great Public Schools Association of Queensland Inc.
Formation1918
HeadquartersBrisbane, Queensland
Membership
Anglican Church Grammar School
Brisbane Boys' College
Brisbane Grammar School
Brisbane State High School
Ipswich Grammar School
St. Joseph's Nudgee College
St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace
The Southport School
Toowoomba Grammar School
Official language
English
Secretary General
Nicole L'Efevre

The Great Public Schools Association of Queensland Inc. (GPS) is an association of nine south-east Queensland secondary schools established in 1918. With the exception of Brisbane State High School, GPS schools are all-male, private schools. Similar associations exist in New South Wales (AAGPS) and Victoria (APS).

Schools

Current member schools

Source:[1]

There have been critics of the GPS competition of Brisbane State High's membership to the GPS Competition, primarily because it is the only Public School in the GPS competition. However, its membership is maintained despite dispute. The term "Public Schools" in the GPS acronym encompasses all public education including the Grammar Schools who are indeed themselves Public Schools. (Grammar Schools Act, 1860)

School Location Enrolment Founded Denomination Day/boarding Year entered
competition*
School colours School nickname
Anglican Church Grammar School[note a] East Brisbane 1,800 1912 Anglican Day & boarding 1918 Blue and grey
  
Churchie
Brisbane Boys' College Toowong 1,600 1902 Uniting Church/Presbyterian Day & boarding 1918 Green, white and black
   
BBC or College
Brisbane Grammar School Spring Hill 1,700 1868 Secular or Non-denominational Day & boarding 1918 Dark blue and light blue
  
Grammar or BGS
Brisbane State High School South Brisbane 3,361
(approximately 1,669 males)[2]
1913[3] Secular Day 1921 Cerise and navy blue
  
State High
Ipswich Grammar School Ipswich 1,080 1863 Non-denominational Day & boarding 1918 Red and white
  
Ipswich or IGS
St Joseph's College, Nudgee Boondall 1,750 1891 Catholic Day & boarding 1918 Blue and white
  
Nudgee
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace Spring Hill 1,691 1875 Catholic Day 1918 Red & black
  
Terrace or Gregory Terrace
The Southport School Southport 1,305 1901 Anglican Day & boarding 1920 Maroon, navy and white
   
TSS or Southport
Toowoomba Grammar School Toowoomba 1,258 1875 Non-denominational Day & boarding 1920 Blue and gold
  
Toowoomba or TGS

Former member schools

School Location Enrolment Founded Denomination Day/boarding School colours
St. Laurence's College South Brisbane 2000 1915 Catholic Day Black and gold

Central Technical College High School, a Government-run school, was initially a member from 1918 but merged with Brisbane Junior State High School and High Top Wynnum State School in 1921* to form Brisbane State High School, which is still a member of the association. Brisbane state high school has gone on to win many of these GPS competitions.

St. Laurence's College was forced to leave the GPS in the 1920s because it did not have a cricket pitch and a football oval. They competed at least up to and including the September 23, 1928 Athletics Carnival. They are now members of the Associated Independent Colleges (AIC) Competition.

Physical recreation

Basketball

The schools have competed in an annual basketball premiership since 1986.

School Premierships Outright Shared Outright years Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 6 2 4 2001, 2003 1990, 1991, 1992, 1998
Anglican Church Grammar School 8 6 2 1988, 1989, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2020 1990, 2019
Brisbane State High School 11 6 5 1999, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2016 1998, 2000, 2004, 2011, 2022
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 4 1 3 1997 2000, 2004, 2019
The Southport School 5 4 1 2009, 2012, 2021, 2023 2022
Ipswich Grammar School 8 6 2 1986, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2015, 2018 1991, 1992
Toowoomba Grammar School 1 0 1 2022
Brisbane Grammar School 0 0 0
Brisbane Boys' College 5 4 1 1987, 1995, 2005, 2017 2005

Notes

Cricket

Main article: Great Public Schools Association of Queensland – Cricket

The schools have competed in an annual cricket premiership since 1919.

School Premierships Outright Shared Outright years Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 10 9 1 1925, 1937, 1938, 1964, 1991, 1994, 1998, 2001, 2009 1922
Anglican Church Grammar School 19 15 4 1934, 1935, 1940, 1941, 1948, 1950, 1959, 1963, 1967, 1976, 1984, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2012 1929, 1931, 1955, 1962
Brisbane State High School 7 7 0 1949, 1966, 1977, 1979, 1992, 1993, 2002
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 3 2 1 1952, 2004 2020
The Southport School 24 19 5 1926, 1927, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1980, 1981, 1982, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 1920, 1923, 1928, 1929, 1971
Ipswich Grammar School 13 12 1 1937, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1968, 1969, 1975, 1989, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2016 1922
Toowoomba Grammar School 12 10 2 1924, 1932, 1933, 1936, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 2000, 2005 1923, 1928
Brisbane Grammar School 18 14 4 1919, 1921, 1930, 1946, 1951, 1954, 1956, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1978, 1983, 2013, 2022 1920, 1931, 1955, 1971
Brisbane Boys' College 6 4 2 1947, 1985, 1995, 2003 1962, 2020

Notes

Cross Country

The schools have competed in an annual cross-country championship since 1971.

School Wins Outright Shared Outright years Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 4 3 1 1999, 2005, 2015 2010
Anglican Church Grammar School 17 15 2 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2009, 2012 1975, 2007
Brisbane State High School 3 3 0 2020, 2021, 2023
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 9 7 2 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014 2004, 2010
The Southport School 1 1 0 1990
Ipswich Grammar School 4 2 2 1991, 1992 2004, 2007
Toowoomba Grammar School 0 0 0
Brisbane Grammar School 16 15 1 1974, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2016, 2017 1975
Brisbane Boys' College 3 3 0 2018, 2019, 2022
Ipswich Grammar School 4 2 2 1991, 1992 2004, 2007

Notes

Junior Cross Country

The schools have competed in an annual cross-country championship since 2014.

School Wins Outright Shared Outright years Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 7 6 1 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021 2019
Anglican Church Grammar School 4 3 1 2014, 2022, 2023 2019
Brisbane State High School 0 0 0
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 0 0 0
The Southport School 0 0 0
Ipswich Grammar School 0 0 0
Toowoomba Grammar School 0 0 0
Brisbane Grammar School 0 0 0
Brisbane Boys' College 0 0 0

Notes

Gymnastics

The schools have competed in an annual gymnastics competition from 1915 to 2021, making it the oldest GPS sport, dating before the establishment of the GPS Association in 1918.[4]

School Wins Outright Shared
St Joseph's Nudgee College 2 2 0
Anglican Church Grammar School 16 16 0
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 5 4 1
The Southport School 7 0 0
Toowoomba Grammar School 2 1 1
Brisbane Grammar School 65 64 1
Brisbane Boys' College 6 5 1

Notes

Rowing

The schools have competed in an annual Head of the River rowing championship since 1918.

School Wins
Brisbane Boys' College 27
The Southport School 22
Brisbane Grammar School 21
Anglican Church Grammar School 16
Brisbane State High School 5
St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 4
St. Joseph's Nudgee College 9

Notes

The schools have also competed for the Old Boys Cup for best overall school at Head of the River since 1988.

School Wins
Anglican Church Grammar School 9
Brisbane Boys' College 5
Brisbane Grammar School 4
The Southport School 8
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 4
St Joseph's Nudgee College 7
Brisbane State High School 0

Notes

Rugby

Main article: Great Public Schools Association of Queensland - Rugby Union

The schools have competed in an annual rugby premiership since 1918 (initially playing rugby league until 1928, when the schools reverted to rugby union).[5]

School Premierships Outright Shared Outright years Shared years
St. Joseph's Nudgee College 45 37 8 1920, 1921, 1923, 1925, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1946, 1952, 1953, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2013, 2023 1924, 1932, 1950, 1954, 1993, 2010, 2017, 2022
Anglican Church Grammar School 19 13 6 1939, 1949, 1951, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1967, 1982, 1999, 2014, 2015 1950, 1954, 1974, 2003, 2005, 2022
Brisbane State High School 15 7 8 1947, 1964, 1969, 1975, 1983, 2009, 2016 1973, 1974, 1976, 1984, 1992, 1993, 2005, 2010
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 10 8 2 1927, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1996, 2004 1954, 1956
The Southport School 12 8 4 1922, 1926, 1933, 1938, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2019 2003, 2010, 2017, 2022
Ipswich Grammar School 8 6 2 1918, 1919, 1934, 1985, 1988, 1989 1984, 1993
Toowoomba Grammar School 6 2 4 1930, 1948 1924, 1932, 1954, 1956
Brisbane Grammar School 7 3 4 1958, 1972, 2012 1956, 1973, 1976, 1992
Brisbane Boys' College 2 1 1 2020 1954

Notes

Sailing

An annual sailing competition was instigated in 2000.

School Wins Win years
The Southport School 11 2002, 2003, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
Anglican Church Grammar School 4 2001, 2004, 2009, 2010
Brisbane Grammar School 5 2000, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2022
Brisbane Boys' College 3 2007, 2008, 2011

Notes

Football

The schools have competed in an annual Association football competition since 1991.

School Wins Outright Shared Outright years Shared years
Brisbane Grammar School 6 4 2 1992, 1994, 2000, 2007 1999, 2006
Ipswich Grammar School 7 5 2 1996, 2008, 2009, 2017 1998, 1999
Brisbane Boys' College 5 5 0 1991, 1993, 2004, 2010, 2011
St Joseph's Nudgee College 11 7 4 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2018, 2022, 2023 1998, 2013, 2014, 2016
Brisbane State High School 2 1 1 2005 2006
Anglican Church Grammar School 2 2 0 2019, 2024
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 1 1 0 2021
The Southport School 4 2 2 2012, 2020 2013, 2014
Toowoomba Grammar School 2 1 1 2015 2016

Notes

Swimming

The schools have competed in an annual swimming competition since 1918.

School Wins Outright Shared Outright years Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 23 22 1 1923, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 1954
Anglican Church Grammar School 21 21 0 1930, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1956, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 2014
Brisbane State High School 13 13 0 1933, 1968, 1969, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 16 15 1 1918, 1919, 1921, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1970, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1900, 1991 1954
The Southport School 8 8 0 1922, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016
Ipswich Grammar School 0 0 0
Toowoomba Grammar School 1 1 0 1935
Brisbane Grammar School 21 21 0 1920, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024
Brisbane Boys' College 0 0 0

Notes

Junior Swimming

The schools have competed in an annual swimming competition since 2014.

School Wins Outright Shared Outright years Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 3 3 0 2019, 2022, 2023
Anglican Church Grammar School 4 4 0 2014, 2015, 2020, 2021
Brisbane State High School 0 0 0
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 2 2 0 2018, 2024
The Southport School 1 1 0 2016
Ipswich Grammar School 0 0 0
Toowoomba Grammar School 0 0 0
Brisbane Grammar School 0 0 0
Brisbane Boys' College 1 1 0 2017

Notes

Tennis

The schools have competed in an annual Tennis competition since 1918.

School Wins Outright Shared Outright years Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 10 7 3 1935, 1936, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994 2003, 2011, 2013
Anglican Church Grammar School 11 8 3 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2005 1941, 1948, 1957
Brisbane State High School 5 4 1 1954, 1959, 1973, 1984 1972
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 7 5 2 1955, 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999 2002, 2003
The Southport School 9 6 3 1924, 1926, 1930, 1956, 2000, 2001 1921, 1934, 2018
Ipswich Grammar School 6 2 4 1929, 2010 1921, 1941, 2002, 2009
Toowoomba Grammar School 12 10 2 1927, 1932, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1952 1948, 1957
Brisbane Grammar School 43 36 7 1918, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1928, 1931, 1933, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1991, 2012, 2021, 2022 1921, 1934, 1972, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2013
Brisbane Boys' College 16 12 4 1983, 1987, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023 1934, 2011, 2013, 2018

Notes

Track and Field

The schools have competed in an annual athletics competition since 1918.

School Wins Outright Shared Outright years Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 18 17 1 1920, 1921, 1931, 1940, 1955, 1969, 1970, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2023 1919
Anglican Church Grammar School 21 19 2 1923, 1943, 1944, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1974 1929, 1935
Brisbane State High School 14 14 0 1946, 1947, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 5 5 0 1927, 1930, 1934, 1950, 1951
The Southport School 5 3 2 1918, 1922, 1933 1919, 1929
Ipswich Grammar School 23 23 0 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2019, 2020, 2022
Toowoomba Grammar School 3 3 0 1945, 1971, 1972
Brisbane Grammar School 14 13 1 1924, 1926, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1941, 1948, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995 1935
Brisbane Boys' College 6 6 0 1925, 1939, 1942 , 2016, 2017, 2018

Notes

Junior Track and Field

The schools have competed in an annual athletics competition since 2014.

School Wins Outright Shared Outright years Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 6 6 0 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Anglican Church Grammar School 2 2 0 2014, 2018
Brisbane State High School 0 0 0
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 0 0 0
The Southport School 0 0 0
Ipswich Grammar School 0 0 0
Toowoomba Grammar School 0 0 0
Brisbane Grammar School 1 1 0 2023
Brisbane Boys' College 1 1 0 2016

Notes

Volleyball

The schools have competed in an annual volleyball premiership since 1994.

School Wins Outright Shared Outright years Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 2 1 1 2022 2002
Anglican Church Grammar School 7 6 1 1998, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024 2020
Brisbane State High School 0 0 0
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 8 3 5 1997, 2014, 2021 1996, 2000, 2010, 2015, 2020
The Southport School 0 0 0
Ipswich Grammar School 1 0 1 2002
Toowoomba Grammar School 0 0 0
Brisbane Grammar School 14 10 4 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 2000, 2010, 2015, 2020
Brisbane Boys' College 6 5 1 1994, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2019 1996

Notes

Former sports

Academic Events

Chess

The schools have competed in an annual chess premiership since 1995.

School Premierships Outright Shared Outright years Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 0 0 0
Anglican Church Grammar School 15 14 1 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 2010
Brisbane State High School 2 2 0 2004, 2005
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 0 0 0
The Southport School 0 0 0
Ipswich Grammar School 0 0 0
Toowoomba Grammar School 1 0 1 2006
Brisbane Grammar School 13 11 2 1995, 1996, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019 2006, 2010
Brisbane Boys' College 0 0 0

Notes

Debating

The schools have competed in an annual debating premiership since 2002.

School Premierships Outright Shared Outright years Shared years
St Joseph's Nudgee College 0 0 0
Anglican Church Grammar School 4 4 0 2007, 2012, 2020, 2022
Brisbane State High School 1 0 1 2024
St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace 5 3 2 2006, 2019, 2023 2002, 2005
The Southport School 0 0 0
Ipswich Grammar School 0 0 0
Toowoomba Grammar School 0 0 0
Brisbane Grammar School 16 13 3 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021 2002, 2005, 2024
Brisbane Boys' College 0 0 0

Notes

GPS Music Showcase

The GPS Competition holds an Annual Music Showcase where member schools present a set repertoire that is decided by the school who is hosting for that particular year. Students then rehearse for a final concert which, in 2019, was held in the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). The event celebrates the creative talent of students across all 9 of the member schools.

Additionally, there was previously GPS Shooting which got removed because of safety hazards. Toowoomba Grammar School had very many premierships in the time it was a GPS competition. When the GPS allowed you to enter 3 teams, Toowoomba Grammar School won 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ "Member Schools". Great Public Schools Association of Queensland. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  2. ^ "State High Newsletter". Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  3. ^ Hawkins, T. Max. The Queensland Great Public Schools - A History. Jacaranda Press. 1965. p. 231
  4. ^ "History - Gymnastics - The Great Public Schools' Association of Qld Inc - SportsTG". SportsTG. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Official Website of Queensland Reds Rugby". Qru.com.au. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Rugby Rules of Competition - 2009". Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2009.

Bibliography