The school was originally established in 1886 as Wolaroi Methodist Boys College, also known as Wolaroi College Orange. The modern school however was formed in 1975 with the merger between Wolaroi Methodist Boys College and The Kinross School, which was also known as Presbyterian Ladies' College, Orange (PLC). Kinross Wolaroi is a non-selective school and currently caters for approximately 1,110 students from early learning, through Kindergarten to Year 12, including 350 boarders.[2] They do this through the three separate areas of the school that operate. Those being the; Pre-Preparatory School; The Preparatory School; and The Senior School. As of 2007[update], classes and boys boarding occur at the former Wolaroi site on Bathurst Road, while girl boarders live at the former PLC site on Coronation Drive.[1]
With the merger of the schools the previous Latin mottos were abandoned and in 2008, the school adopted the new Latin motto of Scientia, Amicitias, Integritas (Knowledge, Friendship, Integrity).[3] The school's five core values are Courage, Respect, Inclusiveness, Resilience and Commitment.[4]
History
Wolaroi Methodist Boys College
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 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.[5]
The Union Bank Building in Orange where Weymouth House was originally established in 1886.Very early Weymouth House photo with Mr TH 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 and the school consequently closed. 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.[6]
Wolaroi Mansion c.1900
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'.[7]
An early Wolaroi Grammar Class after the 1890 move into Wolaroi Mansion c.1905
The school continued to flourish in the years following the Second World War until a drought hit the region in the 1970s. In 1973, suffering financial difficulties and with changing societal attitudes, the college decided to become fully co-educational. This culminated with the Methodist Church asking The Kinross School to take over the management of Wolaroi College in 1975.[5]
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 realised 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.[8]Dorothy Knox took over in 1932 and she led the school until 1936[9] when Ina Miller became headmistress.[8]
P.L.C. 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.[8]
In 1973, PLC also became co-educational, and changed its name to The Kinross School.[5] During this time Wolaroi was in financial difficulty and the Methodist Church approached the Presbyterian Church to take over management of Wolaroi. In 1975 The Kinross School took over the management of Wolaroi and became Kinross Wolaroi School.[6]
Kinross Wolaroi School
The Kinross School Council accepted the responsibilities of Wolaroi College, and in 1975 the schools 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.[5]
After initial difficulties the school flourished in the region and a new era of development began. The direction came under the leadership of the schools second Headmaster, Mr Alan Anderson.[6]
Wolaroi Mansion as it appeared in the early 2000's
After a period of rapid expansion and after having pursued an aggressive marketing strategy in Western NSW to attract more regional boarder's the school entered a period of consolidation. This involved the upgrading and maintenance of the schools existing facilities and infrastructure. This expansion saw students being able to be involved in a variety of programs from drama and music to cadets, sport and the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.
By 1988 the school had grown to 728 students and was now the largest co-educational boarding school in New South Wales, with 384 boarders.[6]
Wolaroi Mansion as seen after the restoration work completed in c.2010
New Zealand born Reverend David Williams was appointed as the third Headmaster in 2002. He was succeeded by Mr Brian Kennelly in 2007. Under Mr Kennelly's leadership the school continued to expand and flourish, with an extensive building program being undertaken on the Wolaroi site, to upgrade much of the ageing infrastructure such as the auditorium and many classroom facilities[6]
In 2016 the school had its 130-year anniversary and Dr Andrew Parry took over as the fifth Headmaster of Kinross Wolaroi School and the school has continued to expand and flourish.[6]
As of 2023 the School provides co-education and single-sex boarding using its two main campuses. Classes and boys boarding occurs at the Wolaroi Campus on Bathurst Road, while female boarders live at the PLC Campus on Coronation Drive.[5]
A former Preparatory School Principal at Kinross Wolaroi, John Thomas Kennett, was in 1998 convicted on a range of charges for sex offences against 12 boys.[10][11][12]
List of Headmasters
Ordinal
Headmaster
Years
Periods
1
Mr TH Richards
1886–1904
Wolaroi Grammar School
2
Rev AJ Rolfe
1904–1912
3
Mr CR Campbell
1913–1925
4
Mr N Connell
1924–1925
5
Mr SG Brown
1926–1940
Wolaroi Methodist Boys College
6
Rev EA Bennett
1941–1949
7
Rev DA Trathen
1950–1962
8
Mr DH Prest
1963–1968
9
Mr P Brownie
1969–1972
10
Mr RW Buntine
1973–1974
11
Mr D Loader
1975–1978
Kinross Wolaroi School
12
Mr A Anderson
1978–2001
13
Rev D Williams
2002–2006
14
Mr B Kennelly
2007–2016
15
Dr A Parry
2016–present
Boarding and Day Houses
The school has eight days houses and eight boarding houses. The 'Day Houses' are mixed sex and are used for drama activities and sport contests. The 'Boarding Houses' are single-sex with boy and girl houses being located on different sites.
Day Houses
House name
House Colours
Year Established
Named in honour of
Link with the School
Notes
Brown House
1941
Mr Stanley G. Brown
The first Headmaster of the College after the sale Methodist Church took responsibility for the running of the College.
Rev. D.A. Trathan, former Headmaster of Wolaroi Methodist Boys College.
Weymouth House
The original school founded by T.H. Richards in 1886.
Tower House
The 'tower' which forms an iconic part of Wolaroi Mansion.
Girls Boarding Houses
P.L.C. Campus
New House
Stuart-Douglas House
Mr James Stuart-Douglas, a founding member of P.L.C.
Miller House
Miss Ina Miller who was Headmistress of P.L.C. for over 30 years.
Loader House
Mr David Loader, the first Headmaster of the amalgamated school.
Co-curricular activities
Cadets
The Kinross Wolaroi School Cadet Unit (KWSCU) was established over 60 years ago, and today 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.[21]
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.[21]
Music
The co-curricular music programme at Kinross Wolaroi includes elective instrumental, musicianship, vocal tuition, and a range of ensemble music, including an orchestra, concert band, stage band, chamber strings, chamber choir and many more. Instrumental and vocal tuition occurs during the normal school day with individual students attending lessons once a week. Students may also choose to study musicianship in groups according to grade level.
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.[22]
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.[23]
In the Senior school, boys may 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).[23]
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.[24]
Affiliations
Kinross Wolaroi School is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),[25] the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA),[26] the Australian Boarding Schools' Association (ABSA),[27] 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[28]
Notable alumni
Alumni of Kinross Wolaroi School, Kinross School, the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Orange, or Wolaroi College may elect to join the Kinross Wolaroi Ex-Students' Association.[29]
^Teale, Ruth, "Dorothy Isabel Knox (1902–1983)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 23 November 2023
^"New South Wales". School Directory. Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia. 2008. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2008.
^"Kinross Wolaroi School". Schools. Australian Boarding Schools' Association. 2008. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 26 May 2008.
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