School History
Extract from the program for the opening of the 60's block behind the original brick building:

"Saturday, 22nd October, 1966"

"The foundation stone of the original brick building was laid on 2nd October, 1915.  North Fitzroy Central School was established and soon became known as a school with high standards both in academic and sporting spheres."

[North Fitzroy Central School came into being when a school building was built at the current Fitzroy High School site on Falconer street (in 1915), to provide facilities for the upper primary years from North Fitzroy Primary School on Fergie street (established in 1876).]

"In January, 1957, Fitzroy High School came into being, replacing the Central School.  There were 380 pupils, in Forms I, II and III.  School colours of the North Fitzroy Central School - royal blue, brown and gold - and the motto "Nil Sine Labore" were retained for Fitzroy High School.  However, the badge was re-designed for the High School.  Pegasus, the flying horse of ancient Greek mythology was chosen as a badge, with the symbolism meaning "thoughts soaring upwards."

"During 1958, the Domestic Science and Manual Arts wings were built."

"Fitzroy High School is at present [1966] the only High School in Fitzroy, Collingwood or Richmond, and overcrowding became apparent several years ago.  Last year, the enrolment reached 840.  The first Matriculation class was begun in 1965."

"In March 1965 three factories adjoining the southern boundary of the school were bought by the Education Department, and 2.7 of the buildings were demolished.  The land has been cleared, thus adding about one acre to the existing two acres.  The buildings remaining, from the oil works of R. H. Wilkinson pty ltd, are now known as the Southern wing.  They comprise several smallish class rooms, later to become a canteen, and a physical education hall, which was previously the storage building of the oil firm.  A stage is to be built at the east end of the hall to provide for drama performances."

"Early in October, 1965, the building of additions to the original brick building began, with A. R. P. Crow and Sons pty ltd as contractors.  Two science rooms, a library, classrooms for commercial subjects, geography, and mathematics, and two staff rooms were built.  Three new staircases were also constructed.  An administration block in the front of the school also formed part of the project.  This comprises a head master's office, general office and waiting room, and various amenities.  The new rooms were occupied in June 1966, and the school now has sufficient accommodation for the present 820 enrolment."

"Fitzroy High School has several features that are unusual.  [In 1966] More than 50% of the students are of Greek parentage, and about 6% Italian.  Geographically, about 41% of the students live in Fitzroy, 35% in Collingwood, 8% in Northcote, 8% in Carlton, 3% in Richmond, and the remainder in various other municipalities."

"The school has three special aims [in 1966].  Firstly to maintain high standards of scholarship; secondly, to help to assimilate migrants to Australia; and, thirdly, to encourage the playing of sport and physical education for young people in densely populated suburbs of Melbourne."

"The Advisory Council is always active in promoting the welfare of the school.  The Parents & Citizens' Association, with mothers in the canteen as a special activity, is small numerically, but is very interested and hard-working to assist the school at all times.  The Ex-students' association was formed three years ago [1963], and has various activities for young people."

"The Fitzroy and Collingwood Municipal Councils are very helpful to the school, providing library grants, sports ovals and scholarships."

School Song

HAIL FITZROY

Recent History
Fitzroy Secondary College’s enrolments declined during the 1980s as the school-age population declined.  The area was also changing, with many post-war migrant families moving out of the area and newer residents choosing favoured other state or government schools.

At the end of 1992, the new Victorian Liberal Government named 150 schools – including Fitzroy Secondary College – for immediate closure, with all sites to be put on the open market.  This stopped a planned amalgamation for 1993 between Fitzroy Secondary College and Northcote High School.

Prior to this, a District Provision Review of the curriculum and facilities across the four local secondary schools – University High School, Princes Hill Secondary College, Northcote High School and Fitzroy Secondary College – nominated deficits in curriculum provision across the district. It found overcrowding in three of the schools and low numbers at Fitzroy.

Attempts at reorganisation of local schools in the district failed, as did a proposal that Princes Hill and Fitzroy amalgamate on both sites.  The latter proposal had the unintentional effect of further reducing projected 1993 Year 7 enrolments at Fitzroy Secondary College, as local parents enrolling Year 6 students for Year 7 in mid-1992 thought the amalgamation with Princes Hill Secondary College would go ahead, presumed Princes Hill would be the junior school, and enrolled there.

Following the failure of the Princes Hill Secondary College amalgamation, Fitzroy Secondary College’s school council felt its only hope of staying open was to convince Northcote High School of the benefits of amalgamation. Because of the State’s budget deficit, Northcote High School’s building program would be deferred for many years. Fitzroy Secondary College was resource rich, so amalgamation on both sites would give Northcote High School students access to Fitzroy Secondary College’s well-maintained buildings, technology wing (just opened to provide for a district need), fully computerised library (the only one in the district), new full-sized gymnasium and canteen, and well-equipped science laboratories. Fitzroy Secondary College students would benefit from the larger, increased curriculum offerings at Northcote High School –especially at VCE.

The Fitzroy Secondary College School Council had completely revamped the school’s curriculum and policies to cater for Year 7 to VCE students, whether academically or vocationally oriented. Its clearly stated policies became models for other schools.  The thought of losing all this, and having Fitzroy’s students add to overcrowding at Princes Hill Secondary College, University High School and Northcote High School, motivated and goaded the School Council, and ultimately parents and the local community, to fight to keep Fitzroy Secondary College open.  They did not want its fine resources to be lost to education and replaced by up-market housing. Nor did they want to see the site sold off to a private school.

Fourteen months of civil disobedience saw the site occupied continuously and kept free from vandalism.  There was wide community support, with over 300 people rostered regularly in day and overnight shifts.  From the beginning, the steering group focused on achievable outcomes but failed in its primary goal to reopen the school.

An agreement was, however, secured for John Batman Technical and Further Education (TAFE) College to lease and operate on the site.

This was seen as an acceptable compromise as it maintained the site in public ownership, enabled it to be used for educational purposes, and kept further options open including the re-establishment of a school. Batman operated on the site for several years but Government funding cuts in TAFE meant that the TAFE College never fully utilised this opportunity.  When further cuts to TAFE occurred after John Batman had amalgamated with Kangan Institute of TAFE, Kangan relinquished its lease.

During its tenure the TAFE College leased the gymnasium to MacKinnon’s Gym.  Many local people were supportive, as it provided a form of community access to the school and a positive outlet for young people. MacKinnon's still hold this lease.

The continued interest and vigilance of local residents and parents, keen to see the site returned to educational use, has contributed to the decision to conduct this Ministerial review and the appointment of a review panel.