From the Chair : Introduction : Governance : Community : Students : Curriculum : Wellbeing : Co-curricular : Profile : The Role : The ProcessSchool History
In 1981 Ross Booth and Geoff Hasler conceived the idea for a co-educational and non denominational K-12 School with a major emphasis in the development of excellence in scholarship, citizenship and personal development. The result was The Hills Grammar School and its ethos was underpinned by a strong commitment to humanitarian values based on personal integrity and social responsibility.
Ross Booth, worked to enlist support for the establishment of the School and in 1982 the Founding Council was formed. The school was established in Kenthurst, in magnificent bushland and landscaped gardens 30km north-west of Sydney CBD. Today the school sits on the perimeter of rapid suburban expansion and the original enrolment of 182 students has increased to around 930 from K to 12.
The original school was housed in a white, single storey weatherboard house that still remains an integral part of Hills Grammar today. In 1983 the ‘White House’ accommodated all the teaching and administration staff of the school. It has been altered many times and today houses the School Archive and Museum and the Finance Department.
The first school building was inspired by the design of a farmhouse in Eugowra Central West, NSW. Ross Booth had seen the “Eugowra Farmhouse” in a magazine with its domed roofing and adopted the design for the School. Construction of the first classroom block commenced in late October 1982.
The second school building was constructed in 1984. The building is a split level brick/brick veneer, solid fill/suspended concrete. In 2011 the building was refurbished for the PYP Learning Centre, and again in 2016 as the Junior School Centre for Innovation and Creativity. In the succeeding years the building program continued, culminating with the thirteenth building, the Mallik Centre which was dedicated in 2007. The Sports Precinct with four multi-purpose hard surfaced courts, pavilion, oval and function room was dedicated in October 2009 and the R J Phipps Performance Centre was opened in 2011.
In 2010 the Early Childhood Education Centre (ECEC) opened its doors to the youngest and newest members of the Hills family. The ECEC has been twice rated ‘Exceeding’ against the National Quality Standards and today caters for an additional 79 children aged 3-4 years old.
The campus now covers 18.4 hectares. Native birds can be heard above the chatter of children and the presence of bush-dwelling goannas and echidnas are almost taken for granted. These priceless experiences make life at Hills Grammar special.
