The beginnings
Killara High School was established in 1968 and occupied the Koola Avenue site in 1970.
A brief chronological history of Killara High School (KHS) : 1968-1974:
1968:
1969:
- Construction of KHS began in 1968. A decision to build the school was made in the late 1950s.
- KHS began with an intake of three classes of first formers [Year 7]. First formers boarded at a local high school – Turramurra HS - for two years, while the KHS was being built in Koola Avenue.
1969:
- Another four classes were enrolled.
- It was decided that the entire collection of the library at North Sydney Technical High School, which had a lion as a main motif, and which closed in 1969, was to be donated to the new KHS. There were approximately 11,000 books. The original site of the KHS library was the present Staff Common Room (in A Block), and memorial gates and a bronze plaque was erected to acknowledge the gift and its origins. A Presentation Ceremony was conducted on the 7th November, 1970.
- The first Principal of KHS was Mr T. Hornibrook.
- KHS opened with an enrolment of 480 students in three forms and fourteen classes.
- Blocks A, B and C were occupied.
- Quite a few of the first teachers came from North Sydney Technical High School which was closed because of a drop in population in the North Sydney area.
- KHS presented its first candidates for the School Certificate.
- The second Principal of KHS was Mrs B. Bowen.
- Block D was added.
- KHS presented its first candidates for the High School Certificate.
- Block E was added.
The beginnings of Killara High School ~ a brief history:
The construction of Killara High started in 1968, and the decision to build the school was taken because at the time the population growth in the area was increasingly rapidly.
On the western side of the area there was to be Gordon West High; to the south was Chatswood High, and to the north, St. Ives and Turramurra High schools. These schools could contain the population growth.
The original site for the proposed school was at East Lindfield (and the end of Wellington Road), but the land was too steep for the construction envisaged.
A decision to build the school was made in the late 1950’s.
During the years 1968 and 1969 the first Killara students were boarded at Turramurra High School, and in 1970 Killara High School was opened to students (Blocks A, B and C).
The first principal was Mr T.E. Hornibrook, who had been principal of North Sydney Technical High School (NSTHS).
NSTHS was closed because of a drop in population in the North Sydney area.
Quite a few of the teachers at the new Killara High School also came from that school.
Blocks D and E were added in 1972 and 1974 respectively.
The land on which Killara High is built is approximately 3.7882 hectares, or between 8 ½ and 9 acres.
It is hoped that another block may be built in the near future, as the school is in desperate need of an Assembly Hall and larger library.
Plans for an Assembly Hall were made in the early 70’s; it was to have been put where the car park is not, but a shortage of funds postponed its erection to a future date.
The original site was to above the Ecology Area, below the main assembly area.”
[Source: The Green Years [Killara High School's Yearbook], 1978
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A building chronology of Killara High School:
1968
1968
- Tenders for construction of Killara High School closed 22nd July. The new school to consist of three blocks
- October – site cleared
- A Parents & Citizens Association was well established by the end of the year, with a newsletter commencing in April on a monthly basis, a Ladies’ Auxiliary and many fund raising and social functions
1969
- Five first forms [five year 7 classes] and three second forms [three year 8 classes] with a total enrolment of 320 students and a separate staff of 13 teachers were housed at Turramurra with the Turramurra Principal acting for both schools
- By June, the upper floor of B Block was poured, the Canteen had a large slab finished and brick work in Block A had commenced
- By August, the basketball court was started and Blocks A and B had roofs
- October, Mr Hornibrook appointed as Principal to commence in 1970
- Assembly area between A and B Blocks had half the concrete poured. Clearing and levelling of grounds commenced
1970:
[Source: Killara High School. The Green Years: Silver Jubilee edition, 1995.]
- School commenced on site with 480 pupils in three forms
- North Sydney Technical High School on its closure donated its library to the new Killara High School – “The Lion Library”. (Mr Hornibrook had been Principal there for its last ten years)
- August, agitation for the completion of the school building – Blocks D and E. “This Public Meeting deplores the neglect shown by the Department of Education in the completion of Killara High School.”
- November, the formal presentation and opening of the Lion Library which was housed in A Block in what is now the staff common room.
- Block D commenced
- Proposed school badge and motto presented to the P&C
[Source: Killara High School. The Green Years: Silver Jubilee edition, 1995.]
"Clans unite for a choice of colours"
[Source: North Shore Times, 27th March, 1968]
"Scottish clans united recently when uniforms for the new East Killara High School were chosen.
Clansmen forgot their differing traditions and decided the Gordon Tartan would be represented at the school.
Killara East High School is expected to be opened early next year.
It's first hundred students are "boarding" at Turramurra High School this year.
Their parents met recently to decide the school's new uniform.
They chose a summer uniform of Gordon Tartan material for the girls, a bottle green jacket and a "tam-o-shanter".
Gordon tartan
Boys will wear a Gordon Tartan tie with white shirt, mid-grey trousers and a bottle green Bermuda blazer.
The Gordon Tartan was chosen because many of the school's students will come from the Gordon area.
Clans represented at the meetings included Campbells, Gordons and MacIntoshs.
They all voted unanimously in favour of the Gordon colours.
Department of Public Works will begin the first stage of the new school within three months.
The buildings will be constructed in an area of about eight acres in Koola Ave East Killara, opposite the Rugby Union oval.
More than 100 first formers, who will compromise the school's first pupils, are guests at Turramurra High School this year.
Students
Students at Killara East will come from many primary schools including Roseville, Lindfield, Killara, Gordon and Artarmon.
A meeting recently to discuss formation for the school was chaired by North Sydney directorate secondary inspector, Mr C.T. Grout-Smith. A committee to design the school uniforms was formed from this parent group. During winter girls will wear Gordon Tartan woollen frocks. Pupils now attending Turramurra High School have a direct bus service to their present school. Inaugural meetings of the Killara East provisional Parents and Citizens Association were held during February. Dr. Bruce Patten was elected president of the association, secretary is Mr. R.A. Carter and treasurer is Mr Peter Erber. Women's auxiliary president is Mrs B. Goldring, secretary is Mrs J. Sacchs and treasurer Mrs Arblaster. The auxiliary's committee of seven is planning a number of fundraising functions this year. Parents expect the school to open for the first term next year."
[Source: North Shore Times, 27th March, 1968]
"Scottish clans united recently when uniforms for the new East Killara High School were chosen.
Clansmen forgot their differing traditions and decided the Gordon Tartan would be represented at the school.
Killara East High School is expected to be opened early next year.
It's first hundred students are "boarding" at Turramurra High School this year.
Their parents met recently to decide the school's new uniform.
They chose a summer uniform of Gordon Tartan material for the girls, a bottle green jacket and a "tam-o-shanter".
Gordon tartan
Boys will wear a Gordon Tartan tie with white shirt, mid-grey trousers and a bottle green Bermuda blazer.
The Gordon Tartan was chosen because many of the school's students will come from the Gordon area.
Clans represented at the meetings included Campbells, Gordons and MacIntoshs.
They all voted unanimously in favour of the Gordon colours.
Department of Public Works will begin the first stage of the new school within three months.
The buildings will be constructed in an area of about eight acres in Koola Ave East Killara, opposite the Rugby Union oval.
More than 100 first formers, who will compromise the school's first pupils, are guests at Turramurra High School this year.
Students
Students at Killara East will come from many primary schools including Roseville, Lindfield, Killara, Gordon and Artarmon.
A meeting recently to discuss formation for the school was chaired by North Sydney directorate secondary inspector, Mr C.T. Grout-Smith. A committee to design the school uniforms was formed from this parent group. During winter girls will wear Gordon Tartan woollen frocks. Pupils now attending Turramurra High School have a direct bus service to their present school. Inaugural meetings of the Killara East provisional Parents and Citizens Association were held during February. Dr. Bruce Patten was elected president of the association, secretary is Mr. R.A. Carter and treasurer is Mr Peter Erber. Women's auxiliary president is Mrs B. Goldring, secretary is Mrs J. Sacchs and treasurer Mrs Arblaster. The auxiliary's committee of seven is planning a number of fundraising functions this year. Parents expect the school to open for the first term next year."