Grammar Gazette-Issue 1, 2020

145 YEARS OF LEARNING

145 Years of Learning 1875 to 2020

The First Day of School —

Perhaps the whole morning would have been devoted to this classification and benchmarking There was much to investigate; the School offered a wide range of traditionally academic subjects to students—the hallmark of schools founded in the Grammar tradition From that first day, students were taught English, Latin, French, German, Political and Physical Geography, History,Arithmetic,MentalArithmetic, Mathematics, the Elements of Natural and Physical Science, the Elements of Political and Social Economy, Drawing and Vocal Music Instrumental Music was offered as an extra subject (The Brisbane Courier, 5 Jan 1875) At noon, school was dismissed for a half-hour lunch break The students may have gone home for lunch, if it was not too far to walk; Brisbane was at this time ‘little more than a village’ (Burdorff, in McWilliam, 2013, p.19) and had no trams or cars, or even electric lighting At 12 30 pm, classes resumed, led byMrs O'Connor andMrs Elcock, and the school day concluded at 2.30 pm. During that first week, students also met their Music Mistress, Madame Mallalieu, and Singing Master, Mr R. T.Jefferies. ▶

145 years ago, on 15 March 1875, Brisbane Girls Grammar School opened its doors to about fifty girls from Brisbane and its surrounding regions This small group of girls, aged between 12 and 20 years old, arrived at their school building—a two-storey house on George Street—at precisely 9 am Perhaps they were excited; this was their chance to beat their brothers in their studies Perhaps they were nervous; they may have felt the sense of responsibility that comes with being the ‘first’. After an introduction by the School’s Lady Principal, Mrs Janet O’Connor, the girls were divided into forms based on age and ability The First Assistant Mistress, Mrs Elizabeth Elcock, reflected that ‘it was somewhat difficult to classify the girls, because those who had attended private schools were more advanced in History and French, while those from the Normal School were better at Arithmetic and English Grammar’ (School Magazine, 1919, p 12)

A Legacy of Academic Success — From its first days, the standard of learning at Girls Grammar was high. The School offered students the opportunity to sit New South Wales Junior and Senior Public Exams The first two Girls Grammar students to sit the Senior Exam in 1878, Bertha Burdorff and Alice Haggard, achieved the highest marks of all candidates Bertha was awarded the Fairfax Prize from the University of Sydney, while Alice Haggard was Proxime Accessit of the NSW Examinations ( Gazette , 2010, p 5) However, despite winning these prizes, universities in Sydney and Melbourne did not accept female students until 1881 Bertha, who held academic and professional ambitions, was forced to pursue other avenues to continue her learning In 1880 she became an Assistant Mistress at BGGS, before travelling to Europe in 1883 to study at the Hamburg Conservatorium of Music

In her final years, Bertha reflected on the foresight and optimism that the founders of Brisbane Girls Grammar School had when establishing a school for girls: ‘It says much for the Government and Grammar School trustees of that time that, when the young colony of Queensland was but sixteen years old, and higher education for women still a subject of controversy, the inestimable boon of a liberal and non-sectarian education was offered to our girls … It is for the pupils of today, many of whom will no doubt live to celebrate the centenary of the School, to maintain its honour and worthy traditions They have freedom to choose any calling they are fitted for, such freedom as was unknown fifty years ago, when the professions, except teaching, were still closed to women.’ —Bertha Marie Burdorff (1875 to 1878), writing in 1925 ■

— References Bennett, P (2002) Science and the Arts Brisbane: Brisbane Grammar School Archives Brisbane Girls Grammar School (1886) Brisbane Girls Grammar School Annual Report 1886 Brisbane, Brisbane Girls Grammar School Classified Advertising (1875, January 5). The Brisbane Courier (Qld : 1864–1933), p 1 Retrieved March 28, 2020, from http://nla gov au/nla news-article1393232 Harvey-Short, P (2011) To become fine sportswomen: The history of health, physical education and sport at Brisbane Girls Grammar School 1875–2010. Brisbane: Brisbane Girls Grammar School McWilliam, E (2013) Educating Girls St Lucia: University of Queensland Press MISS BURDORFF (1925, November 27) The Week (Brisbane, Qld : 1876–1934), p 13 Retrieved March 28, 2020, from http://nla gov au/nla news-article182604330 The Curriculum of the Girls’ Grammar School 1882–1912. (n.d.) Brisbane: Brisbane Girls Grammar School Archives

'I believe that female education in this colony, indeed in every country in the world, has been seriously neglected. We know that in so far as any real knowledge is concerned the great mass of women have been left in complete darkness...' — Sir Charles Lilley (1868)

above top Students outside the Main Building, circa 1890 above Advertisement for the girls’ branch of Brisbane Grammar School in The Brisbane Courier , 5 January 1875

above top Mrs Janet O’Connor, first Lady Principal of Brisbane Grammar School above Sir Charles Lilley, Foundation Trustee, 1858

Gazette

Gazette

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

24

Issue 1, 2020

25

Issue 1, 2020