Home / Our School / History of the School

History of the School

The Cathedral School has undergone many changes throughout its long history, but there is one thing that has remained the same - it has always provided a nurturing and challenging environment where students can learn, develop and grow in a caring Christian community.

The School was established in 1917 as St Anne's, a girls' school operated by the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent . Sixty years later, the Sisters departed, and the school came under the control of the Anglican Diocese of North Queensland . The first lay principal was appointed in 1978, and the school soon became co-educational and assumed its new name.

The original school operated in the Synod Hall adjacent to St James Cathedral, but soon moved to its own premises on the site which is now occupied by the Townsville City Council. During the war years, staff and students were evacuated to the safety of inland Ravenswood, and in 1958 the school moved to its current site in suburban Mundingburra.

Cathedral (as it is affectionately known) is now a modern, independent Anglican School. Students from Kindergarten to Year 12 enjoy the unique nat ural environment created by the massive rain trees and fresh water lagoon in the school's grounds. The single campus is "family friendly", and provides easy transition for students as they progress through their years at school.

Significant Events in the Life of the School

1910 - 1920 | 1920 - 1930 | 1930 - 1940 | 1940 - 1950 | 1950 - 1960 | 1960 - 1970 | 1970 - 1980 | 1980 - 1990 | 1990 - 2000 | 2000 - 2010

21 July 1917	St. Anne's was founded. It was the first of three Anglican Girls schools in North Queensland diocese. Three sisters of The Society of the Sacred Advent Order were commissioned by Bishop John Oliver Feetham to run it for the Diocese. Sister Alice was Sister-in-charge. The school started with 6 boarders and the numbers increased to 18 by the end of the year.
1918	Lessons were held in the stonehouse - >Wills Street city property.
1925	First school magazine - Dawn - the bringing of light - was started by the Old Girls Association.
1925	Anglican Church Schools League was formed by Sr. Alice to help school debts. By 1939 the League had collected 17500 pounds.
1929	Chapel was built (it was transported to the new school site later on).
1935	Speech night permanently held at end of year.
1937	Sister Frances became Sister-in-charge.
1939	Sr. Vernon (one of the founding sisters) left the school to go to the S.S.A. school in Warwick.
1942	Friday 13 Februaryschool moved temporarily to Ravenswood because of the outbreak of war.
1945	School moved back to Townsville.
1948	Sister Frances in charge for one year, followed by Sister Bernadine.
1952	Sister Helen Marie in charge
1955	Sister Lois took over.
1956	2 December Archbishop Halse laid the foundation stone at the new site of St. Anne's in Ross River Rd , Mundingburra.
1958	1 September, the school moved to the new Mundingburra site after 41 years in the city. Main building is Heatley House. 118 boarders - all girls.
1959	This was the first full year at the new St. Anne's. It started with 134 boarders.
1959	Cyclone Connie hit Townsville. Buildings at St. Anne's were all sturdy.
1959	28 August Princess Alexandra came to Townsville and visited the school.
1959	3 October the swimming pool was blessed by the Bishop.
1960	144 boarders and 80 day girls attended St. Anne's.
1964	Sister Bernadine in charge for one year. 19 August Arch Deacon Hohenhouse died.
1965	Sister Helen Marie back in charge.
1967	New Science laboratories built. Laying of foundation stone of dining room.
1969	Sister Rowena in charge, followed by Sister Chaseley-Anne, who remained at the head of the school until the SSA withdrew from the school in 1978. New school library built – named after Bishop John Oliver Feetham.
1972	New Senior Dormitory opened – named after Sister Frances.
1974	New Primary School - teaching areas and resource centre opened.
1978	Home Economics and Staff block in SeniorSchool opened.
1978	Sr. Chaseley-Anne and Sr. Eunice left St. Anne's. Thus the Sisters of the Sacred Advent is now active only in Southern Queensland.
1979	First male lay principal appointed - Mr Neil Tucker.
1979	Boys enrolled in the Secondary School.
1980	Residence at the corner of Thompson Street and Ross River Road is purchased and used as a Pre-School. The school assumed it's new name "The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James"
1981	Principal's residence is completed.
1984	Art Centre opened below John Oliver Library.
1985	E.E. Davis courtyard opened in Art Department. Music and Drama Centre opened. Green Hall (former Dining Room)opened as a Drama centre - named after the Green family.
1986	Technics Centre opened in Junior School. 496 students enrolled. Neil Tucker leaves to take up position as Principal, Barker College, Sydney. Paul McKeown, former head of Canberra Grammar, temporary principal.
1987	Fred Danielsen appointed Principal.
1988	Akins - boys boarding house - opened.
1990	Fred Danielsen resigns. Six new Junior School classrooms completed.
1991	Bill Toppin appointed Principal.
1993	Rollinson Music Centre opened. Technology Centre for Junior School. The Rock Centre opened - named after Anthony Rock.
1994	Airconditioned Information Resource Centre built in Junior School.
1996	Chapel moved to Kardinia House to make way for new Science wing. Two air-conditioned Science laboratories opened. Sister School arrangements formalised with Sakuragaoka High School, Tokuyama, Japan. 800 students enrolled. Bill Toppin leaves to take up an appointment as Head of The Hutchins School, Hobart.
1997	Jim Raw appointed Principal. 200 new networked computers installed.
1998	Senior Library fully airconditioned. Kindy, Pre-School and 4 Junior School classrooms airconditioned. First Floor of new Science building completed - 3 airconditioned Maths classrooms. Japanese Garden opened by Mr Shiga, Mayor of Iwaki.
2001	Construction begins on new Senior School precinct.
2002	New Senior School precinct opened. SSA building comprises 10 air-conditioned classrooms, computer laboratories and staff offices. The Nancy Armati Quadrangle containing a small amphitheatre and shady areas is the hub of the precinct.
2005	Kardinia girls’ boarding accommodation facility refurbished
2006	Principal Jim Raw replaced by Canon Len Nairn (June) Middle School Program Introduced
2007	Early Learning Centre opened (January), providing for 75 children from 6 weeks of age to Pre-Prep. The Cathedral School becomes the first in the region able to offer the 'Total Educational Journey' from early childhood to Year 12 on a single campus. School's 90th Anniversary celebrated with almost 160 past St Anne's and Cathedral students attending the Past Students' Association Reunion Dinner in July. New girls' formal uniform unveiled, drawing on elements of the original 1917 design.
2008	New Science Centre and Lecture Theatre complete (December) Akins Boys Boarding House refurbishment and extension with first class ammenities
2009	Principal Canon Len Nairn replaced by Mr Ian Gamack The restoration and extension of Heatley House completed
2010	The Cathedral School celebrated 30 years of educating boys in the Senior School and the name change from St Anne's to The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James New Junior School Classrooms and the Junior School Information Resource Centre (Library) were opened and named after the first male lay Principal Mr Neil Tucker