Terrace: Our Proud Heritage

OUR PROUD HERITAGE

On July 5, 1875 three Christian Brothers opened their first school in Queensland, in Pugin's Chapel, the old St Stephen's Cathedral, with 26 boys enrolled. Within two months, on September 19, the foundation stone for a permanent residence and school had been laid on land on the crest of a hill and opposite a large park in Spring Hill. The land had been presented to the Brothers by an old boy of the Christian Brothers in Ireland, Dan McSweeney, a painter. While Br Joseph Barrett, Terrace's founder, and Br Paul Nunan continued teaching their classes, Br Brendan Nugent went to North Queensland "four days by steamer" away on a fund-raising tour.

The Brothers took up residence in the new building on Gregory Terrace in early 1876 and school facilities were provided in a large room - and for several years two schools functioned at Terrace and St Stephen's. In 1879 a single-storey stone building was completed facing Rogers Street, and the school at St Stephen's was closed. The west wing of the Residence was completed in 1887 to provide accommodation for boarders, and the school building was extended the following year by the addition of a second floor, thus completing what is known today as College Hall. The photos of all students since 1924 are displayed on its walls. By 1891 there was insufficient room for the numbers to board and the boarding school was transferred to a country property along Sandgate Road to begin St Joseph's College, Nudgee (Nudgee College).

Terrace undertook further expansion in 1918-19 when the Science Hall was built and opened. A third storey was added 20 years later. A three-storey teaching block which linked this building with the Residence was built in 1954.

Thus the land that Dan McSweeney had given the Christian Brothers almost 80 years earlier had been effectively built out. By the early 1960's, with increasing numbers of students and with changing trends in education it became imperative that Terrace expand further. Under Br J S Campbell's guiding influence, Terrace began to absorb residential land in Billet Street opposite the existing school. The first block was bought in 1961 and the foundation stone for a new Senior school was blessed by the College's most distinguished Old Boy the Archbishop of Brisbane, Sir James Duhig, in 1963. The new school including a chapel and library was opened in 1964. Gradually, the school development spread down Billet and Victoria Streets, with the Reidy Block completed in l971, the Centenary Building in 1975, the Manual Arts building constructed in two stages in 1981 and 1984, the completion of Centenary Hall and the construction of the Swimming Pool (now known as the Campbell Centre) in 1987 and the Religious Centre and Chapel, Mt Sion, in 1989. Billet Street itself was merged into the school grounds, linking the new and old portions of the College.

Terrace also spread beyond its Spring Hill campus. In 1958, the Rowing shed was built on riverfront land at New Farm which had been donated by Archbishop Duhig. In 1961, the Brothers purchased farmland at Tennyson and began to develop its magnificent playing fields. In the 1970's, Terrace established an Outdoor Education Centre on the banks of Lake Maroon, near Boonah. A tunnel was constructed under Gregory Terrace to provide students with safe access to Victoria Park and the training fields and Tennis courts.

Major building changes occurred in 1995, marking 120 years of Catholic Education in Brisbane, the GT120 Project. These included the Science/Music building; elevated walkways linking the Junior School to the 1964 wing; extensions to the Library; Drama Centre (old Junior School Library); Film and Television Room; conversion of Mt Sion to Main Administration offices (whilst retaining the Chapel/Prayer Centre); new offices for House Deans, Heads of Faculty; refurbishment of Staff Workroom to include interview room and Senior Teacher's office; also the shade area on Duhig Place, a project of the Parents and Friends. These recent developments have been made possible by the generosity of the Terrace Family in supporting the Gregory Terrace Foundation.

The strong academic tradition of Terrace continues today with the great majority of students aiming for some form of higher education. Since 1875, more than 195 past students have entered the priesthood or religious life, including the late Archbishop Sir James Duhig and Archbishop Francis Rush retired Archbishop of Brisbane, Bishop John Torpie retired Bishop of Cairns and Bishop Bill Morris Bishop of Toowoomba. Terrace is proud of its seventeen Rhodes Scholars from Professor James Mahoney (1929) to Ben Juratowich (2003) and Simon Quinn (2005).

The sporting curriculum caters for as many students as possible through both GPS involvement and intra-mural games. The cultural curriculum, including Debating, Chess and Music attracts many students.

Sixty-one past students have represented Australia in international sporting competitions with thirty-five of these in Rugby Union. Recent years have seen up to five past students in the one Australian Rugby squad. The Gregory Terrace Old Boys' Association is an active body which meets regularly at the College and does much to maintain contact with alumni through reunions and other various functions.

The school community is supported by the active involvement of many parents, particularly through the Parents and Friends' Association, the Ladies Group and Support Committees associated with sporting and cultural activities. Other groups have given invaluable assistance in planning and supervising its various building projects.

Terrace has a long and distinguished list of past Headmasters and Principals, taking its first lay Principal in 1993.

The college is centred on Gregory Terrace, Spring Hill, with its sporting fields at Tennyson and Outdoor Education Centre at Maroon Dam.

If you have a sound card, listen to our School Song as a MIDI file, created by Mr. Ian Dorricott.

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