The Hutchins School opens at Ingle Hall under Reverend J R Buckland on .
The Hutchins School is one of the oldest schools in Australia and its long history has shaped the traditions and values that continue to serve as strong foundations today. We hope you enjoy exploring the School’s rich history in this timeline of key dates.
Following the death of Archdeacon William Hutchins on 4 June 1841, a number of leading citizens established a fund with the aim of founding a school in his memory.
Read more about The Origin of Hutchins.
1840s
The new Hutchins schoolhouse opens at 181 Macquarie Street on .
Hutchins schoolhouse, 1865 (S Clifford)
1850s
1859
Annual gathering for old scholars inaugurated.
McNaughton Scholarship deed, 1863
1870s
Reverend J V Buckland becomes Acting Headmaster following the death of his father in . He would become Headmaster in his own right after being ordained in .
Rev J V Buckland, c1892
1890s
1892
Hutchins School Old Boys’ Association officially founded.
Read more about Lifelong fellowship.
Old Scholars dinner at Highfield Hall with J H Bisdee, 1903
1892
Reverend H H Anderson becomes Headmaster.
Rev H H Anderson, 1898
1893
Prefect system introduced.
Read more about Senior School.
Prefects, 1913 (seated) D Harvey, K Brodribb, E M Dollery, A F Payne (standing) J Charlesworth, L Reynolds
1893
First edition of the School Magazine published. Read more
School Magazine,
1896
Golden Jubilee celebrated with a Grand Carnival.
Grand Carnival program,
1900s
1900
G G E Wylly and J H Bisdee awarded the Victoria Cross, the first Hutchins Old Boys to receive this honour.
G G E Wylly, c1900
J H Bisdee, 1900
1907
Reverend E G Muschamp becomes Headmaster.
Rev E G Muschamp, 1908
1908
Major G A Gurney becomes Headmaster.
Major G A Gurney, 1911
1911
Scout Troop established.
Scout training patrol, 1927
1910s
1912
First meeting of the School’s Board of Management. Read more
C W Butler
1912
L H Lindon becomes Headmaster.
L H Lindon, 1913
1913
Boarding house opens.
Boarding house, 1914 (Prospectus, 1915)
1917
Intermediate School opens (later renamed Middle School).
Last class with Rev M Eagle and J Houghton, 1965
1918
C C Thorold becomes Headmaster.
C C Thorold, 1918
1918
House system introduced (Buckland, School and Stephens).
Bethune Shield for House Challenge, 1918
1918
First performance of the School Song.
School Song original manuscript by J W Bethune, 1916
1919
Junior School building opens at 179 Macquarie Street.
Read more about Junior School.
Junior School opening, 1919
1920s
1922
Boat Shed opens.
Read more about Life on the water.
Boat Shed opening, 1922
1929
J R O Harris becomes Headmaster.
J R O Harris, 1935
1929
The Hutchins School Parents’ Association established.
Read more about Lifelong fellowship.
Parents’ Association President, P Stops cutting the 50th anniversary cake, 1979
1940s
1942
V S Murphy becomes Headmaster.
V S Murphy, c1941
1946
P Radford becomes Headmaster.
P Radford, 1946
1946
Centenary of The Hutchins School.
Bidencopes Hutchins Centenary display, Murray Street, 1946
1946
Sub-Primary School opens in Sandy Bay.
Sub-Primary School, c1965
1947
Chauncy Vale hut opens.
Read more about An Australian first.
Chauncy Vale hut opening, 1947
1950s
1954
W H Mason-Cox becomes Headmaster.
W H Mason-Cox, 1954
1955
War Memorial Oval opened by Governor Sir Ronald Cross.
War Memorial Oval donation advertisement from the Pirates of Penzance program, 1954
1957
Junior School opens.
Read more about A growing focus.
Governor Sir Ronald Cross inspecting Cadets at the opening of the Junior School, 1957
1958
H V Jones becomes Headmaster.
H V Jones, 1958
1959
G H Newman becomes Headmaster.
G H Newman, 1959
1960s
1960
Thorold House established.
(L–R) S Bennett (Vice-Captain of Thorold House), J Rogers (Captain of Thorold House) and A Thiessen (School Captain), 1960
1963
Building of Senior School and boarding house on the Queenborough Cemetery site commences.
Boarding house site, 1963
1964
Boarding house opens in Sandy Bay.
Read more about A home away from home.
Boarding house opening by Sir Charles Gairdner, 1964 (The Mercury)
1969
South Oval (later Barrie Irons Oval) opens.
Junior cricket practice in the nets on the South Oval, 1977
1970s
1971
Rev Dr D B Clarke becomes Headmaster.
Induction of Rev Dr D B Clarke with Bishop Davies, 1971
1971
Chapel of St Thomas dedicated and consecrated by Bishop Davies.
Read more about An Anglican school for boys.
Chapel of St Thomas, 1971
1975
Eastern Shore Kindergarten opens at St Mark’s Church Hall, Bellerive due to Tasman Bridge closure and remains open until 1977.
Presentation from Mrs S Pyke of the Eastern Shore branch of the Parents’ Association to Bill Roche (owner of the Cartela) in , following transportation of children across the river to school while the Tasman Bridge was down, –.
1979
Outdoor Swimming Pool opens (later decommissioned).
Outdoor swimming pool under construction with ‘swimmers’, 1978
1980s
1981
Middle School opens.
Read more about The ‘Intermediate’ years.
Construction of the Auditorium and Middle School, 1980
1982
W J Gerlach Memorial Tennis Courts open.
Hutchins Tennis Courts, 1982
1987
J M Bednall becomes Headmaster.
J M Bednall, 1993
1987
Early Learning Centre opens.
Read more about Early Learning.
Early Learning Centre, 1987
1987
Stephen Hay Memorial Park (Outdoor Education facility) opens at Southport.
Stephen Hay Memorial Park opening, 1987
1990s
1997
W D Toppin becomes Principal.
W D Toppin, 1998
2000s
2005
Introduction of the first Dance Troupe (Year 8).
Read more about The creative arts.
Middle School and Senior School Dance Troupe, c2015
2007
W P Dean becomes Headmaster.
W P Dean, 2016
2010s
2010
Power of 9 program established.
Read more about Learning outdoors.
Sean Oosthuizen aboard the Windeward Bound on the Power of 9 Port Davey Challenge, 2013
2016
Sailing Academy opens.
Opening of the Sailing Academy, 2016
(L–R) Deputy Headmaster M A C Jones, Parents’ Association President M Killion-Richardson, Headmaster W P Dean (obscured) and N M Thomas, 2016
2017
Dr R W McEwan becomes Headmaster. In 2023, Headmaster as a title was replaced with Principal.
Dr R W McEwan, 2021
2020s
2021
The Hutchins School celebrates 175 years (1846–2021) and opens the Chris Rae Building as part of the Middle School extension.
Principal Dr Rob McEwan with Junior School boys, 2021
We believe that what you do matters.
We look forward to making more memories with our community over the coming years.
Note The appointment of D R Lawrence as Headmaster of the School in 1963, is not specifically mentioned in this timeline, however, we make no attempt to hide this aspect of the School’s history. The School acknowledges incidents of historical sexual abuse having occurred at our school. The Hutchins School Board apologises sincerely and wholeheartedly to any and all Hutchins Old Boys who have been sexually abused. Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime. For information regarding the National Redress Scheme, please visit https://www.hutchins.tas.edu.au/national-redress-scheme.