Blackburn High School is a co-educational public secondary school for children from years 7 to 12 in Blackburn North, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, founded in 1956.[3] The school is notable for its music curriculum and extracurriculars, particularly for its early adoption of music education in government schooling.
| Blackburn High School | |
|---|---|
 Blackburn High School sign | |
| Location | |
 | |
58/62 Springfield Road , 3130 Australia | |
| Coordinates | 37°48′39″S 145°09′00″E / 37.8109°S 145.1500°E |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Motto | Ad Lucem Crescimus (Growing Towards the Light[1]) |
| Established | 1956 |
Principal | Joanna Alexander |
| Years | 7–12 |
| Enrollment | 1321[2] |
| Colours | Green, white, black |
| Website | www |
History
editThe land for Blackburn High School was acquired from the Pearce Family, who grew peaches and cherries.[4][5] In 1955 (five years before opening) the site was described "still in the cherry orchard state",[6] however the Lilydale Express reported that a "Mr. Percy" from Lilydale High School would be promoted to head-master of Blackburn.[7]
Blackburn High School's instrumental music program began in 1965 under the guidance of teacher Renee Maddocks and principal Arthur Beaumont.[8]
Extracurricular activities
editMusic
editThe school has performed in outside events such as the Monterey Jazz Festival,[9][10] Floriade,[11] International Society for Music Education Conference,[12] Victorian School Music Festival,[13][14] the 71st Annual Midwest Clinic,[15] and the local Whitehorse Christmas Carols.[16][17]
It has also competed in the Echuca-Moama School Bands Festival,[18] Royal South Street Eisteddfod, Generations in Jazz Competition,[19][20] and the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival.[21]
The school has released three albums, one in 1977,[22] and two from the Midwest Clinic in 2017.[15][23]
| Awards | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | Honourable Mention |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Band | ||||
| Division 1 | 2017, 2014 | 2019, 2018, 2011, 2010 | 2015, 2012 | |
| Division 2 | 2010 | 2019 (2.1) | 2026 (2.2) | 2009 |
| Division 3 | 2009 (3.1) | |||
| Division 4 | 2019 (4.2), 2018 (4.2) | |||
| Small Jazz Combo | ||||
| Division 1 | 2019 (1.2) | |||
| Division 3 | 2024 | |||
- SBA Division 4+ Nick Mulder Memorial Award - 2025
- James Morrison Golden Mouthpiece Award - 2014
Notable alumni
edit- Christos Tsiolkas – Novelist[24][25]
- Ross Irwin – Trumpet player in Melbourne based band 'The Cat Empire'.[26]
- Shannon Barnett – Trombonist, Bell Awards winner for Young Australian Jazz Artist (2007)[27]
- Daniel Merriweather – R&B Singer/Songwriter.[28]
- Reuben Morgan – Singer/Songwriter at the Hillsong Church[29][30]
- Darren James – 3AW Radio Announcer[31]
- Don Scott – Former Hawthorn AFL Football Club Captain & Premiership Player & South Adelaide coach.[32]
- Dee Ryall MP – Former member for Mitcham and Ringwood in the Victorian Parliament[33]
- Jenny Donnet – Olympic and Commonwealth Games diving athlete[34]
- Steve Irons – Federal Member for Swan (WA) 2007[35]
- Jacinta Parsons – Radio host[36]
- Timothy Fehring – student who died on a school camp[37]
- Kynan Brown – Former Melbourne AFL Player[38][39]
- Elizabeth Minter – Former professional Tennis Player[40]
- Trung Luu MP – Member for Victorian legislative council & Former councillor for City of Brimbank[41]
- Erica Sigmont – Track and Field Athlete[42]
- Martin Grant – Fashion Designer[43]
Notable staff
editReferences
edit- ↑ "BHS Newsletter Issue 11 - 7th August" (PDF).
- ↑ myschool.edu.au/school/45357
- ↑ "Blackburn High School, Blackburn | School profile - 2016 | My School". www.myschool.edu.au. Retrieved 1 February 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ Pearce, Ron (2001). "Document, Pearce Family". Victorian Collections. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ↑ Richardson, Patricia, ed. (2010). Spiders In the Loo - Anecdotal Stories from Local History. Whitehorse Historical Society. pp. 22–24, 26. ISBN 9780980793512.
- ↑ "SCHOOL MUST TEACH IN SHIFTS". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 22 October 1955. p. 6. Retrieved 26 December 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "MORE ACCOMMODATION STILL NEEDED AT HIGH SCHOOL". The Lilydale Express. Victoria, Australia. 16 December 1955. p. 11. Retrieved 26 December 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ Manser, Nieta (14 September 2007). "A classy performer and renowned teacher". The Age. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
- ↑ Hoban, Rosie (22 April 2008). "World stage". Herald Sun. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ↑ "Monterey Jazz Festival Announces 4th Annual Next Generation Festival Results". All About Jazz. 10 April 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ↑ "Advertising". The Canberra Times. Vol. 70, no. 21, 703. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 17 September 1994. p. 50. Retrieved 26 December 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "GOOD Times". The Canberra Times. Vol. 62. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 July 1988. p. 28. Retrieved 26 December 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ Victorian School Music Festival (30 April 2020). 2013 VSMF - Advanced Jazz Section. Retrieved 26 December 2025 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Victorian School Music Festival (22 August 2021). 2019 VSMF Senior Jazz Ensemble Section. Retrieved 26 December 2025 – via YouTube.
- 1 2 O-Connell, Andy; Blackburn High School Senior Jazz Orchestra. "2017 Midwest Clinic: Blackburn High School Senior Jazz Orchestra (Live)". Spotify. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ↑ Bragge, Lily (18 December 2004). "Carols". The Age. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ↑ Whitehorse Carols 2024 - Carols Songbook (PDF). Creative Whitehorse. 14 December 2024. p. 7.
- ↑ "Focus on Youth". The Riverine Herald. Victoria, Australia. 24 May 2000. p. 4. Retrieved 26 December 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "2017 Results | Generations In Jazz | Mount Gambier | South Australia". www.generationsinjazz.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ↑ "Cool school combo takes top prize". www.heraldsun.com.au. 8 June 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
- ↑ Koziol, Michael (8 May 2025). "Melbourne students make history at top New York jazz event". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ↑ Blackburn High School Concert Band (1977), Blackburn High Concert Band, retrieved 26 December 2025
- ↑ Bunn, Jemima (2017). "2017 Midwest Clinic: Blackburn High School Symphonic Band (Live)". Spotify. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ↑ Austlit. "Christos Tsiolkas | AustLit: Discover Australian Stories". www.austlit.edu.au. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ↑ Cook, Margaret (2 April 1996). "(School Days)". The Age (Melbourne, Australia). Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ↑ "CORRECTED VERSION EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMITTEE Inquiry into the extent, benefits and potential of music education in Victorian schools" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ↑ "Midwest Clinic Performing Organizations - Bla..." Midwest Clinic. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ↑ "Sunny future for Merriweather". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007.
- ↑ "Reuben Morgan". hillsong.com. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ↑ THQ, The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory. "Music provided my pathway to God | Others Magazine". others.org.au. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ↑ "Weekend Breakfast". 3AW. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ↑ "Is Don, is FINALLY Legend: The complicated case of Hawks great Don Scott". afl.com.au. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ↑ "Dee Ryall MLA". Dee Ryall. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ↑ cgaadmin (30 September 2017). "Jenny Donnet: Brisbane 1982 was a fantastic time | Commonwealth Games Australia". commonwealthgames.com.au. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ↑ "Hon Steve Irons". www.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ↑ "Jacinta Parsons". ABC. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ↑ "Tragic new update in the fallout over the death of a teenager on a school excursion". 27 July 2022.
- ↑ "Kynan Brown | AFL". melbournefc.com.au. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ↑ Pinjarra. Blackburn High School. 2019. p. 80.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ↑ "TENNIS Masur in easy straight-sets victory". The Canberra Times. Vol. 57. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 November 1982. p. 20. Retrieved 26 December 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ Smethurst, Annika (27 February 2023). "From refugee to MP - a survivor's story". The Age (Melbourne, Australia). Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ↑ Devlin, Rebekah (8 December 1999). "Motivator". The Age (Melbourne, Australia). Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ↑ Burns, Janice Breen (27 March 2025). "How a teenage drop-out went on to dress the world's most famous women". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ↑ "Michael Cigler interviewed by Barry York [sound recording]". Trove. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ↑ York, Barry, "Michael Joseph Cigler (1923–1990)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 26 December 2025