Wikipedia

Orange High School (New South Wales)

Orange High School is a government-funded co-educational comprehensive secondary day school, located in Orange, a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia.

Orange High School
Front entrance of school
Location
Map
Woodward Street, Orange,
Central West, New South Wales

Australia
33°16′50″S 149°5′7″E / 33.28056°S 149.08528°E / -33.28056; 149.08528
Information
TypeGovernment-funded co-educational comprehensive secondary day school
MottoHonour the past, create the future
Established1912; 114 years ago (1912)
School district
Orange; Rural South and West
Educational authority
NSW Department of Education
Principal
Alison McLennan
Teaching staff
79.2 FTE (2025)[1]
Years7–12
Enrolment914[1] (2025)
CampusRegional
ColoursBlack and gold   
Websiteorange-h.schools.nsw.gov.au
[2][3]

Established in 1912, the school enrolls approximately 1100 students from Year 7 to Year 12, of whom ten percent identified as Indigenous Australians[1] The school is operated by the NSW Department of Education; and prepares students for the NSW Higher School Certificate (Year 12). The principal is Alison McLennan (REL).

History

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Founded in 1912, Orange High School was the first public secondary school to be established in western New South Wales,[4] and is one of two government secondary schools located in the city of Orange, the other being The Canobolas Rural Technology High School. The school's first classes were held in the School of Arts building, now the site of the Police and Community Youth Club in Byng Street. The school then moved to purpose-built facilities on the corner of March Street and Sale Street, which are now part of the TAFE complex.[4]

Amongst the decisions made in the first year were for the school colours to be black and gold, the design of the school badge and the motto, "Quod Potero Sedulo" (translated from Latin as "Whatever I can do, I will do to the best of my ability").[5][citation needed] The motto was later changed to "Honour the past, create the future".[6]

Students were housed at the March Street school from 1913 through until 1958, at which time the High School and Rural School were merged. The current school buildings, sited on Woodward Street near the western end of the main street, Summer Street, were opened on 13 November 1959. During the opening ceremony, the Principal, Mr O'Sullivan, stated that in 1913 the total number of students enrolled was 93 with six teachers on staff.[citation needed]

As of 2025, the school caters for just under 1,100 students and has 70 teaching staff.[1]

Co-curriculum

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Music

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The school has a music department and stages frequent concerts. It had a stage band, which was regarded[by whom?] as one of the best in the state. In addition to the stage band, the school had a concert band, a choir, and other smaller ensembles. The stage band was placed first in division 2, two years running, at the South Australian Mount Gambier Generations in Jazz Festival some time ago.[when?]

Sport

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Students at Orange High School may choose to participate in a variety of sporting activities, including cricket, netball, rugby union, rugby league, soccer, softball, aerobics, badminton, and lawn bowls. The school participates in statewide competitions and maintains links with the traditional "Astley Cup" and "Malyney Shield".[7]

All students take part in swimming and athletics carnivals, and the school also enters students in weekend competitions, including netball, hockey, softball and triathlon.[7]

House system

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As with most Australian schools, Orange High School has a house system for sport and administrative purposes. Students are divided into four houses upon their enrolment:[citation needed]

Notable alumni

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See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 "Orange High School, Orange, NSW: School profile". My School. Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  2. ↑ "Annual Report 2018" (PDF). Albury High School. New South Wales Department of Education. 30 April 2019. p. 4. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  3. ↑ "Orange High School". School Locator. New South Wales Department of Education and Training. 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2007.
  4. 1 2 Turner, Russell.W (19 June 2002). "Orange High School Ninetieth Anniversary". Hansard Transcript. Parliament of New South Wales. p. 3451. Retrieved 16 October 2007.
  5. ↑ "Our Motto". About Us. Orange High School. 2007. Retrieved 16 November 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ↑ "Orange High School". orange-h.schools.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  7. 1 2 "General Information". About Us. Orange High School. 2007. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
  8. ↑ Pearce, Suzannah, ed. (17 November 2006). "COOK Murray James". Who's Who in Australia Live!. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd.
  9. 1 2 3 Krause, Riley (18 March 2024). "Four famous faces who once called Orange High School home". www.centralwesterndaily.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  10. ↑ Koval, Ramona (2 February 2003). "John Clarke, David Foster & Terry Eagleton". Books and Writing. Radio National. Archived from the original on 14 January 2026. Retrieved 16 October 2007.
  11. ↑ Pearce, Suzannah, ed. (17 November 2006). "WEST Garry Bruce, Hon.". Who's Who in Australia Live!. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd.
  12. ↑ "The Hon. Garry Bruce WEST". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
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