The New Kinross Wolaroi School Uniform

A transformation 50 years in the making, Kinross Wolaroi School is excited to introduce a fresh and contemporary academic uniform that will best suit today’s students and community expectations.

The new uniform offers improved variety, quality and fit across the entire collection. The range takes into account age and developmental needs, as well as gender. Fittings for many items are either unisex or available in classic and tailored cuts to suit every body shape and preference.

The time for change was right given the current uniform had been in place since the 1970s and no longer supported the School’s branding. The new uniform represents the School’s long and complex history and the exciting, innovative and comprehensive educational institution it has become.

There will be a generous, two-year phase-in period, so that by 2024 all students will be in the new uniform - a year ahead of the School’s 50th anniversary. While all students will have the option to wear the new uniform in 2022, it will only be compulsory for Pre-Kinder, Kindergarten and Year 7 students. Students can continue to wear the old uniform while the new uniform is optional, however, there won’t be any crossover.

Key changes include shorts and trousers for everyone - a bold transition from the black, velvet frocks and brown, ribbed woollen stockings worn by the Presbyterian Ladies College (PLC) in the 1930s. These necessary changes were flagged by the Uniform Review Committee, which was established in 2019 and consulted with parents, past parents, students, ex-students, Junior School staff, Senior School staff and the School Leadership Team.

Feedback demonstrated the uniform should include more options for comfort and a more unisex look. The new uniform needed to accommodate all body shapes and provide students with practical choices as they move from childhood through adolescence to young adulthood.

The transformation was supported by Jonathan Ward and Noone, both leaders in their fields. Jonathan brought creativity, vision and his experience as Executive Designer at RM Williams from 2015 to 2021 to the project. Noone brought expertise in encapsulating history and tradition as Australia’s oldest tie manufacturer and a leading school uniform manufacturer. The latest options in natural and manmade fabrics were considered, although the importance of the wool industry to the School’s history and current families could not be ignored.

While the new uniform offers practical options for each year group, key colours were carefully selected to unite the uniform and demonstrate the School’s history. The sky blue was chosen from the School’s crest; green to represent the PLC historical influence; royal blue to represent the Wolaroi historical influence; white as a neutral colour and navy as the anchor.

The result is a uniform that offers a wardrobe of schoolwear that consists of a best dressed, core uniform that everyone must have, as well as a range of everyday options for extra comfort and individuality. Best dressed items will be worn for assemblies and School representation. There are no longer summer and winter uniforms, all items are trans-seasonal. Students will, however, be required to wear their blazer to and from School and for formal occasions including School assemblies.

It is a uniform that respects and unites the School’s long heritage and that students will wear with pride, now and for many years to come.