History and Governance of the School Foundation of the School
School Badge
Toowoomba Grammar School was founded in 1875 as a consequence of the Queensland Colonial Government’s Grammar Schools’ Act of 1860 (as were the other grammar schools of the State which were formed in this era, some of whom were among the first schools in Queensland’s secondary educational system) by the subscriptions (in conjunction with a government subsidy) and the efforts of local citizens of vision. These were the graziers and farming families of the Darling Downs, and the professional and business people of Toowoomba. The original School building was completed in 1876, and the first boys attended on 1 February, 1877. Although Toowoomba Grammar School is non-denominational, it has a Christian ethos and it is one of the nine member schools of the Great Public Schools (GPS) Association of Queensland.
The School Badge had its origins in April 1888 when Headmaster W A J Boyd had a pointed shield without chevrons approved by the Board of Trustees. Boyd’s successor, Headmaster C C Corfe, was the architect of today’s version which was originally printed as a letterhead in 1895 and which incorporated the current School Motto.
School Motto “FIDELIS IN OMNIBUS” (Faithful In All Things) This enduring School Motto is attributed to Headmaster C C Corfe, who obtained permission from the Board of Trustees, in June 1895, to have a copperplate letterhead struck. Prior to this, Headmaster W A J Boyd had, on 28 April 1888, an earlier version approved.
School Colours Originally, the School’s sporting colours were blue and white (as reported in “The Ipswich Times” on 21 June 1879), but these were changed by Headmaster W A Purves in 1901 to blue and gold so that they would be the same as the town’s.
The Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys’ Wall of Achievement Unveiled on 3 August 2003, this array of some 139 bronze plaques honours all of the School’s Old Boys, but specifically those individuals who have made significant contributions to society in their chosen field of endeavour.
Senior School Handbook
Page 4
