| Downlands Sacred Heart College | |
| Motto: | Latin: Fortes in Fide |
| Motto Translation: | Strong in Faith |
| Established: | 1931 |
| Founder: | Jules Chevalier (founder of the MSC) |
| Principal: | Stephen Koch |
| Grades: | 4–12 |
| Gender: | Coeducational |
| Enrolment: | ~900 |
| Colours: | Royal blue and cardinal red |
| Website: | www.downlands.qld.edu.au |
Downlands College, officially named Downlands Sacred Heart College, is a private, Primary school, secondary, coeducational, day and boarding school at Harlaxton in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Founded by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1931,[1] the college began as a boarding school for boys with a total enrolment of 68.
Downlands is Queensland's only Catholic, coeducational, day and boarding school years 4-12. The school offers boarding for both boys and girls and demand for co-educational boarding is high as it allows families and siblings to remain together. The school has an enrolment of approximately 290 boarders from regional Queensland, interstate and overseas, including indigenous students from communities such as Kowanyama and the Tiwi Islands. The school also provides casual boarding to its day students. Downlands College is one of the biggest boarding schools in Queensland.
The Downlands College Badge consists of a horizontally-divided field in the College colours, royal blue and cardinal red. The upper of the shield carries a gold gryphon, and the lower half bears the Maltese Cross of the State of Queensland. The shield is surmounted by the heart crest with the letters SHC (Sacred Heart College) supported by a ram's horns and ears of wheat, to symbolise the college's setting in the Darling Downs. The college motto, Fortes in Fide, meaning Strong in Faith[1] is emblazoned under the crest.
Downlands, like many Australian schools, uses a house system in the college. Students are randomly assigned to one of four houses which compete against each other during swimming and athletics carnivals, as well as a drama festival.
The Downlands houses are:
| Name | Day/boarding | Colour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vandel | Day/Boarding | ||
| Piperon | Day/Boarding | ||
| Treand | Day/Boarding | ||
| Jouet | Day/Boarding |
Downlands College is known as the School of Choice,[2] offering an extensive and varied curriculum and co-curricular offering.
Downlands has long been recognised as one of the strongest sporting schools in Queensland. Rugby union, football (soccer), netball, cricket, tennis, touch football, softball, Australian rules football, hockey, basketball, athletics and swimming are the main sports played at the college, with a large number of students taking part in organised sport throughout the year. Downlands is a member of the Catholic Secondary Schoolgirls' Sports Association (CaSSSA). The college's mascot is the Gryphon, who makes appearances at certain inter-school competitions.
One of the newest facilities at Downlands is its large Performing Arts department, catering for all age groups. The College choirs and musical ensembles, as well as individual students, are regular participants in the Toowoomba Eisteddfod. Downlands runs a musical every two years with participation across all grades. Recent musicals include Wicked (2020), Crazy For You (2018), Les Miserables (2016), High School Musical 2, Footloose (2008), The Wiz (2007), Disco Inferno (2006) and SherWoodstock (2005).[3] With the upcoming musical being another addition to Downlands already extensive Performing Arts retinue. The college also enters teams into the Queensland Debating Union, with much success.
The grounds of the school contain the heritage-listed Tyson Manor.
| Years | Principal | |
|---|---|---|
| 1931–1935 | R Hyland MSC | |
| 1935–1938 | H Asprey MSC | |
| 1938–1945 | J Doyle MSC | |
| 1945–1949 | R Campbell MSC | |
| 1949–1956 | V Dwyer MSC | |
| 1956–1962 | T Kelly MSC | |
| 1962–1969 | J Mooney MSC | |
| 1969–1974 | Harold Baker MSC | |
| 1975–1981 | Val Patterson MSC | |
| 1981–1986 | James Littleton MSC | |
| 1987–1990 | Roy O'Neill MSC | |
| 1991–1999 | D McIntyre | |
| 2000–2005 | Denis Uhr MSC | |
| 2006–2010 | John Mulrooney MSC | |
| 2011–2018 | Stephen McIllhatton | |
| 2019–present | Stephen Koch |