| The Southport School | |
| Motto: | Latin: Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat |
| Motto Translation: | Let him who deserves the palm of victory bear it. |
| Type: | Independent early learning, primary and secondary day and boarding school |
| Denomination: | Anglican |
| Headmaster: | Andrew Hawkins |
| Founder: | Horace Henry Dixon |
| Chairman: | Fraser Perrin |
| Gender: | Boys only |
| Location: | 2 Winchester Street, Southport, Queensland |
| Country: | Australia |
| Pushpin Map: | Australia Queensland |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 240 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Queensland |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Enrolment: | [1] |
| Grades: | Early learning to Year 12 |
| Grades Label: | Years |
| Colours: | Navy, white & maroon |
| Tuition: | Varies by grade[2] |
| Alumni: | Old Southportonians |
The Southport School (TSS) is an independent Anglican early learning, primary and secondary day and boarding school for boys, located in Southport, a suburb on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia.
Established in 1901 by the Revd Horace Henry Dixon, TSS is the oldest Anglican boys' boarding school in Queensland and the only all-boys boarding school on the Gold Coast.[3] The school has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for approximately 1305 students from early learning to Year 12, including 276 boarders from Years 7 to 12.[4]
The school is affiliated with the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA),[4] the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),[5] the Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA),[6] Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ),[7] and has been a member of the Great Public Schools Association of Queensland (GPS) since 1920.[8]
The Southport School was established in 1901 by the Revd (later Rt Revd) Horace Dixon. The land was originally owned by Benjamin and Ann Spendelove.[9] The Spendelove family continued to make a contribution to the school, providing boxing coaching for many years.
The first boarding houses (Delpratt, McKinley and Thorold) were established in 1907 and 1908.
The Southport School has the third oldest school boat club in Queensland, having first started rowing in 1905.[10] This followed Brisbane Grammar School and Ipswich Grammar School first having a rowing contest in 1891.
The following is a list of the headmasters of the school.
| Period | Details | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1901–1929 | |||
| 1930–1935 | Bertram George Lawrance | ||
| 1936–1940 | Verney Lovett Johnstone | ||
| 1941–1950 | John Norman Radcliffe | ||
| 1950–1971 | Cecil Garton Pearce | ||
| 1972–1987 | John Henry Day | ||
| 1988–2003 | Bruce Alexander Cook | ||
| 2004–2020 | Greg Wain | ||
| 2021– | Andrew Hawkins |
The Southport School utilises a house system. The Senior School is divided vertically into the twelve houses: eight day boy houses and four boarding houses. The Preparatory School is divided into four houses. The Senior Houses are:[11]
| Name | Day/boarding | Colours | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atkinson | Day | ||
| Biddle | Boarding | ||
| Delpratt | Boarding | ||
| Kaiser | Day | ||
| Maughan | Day | ||
| McKinley | Boarding | ||
| Melbourne | Day | ||
| Radcliffe | Day | ||
| Surman | Day | ||
| Thorold | Boarding | ||
| Turnock | Day | ||
| Walker | Day | ||
| Rogers | Boarding year 7 only | ||
| Musgrave | Prep-day | ||
| Shepherd | Prep-day | ||
| Dixon | Prep-day | ||
| Mitre | Prep-day |
The three original houses – Delpratt, McKinley and Thorold – were founded in 1909, 1909 and 1908, respectively.
TSS has a strong sporting tradition and over the years has produced many Australian and international athletes of note. The school currently offers the following activities to its students: basketball, chess, cricket, cross country, debating, soccer, gymnastics, rowing, rugby, swimming, sailing, tennis, and track and field. TSS has been a member of the Great Public Schools' Association Inc (GPS) since 1920.[8] TSS fields soccer teams within the development divisions of Football Queensland South Coast. The school has achieved many sporting premierships during its membership.
GPS Premierships (official GPS records):
Associated Schools Championships:
State Championships
National Championships
See main article: List of members of the Old Southportonians Association. The Old Southportonians Association (OSA) is the alumni organisation for Old Boys of the school. All Old Boys of the school become a member of the OSA, which boasts a proud list of members such as Nathan Sharpe, Michael Neser, and more. The OSA is run by Old Boys, ATK20 Noah Purza-Page and other volunteers [12] The OSA celebrated its 100 years as a recognised body in 2007.
Historic figures also include past choirmaster Henry John King.
The Southport School is a member of Round Square and as such has an extensive network of partner schools with which it performs many student exchanges. TSS is involved in a student exchange program with the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States; and with Collingwood School in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
The two surviving buildings of the Pacific Cable Station were relocated to the school in 1982 for use as the school's music department. Largely untouched from their original form, they are listed on the Gold Coast Local Heritage Register.[13]