Adelaide Boys' High School (GA3069)

Adelaide Boys' High School was a single-sex secondary school, located at West Terrace, Adelaide.

It was formed with the formal division of Adelaide High School into separate boys' and girls' schools. Most male students were accommodated at a site in Currie Street, with some boys at the mostly female school at Grote Street.

Adelaide Boys' High School occupied a new school site, built on the former Observatory site at West Terrace, from its inception. It opened to students on 29 May 1951 and its first students were the male students from the Grote Street site. Students from Currie Street moved to the West Terrace site in October 1951 (1).

The school was designed by Sydney architects Mr. E.B. Fitzgerald and John Brogan following an Australian-wide competition. 10,000 pounds were received by way of a Public War Memorial Fund, with the school including a circular War Memorial Library (2).

There was some unrest when the school opened, with the Parklands Preservation League stating that the school "seriously diminished the area" (3).

The school was officially opened on 10 June 1952 by the Governor, Sir Willoughby Norrie (4).

Due to high enrolment numbers, a school zone was implemented in 1955 with only students who already had brothers attending Adelaide Boys' High School able to enrol (5). At this time, the school had over 1000 pupils (6).

In 1977, Adelaide Boys' High School and Adelaide Girls' High School amalgamated and became known as 'Adelaide High School' again. Year 8 girls started at West Terrace in 1977 and, by 1979, all students from Grote Street had been transferred to West Terrace (7).

Notable old scholars include: television personality Greig Pickhaver, chemist Dr. Rowland Pettit, Premier of South Australia Lynn Arnold, politicians Nick Bolkus, Ralph Clarke and Chris Sumner, and judge Brian Ross Martin.

As at March 2021, no records from this school have been transferred to State Records' custody. They are believed to be held by Adelaide High School.

References:
(1) SRSA GRS 17662/1: '75th Anniversary Souvenir Book' - Adelaide High School
(2) 'Adelaide Boys' High School', "Construction", 7 November 1951, p. 10
(3) 'The Odd Spot', "The News", 22 April 1952, p. 13
(4) 'Governor to Open New High School', "The Advertiser", 21 May 1952, p. 6
(5) 'High schools to be zoned', "The News", 7 December 1954, p. 3
(6) 'Boys today cram a lot into lives', "The Mail", 4 September 1954, p. 18
(7) SRSA GRS 17662/1