School History

It started with an idea and was made possible by parents who were prepared to support this dream by guaranteeing a bank loan.

At a dinner party, two men (who had worked together as teachers) along with their partners talked about starting a co-educational, independent school without religious bias in the Hills District of Sydney.

In 1981, Ross Booth and Geoff Hasler embarked on their plan to establish a quality, non-selective educational institution unlike the traditional faith-based schools in Sydney.

Ross Booth had had a long-time vision to build an independent grammar school based on ideals of academic excellence.  His parents Joan and Fred Booth supported his vision. 

Booth and Hasler approached government departments and financial institutions to garner support for this project and after months of research, The Australian Bank agreed to fund it if they could demonstrate adequate community support and financial viability.

The community response was overwhelming with demand for information, attendances at public meetings and interested parents requesting some 3,000 prospectus.

Ross Booth embarked on this journey without Geoff Hasler and by July 1982, there were 80 parents committed to enrolling their children in 1983. This was viewed by the bank as insufficient numbers, however, by August 1982, 130 families were financially committed to enrolling their children.

At a public meeting attended by some 500 interested parents, the Australian Bank advised the parents that the school could only proceed if the parents themselves were to share the financial risk with the Bank by guaranteeing loan funds.

By the end of the following week, community members signed limited personal guarantees and the bank then advanced funds of $1,000,000 for completion of site purchase and building works.

In an unprecedented show of support and commitment, some 70 parents and supporters went guarantor to the Value of $600,000 to protect the Australian Bank's investment.

The school prospectus was written, the 22-acre site at Kenthurst purchased for $380,000 and on 4 September 1981 the name, The Hills Grammar School was registered.

A Development Application was submitted to Baulkham Hills Shire Council on February 25 1982, with letters of non-objection from the adjoining neighbours and was finally approved by 5 June 1982.

In July of 1982, the School submitted a Building Application to the Baulkham Hills Shire Council which was given approval on October 5, 1982.

The School Council was incorporated as a non-profit company on August 30, 1982. Foundation Council Members were; Mr David Lane, Mr Robert Hood, Mr Ross Booth, Mr Daniel Martinez and Mr Richard White.

 The building firm Paynter & Dixon was engaged as Project Managers for the construction of Stage One of the building program. 

The day before the School opened for the students, foundation families who had shared the vision and financial risk with the founders and School Council, enjoyed a school community picnic and tour of the new building. 

The School opened for classes on Monday 7 February 1983 with 162 students in attendance from Kindergarten to Year 9.

View further information about the School's buildings

1983 - 1995 Black and White or Green - Letterhead Old English

1996 - 2002 Colour and letterhead changed from Old English to Noverese font

2003 - 2014 Colour with added "Founded 1982"

2015 Colour with "Hills Grammar" on side 

A History of the School Crest

From the designer of the School Crest

As many School Crests contain symbols which relate to their geographic position or academic aspirations, I felt it appropriate to include these criteria when designing it.

The triangular shapes at the top indicate the Hills District of Sydney and the climbing direction of learning. Within these shapes were the five stars representing the Southern Cross. Below are the branches of the fruit tree, again symbolising the character of this area. The final inclusion, a target, idealised the need for everyone to have an aim in life.

I am pleased to have had some small connection with the school and its inauguration and wish both staff and students continued success.

Peter Nield N.D.D., A.T.D. (Birm) | Art Master – Oakhill College – 1982

From the Founder of the School

• Concentric circles implies growth

• The branches imply nurturing of growth

• Chevrons imply direction of growth leading upwards to the intellectual jewels and striving for Excellence

Ross Booth | Founder of the School – June 1999

1983

The Hills Grammar School started with three houses launched at the first Swimming Carnival just over a month after the school opened, they were – Rogan House, Pennant House and Castle House. 

1985

Another House added - McGrath House

2000

After a lengthy process of consultation with students the student leadership unveiled the new House crest and mottos.

The Hills Grammar School has four Houses; the history behind each is detailed below.

Castle House - BLUE

Castle is named after Castle Hill which itself was so named, it is thought, because of the fine views it afforded of the surrounding area. The area itself was first seen by Governor Arthur Phillip who explored and earmarked the area for farming in 1791. The first mention of the name ‘Castle Hill’ occurs in a dispatch to England, written by Governor Phillip Gidley King, dated March 1, 1802.

“...a great progress has been made in clearing land at Castle Hill, where I hope to sow two hundred acres on the public account this year”

The first settler was Frenchman Baron Verincourt de Clambe. He received a grant of two hundred acres in 1808. It has been suggested that locals, because of De Clambe’s noble status as Baron, commonly called his house ‘The Castle’.

McGrath House - GREEN

McGrath carries the name of the hill which owes its origins to James McGrath (1772-1833), a convict who, along with John Howe, built the first wharf at Windsor and the Parramatta Windsor Road (Macquarie’s Turnpike Road) in 1813. The first use of the name McGrath, in reference to the area, came in 1832 following McGrath’s brief ownership of a farm in 1815. While the ownership was short lived his association with the area and his contribution to settling, opening up and establishing the area have ensured his name has survived.

Pennant House - RED

Legend has it that in the early days of the Hills District a pennant was raised at what is now West Pennant Hills to alert settlers that the Governor of the day had left Sydney and was en route to Parramatta. It is now certain that Pennant Hills was named after the English zoologist, botanist and naturalist Thomas Pennant who was a friend of Sir Joseph Banks. There are several references to this area in early government dispatches with several variations on spelling. Governor Phillip Gidley King refers to Pendant Hill in a 1800 dispatch, “Another stock yard was designed for Government at Pendant Hills in Dundas District but is not yet begun to be enclosed”.

Rogan House - YELLOW

Rogan is named after Rogan’s Hill which is named after John Rogan. who was a convict. He arrived in the colony in 1806, on board the ship “Fortune”, to serve a seven year sentence. He was employed by Gregory Blaxland and was granted 50 acres (20 hectares) of land in 1821 for his own use. The land granted to John Rogan encompassed the area we now know as Rogan’s Hill and is understood to have been situated on the eastern side of what is now Old Northern Road.

Michael van Heeswyk 1982-1985

Michael van Heeswyk was the Inaugural Headmaster of The Hills Grammar School, appointed on 29 October 1982 as having the ideal personality to lead the School in its inaugural year. With feverish activity Michael van Heeswyk saw the School open to 162 students on 7 February 1983 with the first senior school state of the art building, some demountable classrooms, books and equipment purchased, staff appointed, a uniform designed and manufactured, basic landscaping completed, a myriad essential tasks and a demand for enrolments.  He adopted a high presence in all aspects of school life, from primary school camps to Headmasters’ Conferences. He put the School in the forefront of technology through the School’s computer program initiated in 1984 and launched in 1985.

Throughout his time as Headmaster Mr Michael van Heeswyk introduced a number of projects aimed at bringing the community together. This involved prominent educationalists and business people invited to address staff, parents and the general public. Under Michael van Heeswyk’s watch there was soaring enrolment and a flourishing School with significant achievements.

“Mr van Heeswyk led this establishment through three years punctuated by crises.  Despite the traumas which beset our formative years he has brought the School to a point of physical prosperity from which there is no looking back.  Furthermore, enrolments are at a maximum, waiting lists healthy and a curriculum well established which will form the basis for continued excellence.  He deserves our thanks for having assembled a professional, conscientious body of teachers committed to the ideals of the School and the well-being of the children.” (Management Committee 1986)

Ronald Ayling 1986 – 1995

With a distinguished academic background Ronald Ayling was appointed as The Hills Grammar School’s second Principal in the third term of 1986. He founded The Hills Grammar Society of the Arts in 1987 and presided over much of the School’s building program. He is credited in achieving the completion of 5 major buildings with The Library being opened in 1993. Ron Ayling initiated the Overseas Students program and The Hills Grammar School’s twin school through UNESCO in Shanghai China. He was an advocate for equal opportunity and gender equality and quoting from a past School Councillor “He was a man of his times, and his going was part of the process of shaping the school for the next stage in its development. He had a gentle approach to life, passion for academia, love of the students and commitment to honing the learning experience into a memorable one for all.”

Robert Phipps 1996-2016

Robert Phipps was appointed in January 1996 as the third Principal of The Hills Grammar School. During his time, he targeted the strategic development of the School with reviews and reaffirmation of the School’s vision for education and setting priorities for future development. In 1997 he faced a test case for Independent Schools with an unlawful discrimination case lodged with the Human Rights Commission. He commissioned an audit on the physical environment of the School to improve wheelchair access and was committed to the development of the School as a high quality learning community. The School Development Plan 2001 – 2007 and the 2008 - 2020 strategy was the vision of the School for the future, with the Master Building Plan to focus on Capital works projects, a relaunch of fundraising campaigns for the acquisition of addition land, the refurbishment of school buildings, additional car parking areas, opening of new buildings, a sports precinct and new entry for the school.

The school facilities continued to grow and in 2010 the Early Childhood Education Centre was opened for 3-5-year-old children. Rob Phipps saw his role as Principal to oversee the strategic development of the School and to build a culture of continuous improvement. He expanded the International Education Program and set up the Leaning Enrichment Centre and increased the student capacity of the School. Robert Phipps was a lifelong learner taking sabbatical leave at Oxford University in Management and Leadership Program in 2013 and to Harvard University in 2008. He established the professional learning module at Hills Grammar, recognising that teacher quality has a significant impact on student learning. He was awarded the Presidential Service Award in recognition of the Hills Grammar School’s support of the Rotary exchange student program.

Leadership was a strong focus and as Principal modelled leadership in the School on the notion of servant leadership. He focused on the student learning in the context of the development of the whole person. His love and care for the students, staff and parents of the School was unceasing and noted in his last letter to the School in June 2016.

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Michael Smith  2017 - 2021

Michael Smith served as Principal for almost five years after eighteen years as Deputy Principal. From his first speech in 1999, Mr Smith identified how his values aligned so perfectly with those of the School. Hills Grammar’s celebration of diversity, as well as its challenges, opportunities and creativity appealed to this leader and humanitarian, who was to make his mark on student-centred learning, which is fundamental to the School’s mission of fostering each student’s potential for greatness.

Michael Smith was a transformational principal, inspiring staff and students alike, to meet challenges and to actualise the goals inherent in its vision, Extraordinary Education – Extraordinary Individuals. It is a tribute to Michael Smith’s deep and abiding humanity that he made it his personal as well as his professional endeavour to support every child, every family, every member of staff, who was willing to embrace the School motto, Strive for Excellence.

Mr Smith demonstrated his leadership in so many ways. Some luminous examples include the development of the Student Wellbeing Program, the nurturing of an international perspective and the recognition of alumni as partners in learning and as valuable contributors to society.

In Mr Smith’s own words as the newly appointed Principal, 'We have, in 2017 and beyond, an opportunity to unite and in so doing achieve extraordinary things together. Hills Grammar has been developed and deliberately created for this purpose – not for its own sake, but to ensure that our students are provided with an environment and atmosphere which is conducive to learning, discovery of their passions and formation of their character. This is our task, our challenge and our opportunity.'

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Karen Yager 2022 - current

Karen Yager commenced as the fifth, and first female, Principal of Hills Grammar in 2022. Karen celebrated her first year, in parallel to the School’s 40th anniversary celebration.

Karen is a progressive leader, bringing significant experience in educational excellence to our School. Throughout her career, she has won numerous academic and educational awards, including the NSW Professional Teachers Council Award for Outstanding Service to Education before she was appointed as the President of the Professional Teachers’ Council. Karen is also proudly a member of the English Teacher’s Association where she served as President of the Far North Coast Branch before being elected to Council in 2004 and finally to the Executive as a Director in 2006.

Karen has already invoked an impressive collection of opportunities for our students and staff including the Hills Education Passport for the Future, which recognises micro-credentials of students; joined the One Planet OPEN Schools Network; launched The Learning Centre, which focuses on professional learning and development; and collaborated with the University of Technology Sydney to deliver accredited university courses to students in Years 9 and 10.

Karen’s depth of knowledge and experience in all aspects of educational leadership. Karen is a creative visionary with a proven record of delivering key complex innovative initiatives, empowering staff, and working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders. She has led staff and student wellbeing programs and is trained in positive psychology. Her focus on the value of each student being unique, supporting students to develop greater agency and voice, and seeking to nurture and grow their potential to achieve greatness, is very closely aligned to the values of our School.

Having completed a Master of Educational Studies, Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies, and Diploma of Teaching, Karen is currently engaged in a PhD investigating how professional learning can improve academic excellence. She is a published writer of numerous award-winning texts and papers, however, in her spare time, Karen enjoys indulging in her favourite sport of sea kayaking and whitewater rafting.

1983 – 1984 Robert Yandell

1985 - Gordon Jones

1986 - 1988 Carolyn Smale

1988 – 1989 Bill Peel

1990 – 1991 Alan Jones

1991 – 1992 Phil Banister

1993 – 1996 Lance Dowle

1996 – 1997 Michael Green

Presidents: Family and Friends Association (FAFA)

1993 – 1994 Jan Frain’

1994 – 1995 Lea Goodrem

1995 – 1996 Georgia Hughes

1996 – 1997 Eileen Stratford

 (Name change to PAFA)

Presidents: Parents & Friends Association Inc. (PAFA)

1997 - 1998 Peter Bray (Previously known as Parents Association)

1998 - 2000 Eileen Stratford

2001 - 2002 John Dakin

2003 - 2008 Mr Ken Chester

2008 - 2009 Paula Leverett

2009 - 2011 George Kazzi

2012 – 2014 Mark Rice

2014 - 2015 Kathryn Perriman

2015 – 2016 Dana Coleman

2016 - Current Russell Burns

(Note: In 1996 and 1997 there were three Associations – Parents Association, FAFA, and EXPO)

EXPO (Ex-Parents Organisation)

1996 President – Margaret Hatton (EXPO ceased in 1997)