The Southport School

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.

For the UK school with a similar name, see Southport College.

The Southport School
Location
The Southport School Location in Queensland
2 Winchester Street, Southport, Queensland Australia
Coordinates	27°59′8″S 153°24′52″E
Information
Type	Independent early learning, primary and secondary day and boarding school
Motto	Latin: Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat (Let him who deserves the palm of victory bear it.)
Denomination	Anglican
Established	1901 (1901)
Founder	Horace Henry Dixon
Chairman	Fraser Perrin
Headmaster	Greg Wain
Years	Early learning-Year 12
Gender	Boys only
Enrolment	c. 1,551[1]
Colour(s)	Navy, white & maroon
Tuition	Varies by grade[2]
Affiliation	Australian Boarding Schools Association Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia Independent Primary School Heads of Australia Independent Schools Queensland Great Public Schools Association of Queensland Round Square schools
Website	www.tss.qld.edu.au

Established in 1901 by 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]

History

The Southport School 1934

The Southport School was established in 1901 by The 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 oldest school boat club in Queensland, having founded its boatshed in 1907.[10]

Headmasters

Horace H. Dixon and son

Period	Details	Notes
1901–1929	Rt. Horace Henry Dixon OBE
1930–1935	Bertram George Lawrance
1936–1940	Verney Lovett Johnstone
1941–1950	John Norman Radcliffe
1950–1971	Cecil Garton Pearce OBE
1972–1987	John Henry Day AM
1988–2003	Bruce Alexander Cook OAM
2004–2020	Greg Wain

House system

As with most Australian schools, 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 – Dellpratt, MicKinley and Thorold – were founded in 1909, 1909 and 1908, respectively. The inaugural house shield competition was held in 1910, won by MicKinley. The additional day houses were added in the 1970s and 1980s, and the fourth boarding house, Biddle, added in 1988. The most successful house in the House Shield competition has been Thorold House, achieving its 40th House Shield victory in 2014; MicKinley had won 31 house shields and Dellpratt 21 as of 2014.

Sport

School cricket team ca. 1912

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] The school has achieved many sporting premierships during its membership.

GPS Premierships (official GPS records):

• Rowing (21) 1918, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1953, 1954, 1958, 1959, 1970, 1978, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 2000, 2006, 2018
• Cricket (20) 1920, 1923, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1980, 1981, 1982, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
• Rugby (11) 1922, 1926, 1933, 1938, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2019
• Tennis (9) 1921, 1924, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1956, 2000, 2001, 2018
• Gymnastics (7) 1935, 1936, 1962, 1963, 2008, 2009, 2010
• Swimming (8) 1922, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016
• Athletics (5) 1918, 1919, 1922, 1929, 1933
• Sailing (7) 2002, 2003, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• Soccer (3) 2012, 2013, 2014
• Basketball (2) 2009, 2012
• Cross Country (1) 1990
• Shooting (4) 1956, 1963, 1967, 1971 (suspended 1974)

Associated Schools Championships:

• Basketball 1980–81 (1979–1986)
• Soccer 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1990 (1978–1991)

Notable alumni

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.[12] The OSA celebrated its 100 years as a recognised body in 2007.

Student exchange program

Main entrance, 2015

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.

Pacific Cable Station

The Pacific Cable Station was relocated to the school in 1982. Largely untouched from its original form, the station is now a heritage listed building and serves as the school's music department.

See also

• List of boarding schools in Australia
• List of schools in Queensland
• List of Anglican schools in Australia

References

1. 2016 TSS Handbook
2. "The Southport School Domestic Fee Schedule 2019" (PDF). Retrieved 13 March 2019.
3. "TSS Prospectus" (PDF). Enrolment Information. The Southport School. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2007.
4. "The Southport School". Schools. Australian Boarding Schools' Association. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2007.
5. "AHISA Schools". Queensland. Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia. November 2007. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2007.
6. "JSHAA Queensland Directory of Members". Queensland Branch. Junior School Heads' Association of Australia. 2007. Archived from the original on 12 April 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2007.
7. "Brisbane Grammar School". School Search. Independent Schools Queensland. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2007.
8. "GPS Schools". Sport and Music. Brisbane State High School. Archived from the original on 31 August 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2007.
9. "About Spendelove Bistro & Bar: Southport Restaurant". Spendelove. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
10. "Our History and Tradition". About TSS. The Southport School. Archived from the original on 31 December 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2007.
11. The Southport School Admissions Book Archived 10 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine (accessed:2007-05-18)
12. "Old Southportonians' Association". Potentiality Online Communities. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.

External links

• The Southport School website