Wavell State High School

Wavell State High School
Location
Wavell Heights
,
Queensland

Australia

27°23′55.5″S 153°02′15.4″E / 27.398750°S 153.037611°E / -27.398750; 153.037611
Information
TypePublic, secondary
MottoEsse Quam Videri (To be rather than to seem to be)
Established1959
Principal
Luke Ferdinands
Grades7–12
Enrolment1674 (2019)
ColoursMaroon  , navy blue   and royal blue  
Websitewavellshs.eq.edu.au

Wavell State High School is a coeducational public secondary school based in Wavell Heights, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The school has a total enrolment of more than 1500 students from years 7–12, with an official count of 1674 students in 2019. Since 2025, the role of Acting Executive Principal of the School has been held by Luke Ferdinands.

Some of the school's buildings are listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.

History

Wavell State High School opened on 27 January 1959 under the leadership of the founding Principal, C.E. Anstey. As the suburb of the school, Wavell Heights, which was named in 1942, Wavell State High School was named after Field Marshal Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell (5 May 1883 – 24 May 1950), a Commander-in-Chief of British and Dominion Forces in the Middle East from July 1939 to July 1941. Many Australians served under his command during the early period of World War II; mostly in North Africa, Greece, Crete and Syria.

In 2018, many of the school's original buildings were added to the Queensland Heritage Register in recognition of their historical and cultural significance.

In early 2021, Jeff Major, the school's eighth principal and its longest-serving principal, announced that he would take extended leave as part of his transition towards retirement. He was succeeded in an acting capacity by Elizabeth Foster of MacGregor State High School.

Sporting houses

Wavell State High School's four sporting houses, Alamein, Burma, Keren and Tobruk, are named in reference to places and battles associated with Earl Wavell:

Notable alumni

The school is known for producing many rugby league footballers that have played in the NRL.

Rugby league

Other sports

Other

Notable staff

References

  1. ↑ "Wavell State High School – Prospectus 2019" (PDF). Wavell State High School. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 March 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  2. ↑ "Wavell State High School Annual Report 2019" (PDF). Department of Education and Training (Queensland). Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  3. ↑ "Wavell State High School (entry 650067)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Wavell State High School – History". Wavell State High School. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  5. ↑ "Wavell State High listed in heritage register". The Courier Mail. 13 August 2018. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  6. ↑ "Newsletter 2021-04-23" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "Hockeyroos captain Madonna Blyth was set to succeed, says those who watched her grow from schoolgirl to superstar". The Courier Mail. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  8. ↑ "Joyce Lester". Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "Sandra Yost". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  10. ↑ "Senator Anthony Chisholm > About Anthony". www.anthonychisholm.org.au. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  11. ↑ "Sir Ross Cranston". Archived from the original on 16 May 2023.