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History of Calrossy

Calrossy Anglican School has had a strong and respected history providing the highest levels of education to the Tamworth region for over 100 years.

We have created a timeline of a number of our historic events from the beginning in 1915 all the way through to today. Of course not every event is covered below, we have however created a beautiful 100 Year Centennary book avaliable to purchase from the Alumni Co-ordinator for more indepth details.

The Anglican Church and Calrossy

An excerpt from "I Will Build My Church - A History of the Anglican Diocese of Armidale".

The Early History

"Important undertakings often begin in small ways. This was very true of Calrossy. The first mention of a Church of England Girls’ School in Tamworth was raised in a St John’s, Tamworth Parish Council meeting in 1909. The plan was initially for a day school in the Parish Hall. It did begin in July 1909 but closed the following March. There were no more developments until 1918 when the Parish Council, under the leadership of the Vicar, Canon Fairbrother, decided to set up a girls’ school ‘to provide a sound education and religious instruction in conformity with the principles of the Church of England’. A building adjacent to StJohn’s Church was bought for £1,300.The school opened in February 1919 with the first Headmistress, Miss M Stockdale, as the only teacher. There were 12 day students and five boarders with an age range of 5-15 years and three departments (infants, primary and secondary). The newly purchased building was for accommodation, and classes were held in the Parish Hall... The residence of John Patterson, a prominent Tamworth solicitor, was for sale. Calrossy, named after the family home in Scotland, was a beautiful two-storey property – ‘a landmark in the town with magnificent views from the second storey balconies’ (pictured). Calrossy was bought for £3,400. Now the girls could sleep and have lessons under the same roof, although in the early days some girls had to sleep out on the balconies. The new building improved the public image of the school. By the end of 1924 enrolments had increased to 64. Canon Fairbrother acquired a six-room cottage adjacent to the school for use as dormitory accommodation. Initially he leased it to the school and eventually it became Fairbrother."

(Calrossy p. 174 - 176).

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