Established in 1920, the school has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for 900 students from Kindergarten to Year 12.
Lowther Hall is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),[3] the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA),[4] the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia (AGSA),[5] the Association of Independent Schools of Victoria (AISV),[1] and is a founding member of Girls Sport Victoria (GSV).[6]
History
Lowther Hall comprises numerous buildings, varying in age. At the centre of the school is "Earlsbrae Hall", commonly referred to by students, parents and staff as "The Mansion".[7] It was built over two years by W.K. Noble, to a design by renowned architect, R. A. Lawson, for the brewer, Coiler McCracken.[8] Finished in 1890, the exterior of the mansion looks like a Graeco-Roman temple with Corinthian columns. Inside the mansion there is an extensive use of carved woodwork and stained glass windows.[citation needed]
In 1911, Earlsbrae Hall was bought by E.W. Cole, owner of Cole's Book Arcade.[8]
The school started in 1920. It resulted from the amalgamation of Blinkbonnie's Ladies' College and Winstow Girls' School. The name Lowther Hall comes from the Bishop of Melbourne, Lowther Clarke.[9] In 1928 Elizabeth Kilgour Kirkhope was appointed as head and she guided the school through the depression. She left and joined Lauriston Girls' School in 1933 and in 1935 she bought that school.[10]
Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar is located on Leslie Road in Essendon, which is situated close to amenities such as Essendon Station. There is also a hall, named the Joan M Garde Cultural Centre, which houses dance and drama classrooms, private music rooms, a lecture theatre, changerooms, a stage, and sports offices. The Noelene Horton Centre focuses on the sciences over three levels, one of which is a rooftop learning area and the basement houses dance and music. Blinkbonnie House was opened in February 2018 and provides new amenities for students who are in Kindergarten, Prep and Year 1. The basement houses performing arts, media and the Mary Thurman Recital Space.
Each year, the houses compete in events such as athletics, swimming and Performing Arts, and each year, the House Cup is awarded to the House with the highest total of points from the year's events.
Co-curriculum
Sport
Lowther Hall is a member of Girls Sport Victoria (GSV). Twenty-four girl's schools participate in GSV alongside Lowther. Lowther has gained a reputation in the hip-hop dance sport area, with teams in state and national finals. The School has also had successful rowing seasons. Lowther Hall has won many titles in sport. Most being in soccer, hip hop, netball, basketball, swimming and athletics.[citation needed]
GSV premierships
Lowther Hall has won the following GSV premiership.[11]
Girls take an active role in Classroom Music, Co-curricular Music, Private Music, and the Instrumental and Choral Program. Students perform regularly at many events such as the Carol Service at St Paul's Cathedral, Eisteddfods, Mt Gambier Generations in Jazz Festival, the annual 'Evening of Song' concert, Winter String Festival, Paris Cat Jazz Gigs, Assemblies, Chapel, Concerts and many public performances.
The curriculum for Classroom Music is based on Kodaly's philosophies. Students participate in practical and classroom music activities and use musical instruments and voice to compose, improvise and acquire aural skills. Classroom Music is taught throughout the school from Kindergarten to Year 12 VCE Music, with an additional compulsory Instrumental Program from Years 3 to 8.
Lowther Hall was chosen to provide the Southern Hemisphere's first female cathedral choir at St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne after an 18-month selection process. 18 girls from across Years 4 to 10 comprise the choir. The girls alternate with the traditional choir of boys and men, which has been leading choral services at St Paul's since 1888.
Charity
The school currently supports various charities, as well as a school in Bangladesh. Term Three is designated as a fundraising term where various activities are organised in order to raise money for charities.
^"Victoria". School Directory. Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia. 2008. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
^Butler, Jan (2006). "Member Schools". Members. The Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
^Mawkes, Leonie (2005). "Member Schools". Profile. Girls Sport Victoria. Archived from the original on 7 October 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
^Rasmussen, Carolyn, "Elizabeth Kilgour Kirkhope (1896–1978)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 9 December 2023
