History
Our Legacy
The Caulfield Grammarians’ Association (CGA) has been serving our community since 1885, when past students of Caulfield Grammar School formed an association under the presidency of TJ Smith.
Excluding the latter part of the 19th Century and a brief hiatus during the Second World War, when operations virtually ceased, the CGA has been in almost continuous operation ever since.
In 1931 when Headmaster Mr Buntine decided to relinquish his private ownership of the School, it was the CGA who was instrumental in forming the School Company that took over control of the School. The CGA continued to be very active during the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s – providing support for affiliated sporting clubs and organizing regular functions at which past students could meet.
In the early 1970s, the increasing membership of the Association and its growing number of activities justified the appointment of the first Executive Officer ‘Gerry’ Gerrand, who fulfilled the role with distinction until 1985. In 1990 under the leadership of Daryl Moran a comprehensive reunions program and the first of the CGA Chapters, the Buntine, Archer and Marsden Chapters, were established.
In 1994, the CGA took over the responsibility of funding the Executive Director’s position and Shane Dawes became the first full-time Executive Director. Since the 1990s the CGA has continued to develop its event and reunion program, affiliate clubs, and career and networking opportunities to support active connections amongst its alumni.
Timeline
2023
Simon Gray Becomes President of School Council
Mr Simon Gray becomes President of School Council following the resignation of Mr Jim Hayman.
2018
Ashleigh Martin Becomes Principal
Following Andrew Syme’s decision to retire from the position of principal, Ashleigh Randall Martin, who had been appointed Vice-Principal in 2016, is appointed as the tenth head of the School.
2017
Linda Sprott Becomes CGA ED
Linda Sprott is appointed CGA Executive Director.
2016
Jim Hayman Becomes President Of School Council
Mr Jim Hayman becomes President of School Council following the resignation of Mr John Evans.
2011
Andrew Syme Becomes Principal
Following Stephen Newton’s decision to retire from the position of principal, Reverend Andrew Syme is appointed as the ninth head of School.
2005
Peter Garamszegi Becomes CGA ED
Peter Garamszegi becomes CGA Executive Director following Geoff Reilley’s decision to retire from the position.
2005
Twin Halls Completed
The Twin Halls project is completed by the School. Following the fire that destroyed the Memorial Hall at Caulfield Campus on Melbourne Cup Day 2000, an appeal was launched that resulted in the construction of new halls at both the Caulfield and Wheelers Hill campuses.
2002
John Evans Becomes President Of The School Council
Mr John R Evans becomes President of School Council following the retirement of Mr Lindsay Cuming AM.
1998
Geoff Reilley Becomes CGA ED
Geoff Reilley is appointed CGA Executive Director following the resignation of Shane Dawes during 1997.
1998
Nanjing Campus Opens
Caulfield Grammar opens a campus in Nanjing, China. This was the first international campus established by an Australian school. Year 9 students have the opportunity to spend five weeks at the campus during the year.
1995
Co-Education School-Wide
The School becomes fully co-educational with girls enrolled in all levels at each campus.
1994
Shane Dawes Becomes CGA ED
Following the resignation of Daryl Moran in 1993, the CGA appoints a full-time Executive Director for the first time. Shane Dawes, a past student and former CGA president, is appointed to the role.
1993
Stephen Newton Becomes Principal
Stephen Hibbert Newton commences as Principal following the retirement of Angas Holmes; following the decision to introduce co-education across the whole school, girls are enrolled at both the Caulfield and Malvern campuses.
1990
Daryl Moran Becomes CGA ED
Daryl Moran, a past student of the School and a foundation staff member at the Wheelers Hill Campus, is appointed the School’s Director of Development, a position that encompasses the role of Executive Director of the CGA; Bill Sayers retires during the year.
1986
1st Wheelers Hill Graduates
The first group of Year 12 students graduate from the Wheelers Hill Campus.
1985
Bill Sayers Becomes CGA ED
Following his retirement from the position of Head of Malvern Campus, past student W A P “Bill” Sayers becomes Head of Community Affairs within the School and Executive Director of the CGA.
1981
Wheelers Hill Opens
Caulfield Grammar celebrates its centenary; the new Wheelers Hill Campus (which operates primary and secondary classes for both girls and boys) commences operations at the start of the school year and is officially open on 25th April; the campuses at Caulfield and Malvern remain boys only campuses.
1980
Primary Campus Established
Malvern Grammar (now known as Malvern Campus) reverts to a primary campus only (Kindergarten to Year 6) while the former Years 7 & 8 classes at Malvern are transferred to the main school.
1979
Shaw House Sold
Shaw House is sold and classes cease there as the end of year; henceforth all primary classes feeding what become Caulfield Campus are consolidated at Malvern.
1978
Wheelers Hill Land Purchased
It is decided to establish a co-educational campus of the School at Wheelers Hill on land purchased in the 1960s.
1978
Lindsay Cuming AM Becomes President Of School Council
1977
Angas Holmes Becomes Headmaster
Rev. Angas Spooner Holmes commences as Headmaster (title later changed to Principal) following the retirement of Lumsden.
1972
1st CGA Executive Officer
The CGA Committee decides that the increasing membership of the Association and its growing number of activities justifies the appointment of an executive officer to assist with the administration of its activities; C E M “Gerry” Gerrand is appointed to this role.
1965
Bruce Lumsden Becomes Headmaster
Bruce Clyde Lumsden, a past student and past staff member of the School, commences as Headmaster replacing Stan Kurrle, who had accepted an offer to become head of The King’s School, Parramatta, NSW.
1961
Malvern Grammar Affiliated
Malvern Memorial Grammar School is affiliated with Caulfield Grammar School; Malvern becomes a feeder school to Caulfield, operating classes from Kindergarten to Year 8; all past students of Malvern have the right to become members of the CGA.
1958
CGS Becomes Member Of APS
Caulfield Grammar School becomes a member of the Associated Public Schools of Victoria (APS) when the number of schools in this (mainly sporting) association is increased from six to eleven; Caulfield had been a founding member of the Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria (AGSV) in 1920.
1955
Stan Kurrle Becomes Headmaster
Stanley Wynton Kurrle, a past student of the School, commences as Headmaster following the retirement of Archer.
1949
Primary Campus Opens
A primary division of the School, known as Shaw House, is opened in Mayfield Street, St Kilda East (close to the main school) in the former home of the Shaw family; previously primary classes had been conducted at the main school.
1947
Yarra Junction Opens
Following the donation of land by the Cuming family, a country centre is opened at Yarra Junction; this is the first country centre opened by a school in Australia.
1931
Walter Buntine Retires
The School celebrates its 50th anniversary; through the efforts of members of the CGA and other friends of the School a company (limited by guarantee) is established to take over control of the School from Buntine, who decides to retire; Archer continues as Headmaster.
1923
Francis Archer Becomes Headmaster
Buntine appoints Francis Henry Joseph Archer as Headmaster to look after the academic side of the School, while Buntine retains financial control as Principal.
1920
CGFC Is Formed
The Caulfield Grammarians’ Football Club, the oldest of the CGA’s affiliate bodies is formed.
1909
Current Site Purchased
Buntine purchases the current site of the Caulfield Campus in Glen Eira Road, St Kilda East, and moves the School there; a classroom block is built in readiness for the 1909 school year, and a boarding house and residence are completed in 1912; the new site is adjacent to old “Halstead” site (subsequently subdivided for residential housing) and had previously been used by the School as playing fields.
1909
First School Magazine Published
The first edition of the School Magazine — The Caulfield Grammarian — is published and includes a report from the past students’ association; it is unclear whether the Caulfield Grammarians’ Association was in operation continuously from 1885 to 1906 but it almost certainly became a permanent body from 1906, the 25th anniversary of the School, as a number of celebratory functions for past students were held during that year.
1904
Old Boys Win Premiership
A Caulfield Collegians’ football team, comprised of old boys of the School, competes in a competition run by the Colleges’ Football Association and wins the premiership; football matches between teams of past and present students had been played regularly long before this and races for past students were often included in the School’s annual athletics sports.
1896
Walter Buntine Takes Over
Barnett relinquishes the School and eventually moves to Hong Kong where he becomes Warden of St Stephen’s College for boys and assists with the establishment of other educational institutions on the island; he is Archdeacon of Hong Kong from 1910 to 1925; Walter Murray Buntine, a former staff member during Davies’ time as principal, takes over the School, merging it with his own Hawksburn Grammar School (founded 1893); the Halstead site is retaine
1888
Ernest Barnett Takes Over
Davies decides to sell the school and later becomes Australia’s first Christian missionary to Korea; the new owner and principal is Ernest Judd Barnett; as Davies has sold the land he owned in Regent Street, Barnett moves the school to “Halstead”, the former home of the Crosby family in St Kilda East.
1885
CGA is formed
A past students’ association (the Caulfield Grammarians’ Association) is formed under the presidency of TJ Smith (a staff member); the association planned four meetings during the year.
1882
New Site
Davies moves his school to a new five-acre site in Regent Street, Elsternwick
1881
School is Founded
Caulfield Grammar School is founded on the 25th April by Joseph Henry Davies in a converted “lollie” shop near Elsternwick Station; there were nine pupils.
Timeline
2023
Simon Gray Becomes President of School Council
Mr Simon Gray becomes President of School Council following the resignation of Mr Jim Hayman.
2018
Ashleigh Martin Becomes Principal
Following Andrew Syme’s decision to retire from the position of principal, Ashleigh Randall Martin, who had been appointed Vice-Principal in 2016, is appointed as the tenth head of the School.
2017
Linda Sprott Becomes CGA ED
Linda Sprott is appointed CGA Executive Director.
2016
Jim Hayman Becomes President Of School Council
Mr Jim Hayman becomes President of School Council following the resignation of Mr John Evans.
2011
Andrew Syme Becomes Principal
Following Stephen Newton’s decision to retire from the position of principal, Reverend Andrew Syme is appointed as the ninth head of School.
2005
Peter Garamszegi Becomes CGA ED
Peter Garamszegi becomes CGA Executive Director following Geoff Reilley’s decision to retire from the position.
2005
Twin Halls Completed
The Twin Halls project is completed by the School. Following the fire that destroyed the Memorial Hall at Caulfield Campus on Melbourne Cup Day 2000, an appeal was launched that resulted in the construction of new halls at both the Caulfield and Wheelers Hill campuses.
2002
John Evans Becomes President Of The School Council
Mr John R Evans becomes President of School Council following the retirement of Mr Lindsay Cuming AM.
1998
Geoff Reilley Becomes CGA ED
Geoff Reilley is appointed CGA Executive Director following the resignation of Shane Dawes during 1997.
1998
Nanjing Campus Opens
Caulfield Grammar opens a campus in Nanjing, China. This was the first international campus established by an Australian school. Year 9 students have the opportunity to spend five weeks at the campus during the year.
1995
Co-Education School-Wide
The School becomes fully co-educational with girls enrolled in all levels at each campus.
1994
Shane Dawes Becomes CGA ED
Following the resignation of Daryl Moran in 1993, the CGA appoints a full-time Executive Director for the first time. Shane Dawes, a past student and former CGA president, is appointed to the role.
1993
Stephen Newton Becomes Principal
Stephen Hibbert Newton commences as Principal following the retirement of Angas Holmes; following the decision to introduce co-education across the whole school, girls are enrolled at both the Caulfield and Malvern campuses.
1990
Daryl Moran Becomes CGA ED
Daryl Moran, a past student of the School and a foundation staff member at the Wheelers Hill Campus, is appointed the School’s Director of Development, a position that encompasses the role of Executive Director of the CGA; Bill Sayers retires during the year.
1986
1st Wheelers Hill Graduates
The first group of Year 12 students graduate from the Wheelers Hill Campus.
1985
Bill Sayers Becomes CGA ED
Following his retirement from the position of Head of Malvern Campus, past student W A P “Bill” Sayers becomes Head of Community Affairs within the School and Executive Director of the CGA.
1981
Wheelers Hill Opens
Caulfield Grammar celebrates its centenary; the new Wheelers Hill Campus (which operates primary and secondary classes for both girls and boys) commences operations at the start of the school year and is officially open on 25th April; the campuses at Caulfield and Malvern remain boys only campuses.
1980
Primary Campus Established
Malvern Grammar (now known as Malvern Campus) reverts to a primary campus only (Kindergarten to Year 6) while the former Years 7 & 8 classes at Malvern are transferred to the main school.
1979
Shaw House Sold
Shaw House is sold and classes cease there as the end of year; henceforth all primary classes feeding what become Caulfield Campus are consolidated at Malvern.
1978
Wheelers Hill Land Purchased
It is decided to establish a co-educational campus of the School at Wheelers Hill on land purchased in the 1960s.
1978
Lindsay Cuming AM Becomes President Of School Council
1977
Angas Holmes Becomes Headmaster
Rev. Angas Spooner Holmes commences as Headmaster (title later changed to Principal) following the retirement of Lumsden.
1972
1st CGA Executive Officer
The CGA Committee decides that the increasing membership of the Association and its growing number of activities justifies the appointment of an executive officer to assist with the administration of its activities; C E M “Gerry” Gerrand is appointed to this role.
1965
Bruce Lumsden Becomes Headmaster
Bruce Clyde Lumsden, a past student and past staff member of the School, commences as Headmaster replacing Stan Kurrle, who had accepted an offer to become head of The King’s School, Parramatta, NSW.
1961
Malvern Grammar Affiliated
Malvern Memorial Grammar School is affiliated with Caulfield Grammar School; Malvern becomes a feeder school to Caulfield, operating classes from Kindergarten to Year 8; all past students of Malvern have the right to become members of the CGA.
1958
CGS Becomes Member Of APS
Caulfield Grammar School becomes a member of the Associated Public Schools of Victoria (APS) when the number of schools in this (mainly sporting) association is increased from six to eleven; Caulfield had been a founding member of the Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria (AGSV) in 1920.
1955
Stan Kurrle Becomes Headmaster
Stanley Wynton Kurrle, a past student of the School, commences as Headmaster following the retirement of Archer.
1949
Primary Campus Opens
A primary division of the School, known as Shaw House, is opened in Mayfield Street, St Kilda East (close to the main school) in the former home of the Shaw family; previously primary classes had been conducted at the main school.
1947
Yarra Junction Opens
Following the donation of land by the Cuming family, a country centre is opened at Yarra Junction; this is the first country centre opened by a school in Australia.
1931
Walter Buntine Retires
The School celebrates its 50th anniversary; through the efforts of members of the CGA and other friends of the School a company (limited by guarantee) is established to take over control of the School from Buntine, who decides to retire; Archer continues as Headmaster.
1923
Francis Archer Becomes Headmaster
Buntine appoints Francis Henry Joseph Archer as Headmaster to look after the academic side of the School, while Buntine retains financial control as Principal.
1920
CGFC Is Formed
The Caulfield Grammarians’ Football Club, the oldest of the CGA’s affiliate bodies is formed.
1909
Current Site Purchased
Buntine purchases the current site of the Caulfield Campus in Glen Eira Road, St Kilda East, and moves the School there; a classroom block is built in readiness for the 1909 school year, and a boarding house and residence are completed in 1912; the new site is adjacent to old “Halstead” site (subsequently subdivided for residential housing) and had previously been used by the School as playing fields.
1909
First School Magazine Published
The first edition of the School Magazine — The Caulfield Grammarian — is published and includes a report from the past students’ association; it is unclear whether the Caulfield Grammarians’ Association was in operation continuously from 1885 to 1906 but it almost certainly became a permanent body from 1906, the 25th anniversary of the School, as a number of celebratory functions for past students were held during that year.
1904
Old Boys Win Premiership
A Caulfield Collegians’ football team, comprised of old boys of the School, competes in a competition run by the Colleges’ Football Association and wins the premiership; football matches between teams of past and present students had been played regularly long before this and races for past students were often included in the School’s annual athletics sports.
1896
Walter Buntine Takes Over
Barnett relinquishes the School and eventually moves to Hong Kong where he becomes Warden of St Stephen’s College for boys and assists with the establishment of other educational institutions on the island; he is Archdeacon of Hong Kong from 1910 to 1925; Walter Murray Buntine, a former staff member during Davies’ time as principal, takes over the School, merging it with his own Hawksburn Grammar School (founded 1893); the Halstead site is retaine
1888
Ernest Barnett Takes Over
Davies decides to sell the school and later becomes Australia’s first Christian missionary to Korea; the new owner and principal is Ernest Judd Barnett; as Davies has sold the land he owned in Regent Street, Barnett moves the school to “Halstead”, the former home of the Crosby family in St Kilda East.
1885
CGA is formed
A past students’ association (the Caulfield Grammarians’ Association) is formed under the presidency of TJ Smith (a staff member); the association planned four meetings during the year.
1882
New Site
Davies moves his school to a new five-acre site in Regent Street, Elsternwick
1881
School is Founded
Caulfield Grammar School is founded on the 25th April by Joseph Henry Davies in a converted “lollie” shop near Elsternwick Station; there were nine pupils.
CGA Wheelers Hill Wall Launch 2022
CGA is proud to announce the launch of our first interactive wall at the Wheelers Hill Campus. This innovative Grammarian wall brings our alumni stories to life in an accessible and engaging manner, showcasing the remarkable diversity and excellence of our Wheelers Hill Alumni. This initiative gives us another avenue to celebrate and share the unique journeys and achievements of our community members.
100 Years of Teaching & Learning at Malvern Campus
The Caulfield Grammarians’ Association and Caulfield Grammar School are delighted to commemorate 100 years of teaching and learning in the ‘Valentines’ Mansion at Malvern Campus with a community wall installation. This is a celebration of our alumni and tells their stories to inspire future generations to pursue their dreams.
To celebrate this centenary, we held a joint event, Cocktails and Conversations, with the school whilst also launching the Malvern Grammarian Wall. As part of this installation, we have also designed a booklet aimed at the children attending the campus.
