Downlands College

Downlands College, officially named Downlands Sacred Heart College, is a private, secondary, coeducational, day and boarding school at Harlaxton in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Founded by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1931,[1] the college began as a boarding school for boys with a total enrolment of 68.

Downlands Sacred Heart College
Ruthven Street entrance, 2014
Location
Toowoomba
,
Queensland

Australia
Coordinates27°32′07″S 151°57′27″E
Information
TypePrivate, secondary, day & boarding
MottoLatin: Fortes in Fide
(Strong in Faith)
DenominationCatholic
Established1931
FounderJules Chevalier (founder of the MSC)
PrincipalStephen Koch
Grades4–12
GenderCoeducational
Enrolment~900
Colour(s)Royal blue and cardinal red   
AffiliationsMissionaries of the Sacred Heart
Websitewww.downlands.qld.edu.au

Downlands is Queensland's only Catholic, coeducational, day and boarding school years 4-12. The school offers boarding for both boys and girls and demand for co-educational boarding is high as it allows families and siblings to remain together. The school has an enrollment of approximately 290 boarders from regional Queensland, interstate and overseas, including indigenous students from communities such as Kowanyama and the Tiwi Islands. The school also provides casual boarding to its day students. Downlands College is one of the biggest boarding schools in Queensland.

College badge

The Downlands College Badge consists of a horizontally-divided field in the College colours, royal blue and cardinal red. The upper of the shield carries a gold gryphon, and the lower half bears the Maltese Cross of the State of Queensland. The shield is surmounted by the heart crest with the letters SHC (Sacred Heart College) supported by a ram's horns and ears of wheat, to symbolise the college's setting in the Darling Downs. The college motto, Fortes in Fide, meaning Strong in Faith[1] is emblazoned under the crest.

House system

Downlands, like many Australian schools, uses a house system in the college. Students are randomly assigned to one of four houses which compete against each other during swimming and athletics carnivals, as well as a drama festival.

The Downlands houses are:

NameDay/boardingColour
VandelDay/Boarding 
PiperonDay/Boarding 
TreandDay/Boarding 
JouetDay/Boarding 

Extra-curricular activities

Downlands College is known as the School of Choice,[2] offering an extensive and varied curriculum and co-curricular offering.

Sport

Downlands has long been recognised as one of the strongest sporting schools in Queensland. Rugby union, football (soccer), netball, cricket, tennis, touch football, softball, Australian rules football, hockey, basketball, athletics and swimming are the main sports played at the college, with a large number of students taking part in organised sport throughout the year. Downlands is a member of the Catholic Secondary Schoolgirls' Sports Association. The college's mascot is the Gryphon, who makes appearances at certain inter-school competitions.

Arts

One of the newest facilities at Downlands is its large Performing Arts department, catering for all age groups. The College choirs and musical ensembles, as well as individual students, are regular participants in the Toowoomba Eisteddfod. Downlands runs a musical every two years with participation across all grades. Recent musicals include Wicked (2020), Crazy For You (2018), Les Miserables (2016), High School Musical 2, Footloose (2008), The Wiz (2007), Disco Inferno (2006) and SherWoodstock (2005).[3] With the upcoming musical being another addition to Downlands already extensive Performing Arts retinue. The college also enters teams into the Queensland Debating Union, with much success.

Heritage listing
Tyson Manor, 2014

The grounds of the school contain the heritage-listed Tyson Manor.

Principals
Years Principal
1931–1935 R Hyland MSC
1935–1938 H Asprey MSC
1938–1945 J Doyle MSC
1945–1949 R Campbell MSC
1949–1956 V Dwyer MSC
1956–1962 T Kelly MSC
1962–1969 J Mooney MSC
1969–1974 Harold Baker MSC
1975–1981 Val Patterson MSC
1981–1986 James Littleton MSC
1987–1990 Roy O'Neill MSC
1991–1999 D McIntyre
2000–2005 Denis Uhr MSC
2006–2010 John Mulrooney MSC
2011-2018 Stephen McIllhatton
2019–present Stephen Koch

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Downlands College Toowoomba – Welcome". Archived from the original on 11 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  2. "Independent Coeducational School Toowoomba | Downlands College". www.downlands.qld.edu.au. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  3. "Arts Choice". www.downlands.qld.edu.au. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  4. "Who's Who in the Legal Zoo: Sir Gerard Brennan AC, KBE – Former Chief Justice of the High Court". Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  5. Angus Innes, "Sir Walter Campbell Pt. 2", Shoulder to Shoulder: The Journal of the Society of St. Andrew of Scotland (QLD), (Brisbane: Society of St. Andrew of Scotland, June 2000).
  6. "News of Past Students". Downlands Past Students Union. Archived from the original on 22 August 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  7. "Students hand loss to Old Boys". Toowoomba Chronicle. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
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