School History
The Knox School, known as Knoxfield College until 1996, was founded in February 1982, to provide a distinctive educational opportunity for those living in Melbourne's Eastern Suburbs. From the very beginning the School has been co-educational and non-denominational. Bialik College, whose main campus is now in Hawthorn, once occupied the site at 220 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South, Victoria.
The Board appointed Mrs Dulcie Flinn, formally of Presbyterian Ladies College as the first Principal. In the early eighties, the school consisted solely of the current Junior School building and some small grassed areas for recreational activities.
From 1982 to 1985, The Knox School grew rapidly. Five portable classrooms were sited where the Junior School play equipment now stands and three further rows of portable classrooms stood in front of what is now the Senior College building.
In 1985, Mr Baxter Holly was appointed to succeed Mrs Flinn as Principal. During his stewardship The Knox School opened the Auditorium, the Performing and Visual Arts facility and the Art Gallery. The main oval was completed in 1986 and in 1989 the change rooms were built. In 1987, the first Year Twelve class was conducted at the School.
The Knox School celebrated its first decade with an anniversary dinner in mid 1991. That same year the plant nursery adjoining the School was purchased. Now the Tew Field, those 1.6 hectares increased our presence on Burwood Highway.
Mr Tony Conabere was appointed Principal in July 1995. In 1996, the refurbishment of the Junior School began. The PrePrep Centre and the Atrium were completed in January 1996. An all-weather synthetic hockey and tennis surface and an adjoining Pavilion with Dining Hall and Canteen were opened in 1996.
In 1998, The Knox School achieved its first Board of Studies "Top Ten" ranking for Victorian Schools and was awarded the National Gold Medal for Assessment Practice. Expansion of the School continued and in 1999 the Games Hall and Gymnasium complex was opened. In 2000 The Knox School was again ranked in Victoria's "Top Ten" schools and in 2001 The Knox School was ranked eleventh, just failing to maintain its Top Ten status.
In 2002, the brilliant Information Common was opened by the Governor of Victoria, John Landy, AC, MBE. This building incorporates state of the art Multimedia facilities which enable students to communicate information using different media sources. Also in 2002, the Early Learning Centre for PrePreps was expanded to include a dedicated three year old room. A Gala Dinner to celebrate The Knox School’s twenty years was conducted at the Crown Palladium.
2003 saw further development of the Junior School with additional classrooms being added the refurbishment of both the Senior College and Middle School buildings.
In 2004 The Knox School welcomed the appointment of Ms Suzanne McChesney as Principal. Ms McChesney joined the School after seven and a half years as the Principal of Seymour College, a leading girls' school in Adelaide and one of its foremost educational institutions.
In 2005 we honoured Mrs Dulcie Flinn, the first Principal of The Knox School by officially naming the Junior School the ‘The D.G.M. Flinn Building’.
In 2006 The Knox School commenced the renovation of the Auditorium. Completed in 2007, the upgraded Auditorium seats 440 people and features a first class audio-visual system and a large multi-purpose area overlooking the quadrangle.
In 2007 The Knox School celebrated 25 years of excellence in education. The occasion was marked with a 25th Gala Ball held at the Crown Palladium with over 700 current and past parents, staff, students attending.
In 2008 The Knox School opened its Hospitality Centre and upgraded Science Laboratories, both located in the Senior College Building.
With continual upgrading of facilities and a broadening of academic offerings, The Knox School looks ahead to a bright and prosperous future.
