Scotch Oakburn College is an independent, open-entry, Early Learning to Year 12, coeducational, day and boarding school in Launceston, Tasmania, in association with the Uniting Church in Australia.

Although founded in 1886, the present school was established in 1979 with the amalgamation of the historically boys' Scotch College and girls' Oakburn College (formerly the Methodist Ladies' College, based in East Launceston). The school currently caters for approximately 1,100 students from Early Learning (3 years old) to Year 12 (18 years old), including more than 70 boarders from Years 6 to 12. the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA), the Australian Boarding Schools' Association, and the Sports Association of Tasmanian Independent Schools.

The College is a full member of the Round Square association, an international association spreading across five continents and over 100 schools around the world. Scotch Oakburn College is the first member of Round Square in Tasmania.

History

Formation

Scotch Oakburn College was created in 1979, through the amalgamation of the Scotch College and Oakburn College (formerly the Methodist Ladies' College).

Methodist Ladies' College

thumb|230px|The Methodist Ladies' College, Launceston, [[Wiktionary:circa|c1906–1930]]

The Methodist Ladies' College, Launceston (M.L.C) was established on Elphin Road, just east of the city centre, in 1886. The aim of the college was to allow girls the same access to educational facilities as boys. The largest building on campus had been named "Oakburn" upon its construction 25 years earlier. After its first year, it had 88 students. The first Headmaster was G. Thornton-Lewis.

In 1969, M.L.C was renamed "Oakburn College" as the school council felt that 'Ladies' was outdated. The school became co–educational in 1973.

Principals

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"

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! Years !! Methodist Ladies' College, later Oakburn College

Combined:

  • Athletics (13) – 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2021
  • Swimming – 2021, 2022, 2023

Boys:

  • Athletics (6) – 1991, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
  • Basketball (3) – 2016, 2017, 2020
  • Cricket (10) – 1929, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1968, 1970, 1974, 2013, 2015, 2016
  • Cricket T20 – 2018
  • Football (4) – 1967, 2005, 2018, 2019
  • Hockey (2) – 1997, 1999
  • Rowing (3) – 1996, 1998, 2003
  • Rowing Eight (10) – 1948, 1973, 1974, 1987, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2007, 2013, 2018
  • Swimming - 2023
  • Tennis (16) – 1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1983, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2019

Girls:

  • Athletics (7) – 1984, 1985, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2021
  • Cricket T20 - 2023
  • Football – 2019
  • Hockey (4) – 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997
  • Netball (4) – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
  • Rowing – 2005
  • Rowing Eight (2) – 1997, 2021
  • Softball (6) – 1988, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
  • Swimming (4) – 1985, 1986, 1987, 2021, 2022, 2023
  • Tennis (14) – 1979, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

Notable alumni

Alumni of the Scotch Oakburn College (and its predecessors) are known as Old Collegians, and may elect to join the schools alumni association, the Scotch Oakburn Old Collegians Association (SOOCA). Some notable Old Collegians include:

;Academic

  • Alan Stretton – academic and Rhodes Scholar

;Business

  • Sir Edgar Coles – former Managing Director of Coles Supermarkets

;Entertainment, media and the arts

  • Stuart Coupe – music journalist, author, band manager, promoter, publicist, broadcaster and music label founder.
  • Roger Scholes – film director
  • Robbie Arnott - Author
  • Chloe Wilson - Singer, musician, lead singer of Sumner (duo)

;Government, politics and the law

  • David Bushby – Senator for Tasmania
  • Enid Campbell AO, OBE – legal scholar, first Australian female professor and law school dean
  • Evelyn Temple Emmett OBE – first Director of the Tasmanian Government Tourist Bureau
  • John Watson – former Senator for Tasmania
  • Don Wing – former lawyer, politician and President of the Tasmanian Legislative Council

;Military

  • Alec Campbell – Australia's last ANZAC soldier

;Sport

  • Marcos Ambrose – V8 Supercar champion; NASCAR Driver
  • Brent Crosswell – AFL footballer
  • Michael Grenda – Olympic Cycling Gold Medalist
  • Mia King – AFLW player North Melbourne
  • Benji McDermott - AFL player collingwood
  • Meg Phillips – WNCL and WBBL cricketer

See also

  • List of schools in Tasmania
  • List of boarding schools
  • Education in Tasmania

References