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It is believed the roses were planted not long after the 1937 building was complete. According to early photographs in our Archives, there have been roses blooming here even during times of war, as seen in this image of Miss Jackson’s Form IIA in 1942. The sandbags to protect the school are in position behind.

The flowerbeds in this area include a range of plantings with a key feature being red, ‘Kardinal’, and white, ‘Iceberg’, varieties of roses to represent the colours of our school. When in bloom they have provided a vibrant welcome for visitors entering from Dequetteville Tce.

In the last 30 or so years, countless parents have waived their sons off on their first day of school, from this point. We have farewelled boys off to camp at Scott’s Creek from here and we have been waiting at this spot when they returned. We have seen a possum living on the lattice fence and we have watched ‘The Galatea’ playground take shape. And we have enjoyed the roses.

As we prepare this space for our magnificent new Preparatory buildings, these original roses have been retained and have been carefully transplanted into the garden at St. Jacques, the Headmaster’s former residence on Flinders Street. The Ãâ·ÑAƬ holds many community events in the gardens of St Jacques during the warmer months, allowing for many to continue to enjoy the roses in future years.