Ascham School

Ascham is one of the oldest girls' schools in Australia. It was founded by Miss Marie Wallis in 1886 with nine pupils in a Darling Point terrace. Miss Wallis named the school after Roger Ascham, tutor to England's Queen Elizabeth I. The vision and vigour of Miss Wallis, followed by Mr Herbert Carter, (Principal from 1902 to 1914) who bought the large house Glenrock and its 2.6 hectares of grounds, secured the future of the school, when so many other small, privately-owned schools of the time did not survive. The Moreton Bay fig tree growing near Glenrock House in the centre of the school grounds is thought to be more than 150 years old. The tree marks the school's continuity and growth, and Ascham is forever appreciative of the contributions of all past heads of the school who worked toward the school's development.