Launceston College is a government comprehensive senior secondary school located in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. Established in 1913 as the Launceston State High School and subsequently known as Launceston College, the college caters for approximately 1,200 students in Years 11 and 12, and an optional Year 13. The college is administered by the Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People.
In 2019 student enrolments were 1,430. The college principal is Vicki Mackrill. The college has an International Student Program.
Facilities The college is located on a site that was the location of the former Launceston Female Factory and Gaol, built in 1834, and is listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register.
Originally named Launceston State High School, the college became Launceston Matriculation College in 1967, and subsequently Launceston Community College to reflect its broader academic curriculum and vocational influence, and then Launceston College.
The campus stretches over two city blocks and incorporates a gymnasium complex including a swimming pool with sauna and spa, two basketball courts, rock climbing wall, full weights gym and squash courts. It has a commercial equipped training restaurant, an FM radio station, automotive workshop and television studio. The Launceston College on air radio station (LCFM) can be found on the FM frequency of 87.8 and is also streamed to the web.
Co-curricular activities The college also offers the yearly opportunity to students to be involved in stage productions. Since 2008, the college has presented Rent (Schools Edition), Grease, Flashdance, Matilda, In the Heights, Rock of Ages, Bring It On, Aida, the remake of Footloose, Hairspray, and Seussical. Earlier productions have been Chess, Mechanics of Love, Copacabana, Cinderocka, Jesus Christ Superstar, Footloose, Grease, Hair, High School Musical, All Shook Up, Disco Inferno, and Back To The 80s.
The school also offers overseas travel opportunities.
Publications The college has produced several publications since 1913, such as:
The Northern Churinga (1914–1966) Churinga (1967–present) The history of the Launceston State High School, 1913–1966 and Launceston Matriculation College, 1967–1976 Prospectus LC in ... : Orientation Guide 100 years of excellence: Launceston State High School to Launceston College 1913–2013
Headmasters and principals
Launceston State High School TenureHeadmaster1913–1928Raymond Orlando Maurice Miller (R. O. M. Miller)1929–1931Harry Vernard Biggins1932–1938Archibald L. Meston (A. L. Meston)1939–1952William Carl Morris (W. C. Morris)1953–1966L. E. Amos
The High School's alumni include Dora Turner who had a school named after her.
Launceston Matriculation College TenurePrincipal1967L. E. Amos1968–1969J. Woodruf1970–1979K. J. Walker
Launceson Community College TenurePrincipal1984–1986 Alf L. Crawford
Launceston College TenurePrincipal 1987–1989Alf L. Crawford1990–1996Col S. Lane1997–2001Graham Spreight2002–2017Keith Wenn2018–presentVicki Mackrill
See also Australian Convict Sites Cascades Female Factory List of schools in Tasmania Education in Tasmania
References