Mentone Grammar is an independent, Anglican co-educational grammar school in Mentone, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
History Mentone Grammar was founded on 3 March 1923 by a group of Anglicans who had a high profile in the town, supported by the local Mentone Anglican vicar.
The school is renowned for its 'Together-Apart-Together' learning model, where classes are co-educational from ELC – Year 4 and from Years 10 – 12, with students learning in single-gender classes through Years 5 – 9.
As of 2025, annual fees for a Year 12 student studying at Mentone Grammar were slightly over $35,000.
Heads
Headmasters/Principals There have been a total of nine Principals (formerly Headmasters) of Mentone Grammar since the school was founded in 1923. The current Principal is Andy Müller (since 2024). Years served Name 1923–1931 Henry Lycett Tonkin 1931–1932 Royce Mayne 1933–1939 Charles Campbell Thorold 1939–1960 John Jeffery Thorold 1961–1987 Keith William Jones 1988–2003 Neville John William Clark 2003–2006 Timothy Warren Argall 2007–2023 Malcolm Jack Cater 2024–present Andy Müller
Houses The school has 10 houses as of 2025. Every student is put into a house group when they join, which becomes their homeroom class from year 10 – 12. Generally, siblings go in the same house. Houses have a house shirt, and used to have a house tie until the uniform redesign in 2023. + House Main Colour Accent Colour Year founded Notes Anderson Army Red Black 1923 Jones Jaguars Navy blue None 1923 Were Warriors Light Blue None 1949 Finlay Anderson Falcons Yellow None 1983 White Wolves Blue Yellow 1983 Lionel Large Lions Green Yellow 1990 Deighton Devils Black Red 1990 Drinan Dragons Green White 1957 Formerly 'School House' until 2000 Johnston Jets Orange None 2023 Clark Crusaders Purple None 2023
Cadet Unit
The Mentone Grammar Army Cadet Unit (MGACU) is an Australian Army Cadets school-based unit, founded and operating continuously since 1943. It is part of the 31st Battalion (Melbourne Schools) and now represents the largest school-based Unit in Victoria.
Leadership is highly valued in the Unit and being part of the MGACU provides opportunities for Senior students to develop leadership skills, together with expertise in the areas of fieldcraft, first aid and navigation. All Year 9 students join the Cadets for one year then have the option to continue on in Years 10 (As Corporal or Advanced Cadet), 11 (As Sargent) and 12 (As CUO, RSM, and other roles) to further develop their skills, training and leadership of incoming recruits.
The cadet unit is split into numerous platoons (26 PLTs in 2025) which each typically consist of 6 – 20 Cadets, 3 – 4 Corporals, 1 Sargent and 1 CUO. The platoons generally only have people in the same school house.
Sport Former AFL player and coach, Brenton Sanderson commenced as the school's Director of Sport in 2023. Their sequential sports program provides opportunities for students of all abilities to benefit from elite coaching programs, established through partnerships with highly credentialled coaches, talent pathway programs and professional sporting clubs.
Saturday sport is compulsory for all students in Years 7–12, with boys competing in the Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria (AGSV) competition and girls in the combined AGSV / Associated Public Schools (APS) competition in both Summer and Winter sports.
On Saturday 29 January 2022, Mentone Grammar's 2022 Head Prefect, Evie Stansby made Mentone Grammar sporting history by becoming the first female to earn a place on their First XI cricket team.
AGSV and AGSV/APS premierships Mentone Grammar has won the following AGSV and AGSV/APS premierships.
Boys:
Athletics (6) – 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1996 Cricket (12) – 1965, 1966, 1975, 1984, 1986, 1987, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2015, 2017 Golf – 2005 Soccer – 1993 Squash (2) – 2001, 2002 Swimming (36) – 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 Table Tennis (4) – 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 Tennis (19) – 1961, 1966, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2012, 2016 Volleyball (5) – 2010, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023
Girls:
Athletics (4) – 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 Cross Country (6) – 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 Swimming (7) – 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024 Touch Football (8) – 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Notable alumni and staff Academic Hugh Stretton, Historian Professor of History, University of Adelaide Administration Tim Brailsford, Vice-Chancellor and President of Bond University Karl Duldig (1902–1986), Austrian-Australian sculptor; art master from 1945–67 Sir Robert Gillman Allen Jackson AC, KCVO, CMG, OBE, OWL, former United Nations administrator
Business Phil de Young OAM, Former economics teacher and later became headmaster of other schools James Riady, Deputy Chairman of the Lippo Group
Entertainment Lee Cormie, Australian Actor Jared Daperis, actor Daniel Daperis, actor Bill Granger, restaurateur and food writer Russell Hitchcock, lead singer of soft rock duo Air Supply Mal Walden, co-anchor of Melbourne's Channel 10 News at 5
Military Air Vice Marshal Richard Bomball AO AFC, Commandant of the Australian Defence Force Academy Major General Derek Deighton AO, MBE
Sport Joel Amartey, AFL player with the Sydney Swans Mitchell Brown, Geelong Football Club, Essendon Football Club player Gary Colling, former Australian rules football player for St Kilda Football Club Leigh Fisher, St Kilda Football Club player Oliver Florent, AFL player with the Sydney Swans Alex Hillhouse, Athlete, competed in 1932 Summer Olympics and 1930 British Empire Games Claudia Hollingsworth, Athlete Kate Hore, AFL Women's player with the Melbourne Football Club John Howat, former Melbourne Football Club & Richmond Football Club player Andrew Ilie, former Australian tennis player Abbi Moloney, AFL Women's player with the Collingwood Football Club Andrew Moir, Australian rules footballer Courteney Munn, AFL Women's player with the St Kilda Football Club Rod Owen, former Melbourne Football Club, Brisbane Bears Football Club and St Kilda Football Club footballer Mitchito Owens, AFL footballer John Peers, Australian Doubles Tennis player Jack Scrimshaw, AFL footballer Simon Storey, soccer player for Melbourne Victory Shane Warne, former Australian cricketer Dav Whatmore, former Australian cricketer David Wilson, 1988 Olympic swimmer
See also Victorian Certificate of Education Australian Army Cadets
References
External links
Mentone Grammar School