Our history
More than just a list of dates
Since 1892, when the doors first opened in Melbourne with five staff and 17 students, Haileybury has been a centre of continual development. While Haileybury Rendall School is new to the Northern Territory, the site on which it is based is rich in local history.
Here’s a summary of our journey so far:
1892
1941
1946
1948
1967
1968
1989
1991
2015
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
1892
Haileybury School is founded in Melbourne by Charles Rendall (a graduate of Haileybury College in England), with 17 students. The first student enrolled, Barney Allen, goes on to become Master of Classics at the University of Melbourne.
1941
From 1941 to 1945 the current Haileybury Rendall School site was home to an Australian Army Hospital. During this period the site was also used as an Air Defence Control Centre and an Australian Army and Airforce Transit Camp.
1946
QANTAS passengers and crew would stay in the buildings on site to break long journeys. Although negotiations to transfer the property to QANTAS commenced in 1946, the transfer was most likely finalised in 1948.
1948
Darwin's first in-ground pool was constructed on site for the use of QANTAS passengers and crew.
1967
The Commonwealth government acquired the property to create a post primary school hostel and boarding school for Indigenous children from isolated locations. Twenty-one children gathered from nine different communities and commenced school.
1968
Kormilda College Incorporated was formally established under Principal Graham Benjamin. 121 students from 27 Territory communities, pastoral stations and missions attend the School in its first full year of operation.
1989
Kormilda College is established as an independent day school and boarding school for students from Years 8 to 12. Year 7 students arrived later when Middle School was developed in the Northern Territory.
1991
Under Principal Derek Hunter, enrolments reach 370 students and included 100 non-Indigenous students.
2015
Kormilda College opened its Early Learning Centre and Primary School.
2017
Haileybury, Australia's leading private school, acquires Kormilda College with the support of the Northern Territory Government.
2018
Haileybury Rendall School is officially opened by the Hon. Nigel Scullion and the Hon. Eva Lawler at a special ceremony attended by the whole school. The inaugural Principal is Mr Craig Glass.
2019
The Early Learning Centre was assessed as Exceeding National Quality Standard in all seven areas of the National Quality Framework. As the only ELC in Darwin achieving these standards, the ELC became the centre of choice for families with young children.
2020
The School delivers its best set of VCE results with 38% of students attaining an ATAR of 90 and above, placing them in the top 10% in Australia. Tippipon Morgan was named Dux, achieving a remarkable ATAR score of 99.75 placing her second across the entire Northern Territory.
2021
Mr Andrew McGregor is appointed as the second principal of Haileybury Rendall School and total enrolment numbers approach 800. Outstanding NAPLAN results showed continued learning growth in all year levels across all domains.
2022
Haileybury Rendall School was named 'Boarding School of the Year' in 2022.
2023
Haileybury Pangea begins accepting enrolments in the Northern Territory.
