Barker College, Independent Coeducational Anglican School, Sydney

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Barker College, Independent Coeducational Anglican School, Sydney

• Educational

In 1890, Rev Henry Plume took up the position of Rector at St Stephen’s Church, Kurrajong. It was here in 1890 that he tutored five local pupils for the Junior, Senior and Matriculation Examinations. Their academic success encouraged Plume to establish his own school. In 1891, Plume selected Stokesleigh, a guest house in Kurrajong Heights, as the site for this school.

The name Barker College was chosen in memory of Frederic Barker, the second Bishop of Sydney whom Plume had met soon after his arrival in Australia. An outbreak of scarlet fever in 1894 convinced Plume that the School was too isolated and would be better located nearer to Sydney. Thus the School moved to its present site in Hornsby in 1896, and in 1919 its ownership transferred to the Church of England.

The arrival of girls in Years 11 in 1975 was the beginnings of coeducation, with the School transitioning to full coeducation by 2022.

The Archives was established in the 1960s by the Master in Charge of History, Mr Stuart Braga, as a result of his research for 'A Brief History of the School' written for the occasion of the seventy fifth anniversary of the foundation of the school in 1965. Braga's efforts to actively seek, collect and preserve the records of the school's early history have resulted in a unique and wonderful collection of records and memorabilia.

The Barker College Archives contains the official records and memorabilia of the School, its associations (eg the Old Barker Association, Barker College Parents Association, The Barker Foundation) and of individuals associated with the School (eg staff, alumni, Council members).

The Archives is happy to receive donations from all members of the Barker College community.

The Barker College Archives is located on Level 1 of the Library.

Records and memorabilia held by the Barker College Archives include: staff and student records, trophies, uniform items, minute books, correspondence, school photos, architectural plans, oral histories, prize books, school magazines and publications, student enrolment registers, prize lists, evidence of student activities (drama costumes, musical programs, etc), personal papers and audiovisual material.
Material dates from the 1890s to the present.
Quantity: 500m

Open Monday to Friday 8am-4pm (including school holidays).
Closed public holidays and between Christmas and New Year.

All visitors intending to use the Archives are required to make an appointment. Visitors wanting to access records of a personal and/or confidential nature are required to put their request in writing to the Head of Barker College.

A school map can be found at https://www.barker.college/about-barker/school-map The School is a short walk from both Hornsby and Waitara Stations, with a number of bus routes stopping on the Pacific Highway directly outside the School’s main gates. There is no public parking available onsite.

General reference services are available.

Copying and scanning services available for records to A3 size.

Revised 26 March 2018

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