Macquarie Boys Technology High School

Macquarie Boys' Technology High School was a high school for boys in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.

History

The present-day Macquarie Boys’ Technology High School location developed from a school located on a site in Macquarie Street, Parramatta. (That site is currently occupied by Parramatta High School and Arthur Phillip High School). Post-primary schooling for boys was provided for on that site by the Boys' Department of Parramatta District School. The Boys’ Department of that school became known as Parramatta Commercial School and in 1920 was called Parramatta Intermediate High School. The title was changed to Parramatta Junior High School in January 1944 and a separate school was formed, still on the same site, with a separate principal.

In 1955 the name was changed to Macquarie Boys’ High School. At the end of 1957 the school moved to its current site on the corner of Kissing Point Road and what was then called Rydalmere Avenue, which was later absorbed into James Ruse Drive. In 1989 the word 'Technology' was added to the school's name.

At the beginning of 2008, Years 7 through to 10 were discontinued, while remaining Year 11 and 12 students completed their HSC course.^[1]

Principals

Cecil Preston, appointed in January 1944 as Principal of Parramatta Junior High School and retired in November 1951.
William E. Gollan, appointed as Principal of Parramatta Junior High School in January 1952. Became the first principal of Macquarie Boys' High School and established this school on the current site. He retired in March 1965.
Richard E. Willock, appointed as Principal in 1965. Transferred to Parramatta High School at the end of 1972.
George Douglas Heard, appointed as Principal of this school in January 1973. Transferred to Model Farms High School at the end of 1977.
Arthur T. Howland, appointed as Principal of this school in January 1978 and retired at the end of 1982.
Geoffrey Bartlett, appointed as Principal of this school in January 1983. Transferred to Cumberland High School at the end of 1985.
Trevor W. Taylor, appointed as Principal of this school in January 1986. Retired in July 1993.
Geoffrey J. Hogan, appointed as Principal in January 1994.
Jack McBride, appointed as Principal in 2005.
Fenahsi Kerim, appointed as Principal in 2008.

School closure

According to Nine News and The Daily Telegraph the school was to be shut down at the end of the 2009 school year because of major reputation problems throughout the school's history and the low numbers of students they had in 2007.^[2] This has subsequently been confirmed by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training.^[3]^[4]

The future

The school was planned to be rejuvenated as the Lachlan Macquarie College, which was to begin operating on school grounds in January 2008. This new college was intended to specialise in Maths and Science.^[5]^[6] As of 2015, the Parramatta Sun has announced that the University of Western Sydney decided not to take up the lease and turn the school into the Lachlan Macquarie College, leaving the buildings of this school to be overtaken with graffiti and vandalism as a result. The New South Wales Department of Education and Training is now looking at selling the site, as it is surplus to their needs.^[7]

Damage by fire

Late in the night of 23 July 2016, a "suspicious" fire gutted the school's vacant main hall. Fire fighters were able to control the spread of the fire, but the main building appeared to be totally destroyed.^[8] Officials issued a call for leads into who may have started the fire.^[9]

References

External links

http://macquarieboys.com.au/[]