Newcastle Boys' High School was a government-funded single-sex selective high school, located in Waratah, a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. The school was active between 1929 and 1976, after which time it became a co-educational non-selective school.

History Newcastle Boys High School was established in 1929 when the Hill High School was split into two selective single-sex schools, the other being Newcastle Girls High School. Hill High School's campus was located on Newcastle Hill, at a site now occupied by Newcastle East Public School, and was referred to as "the School on the Hill". Newcastle Girls High School moved to a new campus in Hamilton, and Newcastle Boys High School moved to a new campus in Waratah in 1934, at which time Hill High School became Newcastle Junior Boys High School. Both Newcastle Boys and Newcastle Girls high schools carried on the traditions established by the original school, including use of the same motto and school colours.

Newcastle Boys High School became non-selective and co-educational in 1977 and changed its name to Waratah High School that same year. Later it became Waratah Technology High School, and then Waratah Technology Campus of Callaghan College in 2000.

Headmasters The Headmasters of Newcastle Boys High School were: 1930–31 Robert Frederick Harvey 1932–34 Charles Herbert Christmas 1935–44 Norman Ross Mearns 1945–47 William Pillans 1948–63 Frank Harold Beard 1964–74 Leonard Thomas Richardson 1975–76 Victor Huish Webber (relieving)

School song Newcastle Boys High School continued to sing the Newcastle High School song: words by a member of staff, R. G. Henderson MA set to the tune of "D'ye ken John Peel?", chosen by competition announced in 1913 in the school journal, "Novocastrian". When the boys moved to the plain at the Waratah site, they no longer climbed up The Hill and the first verse was re-written in 1943 by Mr Hodge.

Science scholarships The following Newcastle Boys' High School students won scholarships to the Professor Harry Messel International Science School: Year Schoolboy 1962 Malcolm James Williams 1964 Peter Gordon Browne 1965 Ian Donald Henderson 1966 Grahame John Edgar 1967 Michael Duncan Daffey 1968 David Ian Cocking 1969 David Bruce Williams 1969 Graeme John Williams 1971 Danny James Llewellyn 1971 Ian Allen Watson 1973 Richard Kleeman 1973 Stephen Bruce Ticehurst 1974 John Ambler 1974 Dale Kleeman

Extra-curricular activities The following Newcastle Boys' High School boys were awarded "Blues" by the New South Wales Combined High Schools Sports Association under the system which operated from 1957 to 1980:Bill Collins, Max Aitken and Bob Cork, One hundred years of public school sport in New South Wales 1889–1989 (Sydney, ca. 1990, New South Wales Department of School Education, p180ff) Year Sport Schoolboy 1960 Tennis D Kelso 1960 Athletics P Langley 1961 Tennis P Marshall 1962 Basketball D Collins 1962 Soccer J Smith 1962 Soccer J Thurlow 1962 Tennis P Marshall 1963 Cricket B Gibson 1963 Tennis W Harrison 1964 Cricket I Forrester 1964 Tennis C East 1965 Athletics P Wright 1967 Baseball G Gilmour 1967 Rugby League J Davis 1967 Rugby Union J Davis 1968 Soccer R O'Hearn 1969 Cricket G Gilmour 1970 Rugby League J Shield 1970 Soccer G Valentine 1971 Basketball T Antcliffe 1974 Basketball G Logan 1974 Sailing M Long

Notable alumni Reginald Ian BarrettAO jurist; Judge, Supreme Court of New South Wales (2001–2015) Jonathan Bigginsentertainer, writer Leigh Blackmorehorror writer, critic, editor, musicianBenjamin J. Szumskyj The Terror from Australis: An Interview with Leigh Blackmore. Australian Studies in Weird Fiction 1 (Equilibrium Books, 2008). Available online at: Vodcast of 'Jennifer Byrne Presents episode 'Monsters and Bloodsuckers' (aka ' Vampires, Werewolves and Man-made Monsters in Literature' Interview with Leigh Blackmore re: AHWA at View from Here magazine Peter Cavejournalist; Current Affairs Foreign Editor, Australian Broadcasting Corporation Peter Robert Charlton (1946–2007)journalist, soldier, military historian; editor at The Courier-Mail from 1996 William T. Cooper artist and ornithologist Phil Cousins community worker, surf life-saver, mines rescue leader; Venerable Order of Saint John (2004), Centenary Medal (2003), named Open Champion (First Aid) Surf Life Saving Australia (1994 and 1997), Gold Medallion NSW Mines Rescue Service (1993) Julian Croftnovelist and poet; Emeritus Professor of English, University of New England Howard Crozier (1936–)teacher, education administrator, CSIRO manager, shire councillor, grazier Roger Dean Federal Member for Robertson 1949–64, Administrator of the Northern Territory 1964–70, diplomat Robert Douglas medical practitioner and academic; chair, SEE-Change ACT; emeritus professor and visiting fellow, Australian National University; chair, Australia 21 Gary GilmourAustralian cricketerWatson, Chris. "Home of champions" The Newcastle Herald, 6 June 2006 (Supplement: 100 years of NEWCASTLE HIGH SCHOOL : The Students) p44 Ross Gittins author; economics editor of The Sydney Morning Herald Kevan Gosperinternational sports administrator; company director John Hardingviolinist; former Concertmaster, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Sam Jonestrade unionist, politician; Labor member of New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Waratah (1965–84) Ross Kerridge Lord Mayor of Newcastle (2024- ) Patrick McGorrypsychiatrist, academic, 2010 Australian of the Year Jeffrey Milesauthor, jurist; Chief Judge, Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory (1985–2002) Arthur MorrisAustralian cricketerChad Watson, "School reunion – Newcastle Boys' High." The Newcastle Herald, 17 August 2002, p 5 Peter MorrisFederal Minister; Federal Member for Shortland 1972–98 Gary Neatjournalist and author; Foreign Correspondent ABC Indochina/SE Asia; CEO of the Queensland Liberal Party; Senate Candidate & Federal Executive; National President – Australian Institute of Management Dick Tooth Australian rugby union footballer, orthopaedic surgeon and sports science pioneer Ivan Welshpolitician; Lake Macquarie mayor and member of New South Wales Legislative Assembly (1988–91)

Notable teachers Kelver Hartley

References

External links Newcastle Boys High School Old Boys Association