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Ron Barassi visits the Peninsula School. In 1961 footballer Ron Barasssi visited the School to coach the football team, which consisted of year 6, 7 and 8. He was the cousin of Bob Brewster, Foundation staff member, who asked him to be a guest of the School. The Age Newspaper sent along a photographer to capture the event.

Peninsula Grammar has always been very active in theatre and the arts. The first production, presented were two one act plays, The Dyspeptic Ogre and Toad of Toad Hall, both were performed in the school's foundation year, 1961.

In 1964 a dragon was designed and constructed by the Art Club for the Prep 1 (Grade 1) students. The dragon was 20 feet long and made of concrete. This was done under the guidance of Miss Clifton (JS Art Teacher)

Digital photo

Foundation, first day of the Peninsula School. When five residents of the Mornington Peninsula began talking of the need for a church associated boys’ school, there had been no new independent school in Melbourne for more than 50 years. The year was 1957 and the Mornington Peninsula was developing very rapidly, with hundreds of new families moving into the area. The dream of a new school was shared by an ever-increasing group of dedicated and enthusiastic men and women. Countless meetings were held to garner support, and fairly rapidly the dream became reality.

The first school sign was placed to advise the community that a new school was coming to the site, this was erected in 1959.

First year after foundation, the school Tuckshop was introduced and run by parent helpers.

An entry ticket to see the 1968 school production of Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan. The play was held in the school Hall and was presented by the Peninsula School Dramatic Society.

Row and Set number S8

This reproduction B&W photo of the school's first Secretary, Miss Nan Morton standing outside the first school office. The School office was located in Mt Eliza Village and occupied by the School Principal Rev. Dr. Dudley Clarke and his Secretary Miss Morton from September 1960 until it was moved to the school grounds in February 1961.

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miss nan morton, the peninsula school, foundation of the peninsula school

A5 size, 60 pages

non-fiction

The end of 1964 saw the first edition of The Peninsula School Journal published. It was intended to be not only a record of School activities but also an opportunity for the students to contribute prose, verse, art and photography. The editing was done by the students under the guidance of Mr Laurie Arter, the Senior English Master. The Pen evolved from an A5 sized booklet (1964-71) to an A4 book (1972-80), then came the renaming of the publication, from the Peninsula School Journal to the Pen (1981). Numbering dropped with 1990 issue. The Pen has been published annually 56 times, except for 2020 when schools were in lockdown due to COVID-19.

peninsula grammar, the peninsula school