Macarthur Girls High School

Macarthur Girls High School is situated on the Parramatta River next to Parramatta City, New South Wales, Australia. The school was built in 1934 with later additions in 1955 and 1975. Its purpose is to encourage and empower students to achieve their potential and to be confident and competent users of technology with a positive yet critical attitude towards future developments. The school offers students a curriculum directed towards the Higher School Certificate with a combination of traditional and Vocational Education courses, ensuring that the needs and interests of all students are well met. Across all of these courses the development and application of computer and other technologies are integrated.

School History

Macarthur is located on an area of land first granted to William Reid (a seaman from the Sirius, the first ship of the First Fleet to enter Sydney Harbour in 1788), Thomas Haddock (1795), Captin John Townson (1796) and Captain John Piper. Later the property was acquired by the Rev. Samuel Marsden where he built a new home, Newlands. The property changed hands several times before it was acquired by the Education Department and the present school was built in 1933.

Changes in the name of the school reflect the changing educational trends of the times.

1927-30 - The "Old School," originally located near Arthur Phillip High was known as Parramatta Commercial and Household Arts School.
1931-37 - Parramatta Domestic Science School.
1938-41 - Parramatta District and Home Science School.
1942-45 - Parramatta Secondary Central Home High School.
1946-52 - Parramatta Home Science School.
1953-58 - Parramatta Secondary Home Science School.
1959 - Macarthur Girls High School.

Counted amongst "The Old Girls" is the Olympic gold medal winning runner Betty Cuthbert.