History & Traditions

End of an era and beginning of a new.

 The demolition of Historical Rooms ED.4,5,6. Old Hamilton High School, East Side Campus. 

This historical and culturally significant building has an incredible story to tell. A story, about, the days gone by, ‘when I was there’, ‘remember when’!

According to former Hamilton High School student and Principal, Dr Rosemary Morgan, ED 4, 5, 6, was originally a Gymnasium, one long open room, with Art rooms to the side.

The building was originally placed on site, in what is now the east side carpark and later transferred to the other side of the road in the 1970’s as student numbers grew into the thousands.

The ED 4, 5, 6, building began its story as a world war 2 English aircraft. In post-war Bristol, a city straddling the River Avon in the southwest of England, aircraft were decommissioned and salvaged of parts. This is where the life of the ED 4, 5, 6, building began, in post-war Bristol England. The fuselages of these airplanes were made from an Aluminum alloy, which was salvaged, and reclaimed as building material. The ED 4, 5, 6, building was designed, purchased by the Australian Government, transported by ship to Australia, then to Hamilton and finally placed in position at Hamilton High School now, Baimbridge College in 1962.

‘What am I interested in’.

During the 1980’s Mr. Ross Mr Mcgaffin, a Hamilton High School Art teacher and former Assistant Principal, created an art project based on the core theme, ‘what am I interested in’. The visual art students then painted their amazing artworks on the classroom walls inside ED6. As the demolition date approached, 2020 and being the last Art teacher to have taught in the historical ED4, 5, 6, classrooms, I was able to photograph and record as many of these artworks as possible for our Historical Archives. 

Former student, Ms. Sharon Dahl, who was a student in this art class (1980) and whose daughter is currently in our year 12 cohort, said she was delighted to know that her artwork was recorded for all posterity. To have seen the artworks, that she, her friends, and peers made all those years ago, to share the stories, where are they now, to reminisce about times gone by some 41 years ago was certainly a remarkable experience indeed. 

It is with great Pride and all due Respect that Baimbridge College presents the; 

‘What am I interested in’ A Virtual Exhibition from the Historical Collection 1980 – 1985.