Overview
Gilmore College is an Independent Public School opened in 2008 continuing 52 previous years of secondary education provided by Kwinana Senior High School. The school provides secondary education to students aged 11 to 18 from the City of Kwinana.
Our diverse student body thrives in an inclusive environment that supports sustainability and reconnection with our Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar (country, land, earth and sea of our First Nations people).
Gilmore College’s Positive Behaviour Support acronym, S.O.A.R. (Supportive, Organised, Aspirational, and Resilient), fosters the school’s welcoming and successful culture.
We offer a comprehensive curriculum with pathways to university, further study, training and employment, where students regularly excel in academic, cultural, industrial, sporting, and technological endeavours. Our Pastoral Care and Student Services team support the delivery of these curriculum opportunities and help to establish our school as a trusted local Kwinana community institution.
Our school stands because of the achievements and perseverance of its students, staff and community over 68 years. Our Alumni Association “Old Flames” recognises the enormous value that mentorship and coaching from former students can give to the students of today.
A new Beginning
On 28 November 2003, the Minister for Education and Training Hon. Alan Carpenter MLA, announced a $26 million initiative to enhance educational opportunities in Kwinana, leading to the creation of a Years 7-12 education campus. This new facility would offer a range of specialist academic, vocational, and pastoral care programs.
A Memorandum of Understanding was established with the Department of Education and Training, Challenger TAFE, Murdoch University, Kwinana Industries Council, and the Town of Kwinana to improve local learning opportunities. In 2004, the Implementation Committee began the process of naming the new campus. By 2005-2006, the name Gilmore College was chosen to honor the original Kwinana Senior High School – built on Gilmore avenue – and one of Thomas Peel’s ship, the Gilmore.
The new school design by Taylor Robinson Architects featured two sub-schools: a Lower School (Years 7-10) and a Senior School (Years 11-12), with advanced facilities for various vocational interests, including performance arts, textiles, sporting, food science, mechatronics, and technologies. Construction began in Semester 2, 2006, with significant portions completed by January 2008. The Arts building was finished by March 2008, and the Senior School by May 2008. Gilmore College welcomed its first students in Term 1, 2008, with Years 7-9 in the new campus and Years 10-12 moving in June 2008. The college was officially opened on 29 August 2008 by the Hon. Mark McGowan MLA.
In 2004, the Implementation Committee for the Kwinana Re-development Project was assigned the responsibility of investigating and proposing a name for the new educational facility. During 2005 – 2006, this Committee engaged in a Nomenclature process to propose a new name. At the conclusion of the process Gilmore College was identified as the preferred name for the new institution. The name selected gave recognition to the original school that was built on Gilmore Avenue, Kwinana Senior High School. Gilmore was the name of one of the three ships that Thomas Peel sailed in 1829, bringing 162 settlers to the local region.
On 22 March 2006, the Hon. Ljiljanna Ravlich MLC, the Minister for Education and Training, endorsed the new name.
Taylor Robinson Architects were appointed to design the new school. The design for the new campus comprised two sub-schools: a Middle School (Years 7 – 9) and a Senior School (Years 10 – 12). Shared facilities to cater for a variety of vocational interests included: state of the art performance facilities that includes acoustically isolated recording music studios, green room, sprung floor dance space and retractable out seating for large audiences; modern, fully equipped food science, human development and textile studios; mechatronics studio; graphics studio; visual arts suites; capacity for horticulture; library; gymnasium; and industry standard materials technology suites to cater for the Kwinana Industries Council courses.
The building construction phase commenced during Semester 2, 2006. A major part of the building program was completed by January 2008. During this phase, the existing school remained occupied until the new facilities were completed. The Arts building was completed by the end of March 2008. The Senior School facilities were completed in May 2008.
Gilmore College opened at the beginning of Term 1, 2008 with Years 7 – 9 on the new campus. Students from Years 10 – 12 remained on the former school site until June 2008 when they transferred to the new Senior School facility.
Gilmore College was officially opened on 29 August 2008 by the Hon. Mark McGowan MLA, Minister for Education and Training.
Art & Design
The Kwinana Redevelopment Project’s original logo featured a five-pointed star in colours representing feeder primary schools and Kwinana Senior High School. The star’s points symbolized the key signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding: the Department of Education and Training, Challenger TAFE, Murdoch University, Kwinana Industries Council, and the Town of Kwinana.
With the renaming of Kwinana Senior High School, a new logo was needed. Graphic artists refined the design to incorporate elements such as a star and an upward-reaching figure, symbolizing aspiration, strength, success, and future goals. The logo used a palette of blue and gold, reflecting the original school colors and representing courage and victory.
Art Project
The Art Project at Gilmore College, situated in the Senior School courtyard, features a sculpture by Bridget Norton. This engaging artwork, placed in the cultural heart of the College with a sunken grassy area and performance stage, metaphorically explores the concept of operating within a broader network through the imagery of the human central nervous system.
