Hale School is a world-renowned Anglican day and boarding school in Perth, Western Australia, offering comprehensive and tailored education experiences to boys from Years 1 to 12. Our students come to our school from all across the state, country, and globe, bringing their unique personalities, perspectives, and experiences into our culturally enriched community.
Our school’s educational excellence tradition spans many decades and is supported by innovative leaders and diverse curriculum opportunities. Our students have space to grow and learn within our 48-hectare campus and globally through a diverse use of technologies and cutting-edge teaching practices, all designed to prepare your son for a bright future.
Founded in 1858, Hale School is the oldest boys’ school in Western Australia. We are very proud of our heritage and our successes. We are fortunate to have 48 hectares of expansive grounds that provide the canvas for a unique education. We continue to look to the future with confidence that we will always equip young men with the challenges of a global and interconnected world.
Our Statement of Purpose is to be a leader in boys’ education:
- where students achieve their potential and enjoy their school years
- where the staff is supported professionally in an excellent working environment
- where society benefits through the contributions of the Hale School community
VISION Providing opportunities for every boy to excel. VALUES Hale School is committed to upholding our Anglican heritage and Christian principles. We encourage a lifelong passion for creativity, innovation, and learning. We act in a manner that demonstrates respect and engenders trust. We strive for excellence in all that we do. We contribute enthusiastically as responsible members of the school and broader communities.
Hale School has always strived for strong academic performances. Over the years, we have developed a reputation as one of the top-performing schools in the state.
Hale School does not only pride itself on the achievements of our most able students but on the support we provide every boy to develop and meet his potential. This is provided through the many curricular and co-curricular opportunities we offer across the school, different learning pathways, personalized learning support, after-hours tutoring and academic support for our Middle and Senior School students in the library and boarding houses, subject choice, and career guidance.
We also offer the boys opportunities to take part in external academic and co-curricular competitions and activities.
Encouraged by a group of settlers, Mathew Blagden Hale, the first Anglican Bishop of Perth, founded his Collegiate School on 28 June 1858. The little colony was less than 30 years old, with the small population of settlers experiencing considerable difficulties. The school operated under the Bishop’s proprietorship, unsupported by the Church, and began in temporary premises on the sandy track that became St Georges Terrace.
After a short period, they established in ‘The Cloisters’, a building that Bishop Hale had adapted for the specific purpose. It attracted several boarders and day boys who later became notable citizens. The state’s first Premier, John Forrest, was an early pupil, his brother Alexander, a Lord Mayor of Perth. Attorney-General, Stephen Henry Parker attended, along with many prominent early settler families, such as the Burges brothers from York. Laurence Eliot, the first enrolled student, son of the Bunbury government administrator, arrived at the school after a three day and two-night ride through the bush, accompanied by Bishop Hale.
The school struggled to survive. Eventually, Bishop Hale despairingly relinquished proprietorship in 1864. A Committee of Management took control “to render the School a permanent institution of the Colony,” but finally, it was forced to close at the beginning of 1872.
Colonel ‘Paddy’ Haynes, to that point, an assistant master, advertised a resumption of the Collegiate School as a private venture, and it managed to reopen. Then, after the passing of the Legislative Council High School Act in 1876, Haynes was encouraged to walk his 14 boys across St Georges Terrace to join the new High School when it first opened at the beginning of 1878. Haynes was appointed the second master under the Headmastership of the Reverend John Garret Bussell.
Although numbers remained low, it was felt expedient to acquire several classrooms within the Pensioner Barracks at the top end of St Georges Terrace in the early 1880s. The boarders moved into the old Imperial Military Hospital, located across from the Barracks in George Street.
Up until 1890, school enrolments remained at much the same level as they had been from the outset. However, with the appointment of an outstanding personality in Frederick Charles Faulkner as Headmaster in 1890, together with a surge of the population associated with gold discoveries at Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie, enrolments proliferated to nearly 100 two years later. The future of the school was assured. During Faulkner’s tenure, the Public Schools’ Association (P.S.A.) was formed in 1905 with High School (Hale) joining in with Guildford Grammar, Scotch College, and Aquinas College (originally Christian Brothers’ College).
By 1914, the George Street premises were proving inadequate. The foundations were laid for the first purpose-built site in Havelock Street. In 1923 a new Memorial wing, in memory of the 43 Old Boys killed during the Great War, was added. The first science laboratory for a secondary school in Western Australia was opened and placed J.B.’ the hand. (‘Dil’) Newbery. However, the school lost its promised playing fields next to the site when the state’s first observatory was built. An arrangement was made for the boys to use a field in Kings Park for its sport, next to the Royal Kings Park Tennis Club. Today the area is called Hale Ovals and, fittingly, is a dedicated playground for young children.
By the early 1920s, the school population had grown to over 300. Following a proposal by the Chairman of the Old Boys, T.A.L. (‘Taddy’) Davy in 1924, the High School, after much debate and a legislative passage through parliament, changed its name to Hale School in 1929.
Numbers dropped during the economic depression of the 1930s, but as the economy of the nation began to recover in the late 1930s, the eventual need for larger school premises was recognized. Eventually, high land to the west of Herdsman Lake was identified, and, after tortuous negotiations, it was purchased for 2,260 pounds.
However, plans to develop the new campus and move from Havelock Street came to an abrupt end with World War II. Due to the stringencies associated with post-war economic rehabilitation, it was not until 1961 that the school moved to the new premises at Wembley Downs.
A new House system with eight houses and a strong accent on pastoral care was instituted and is still in place today (with two new houses in 1993).
Hale has undergone much transformation and renewal since then, both in terms of its facilities and educational offerings. However, the school motto of ‘Duty’ has always inspired our boys to strive to do what is right and give back.
Current Headmaster, Dean Dell’ Oro commenced in 2017 and builds on Hale’s strong foundations of tradition and excellence to ensure our students are ready for the future that awaits them. Formerly an engineer who changed career paths to pursue his passion for education, Mr. Dell’ Oro is a Mathematics Teacher and formerly held leadership positions at Geelong Grammar School in Victoria.
Many things have changed since the school first opened its doors on 28 June 1858 – and yet one central, core aspect has not. Hale School continues to produce outstanding young citizens, as it has done since Bishop Hale first opened the doors more than 160 years ago.
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