Our college has a rich and interesting history that we invite you to learn more about in the tabs below.
1981 to 1989: The Cranbourne Meadows Technical School Era
Lyndhurst Secondary College started life as Cranbourne Meadows Technical School in 1981 with classes held at Doveton High and Doveton Technical Schools.
On 9th June, 1981 students were on site for the first time, with 8 groups of Year 7 students, 19 staff, 2 administration staff and a canteen. Mr David Llewellyn was the first Principal and the college uniform was brown.
In 1982, Cranbourne Meadows Technical School had a student population of eight Year 7 groups and eight Year 8 groups, with the new gymnasium and drama building finally completed. There were 31 staff and 5 administration staff.
The year 1983 saw the commencement of Stage 3, automotive, electrical, and staff administration buildings. The school continued to grow, both in structure and student population over the next few years, with 900 students expected in 1985. There have been many portable classrooms arrive since these early days as well as many leave over the years as student population increased and decreased.
The founding Principal of the school retired in 1985, with Mr Roland Stanes taking over as Principal. A time capsule was incorporated in the landscaping at the front of the school this year, which is to be opened in 2035 – we can’t wait to see what were chosen to be placed in it!
The first Debutante Ball took place in 1986, with many more to follow over the years, slowly evolving to be known as Presentation Balls. There was also a student exchange to Finland, which would be the first of many student exchanges that occurred with students around the world. Other student exchanges occurred between Columbia in 1995, and Japan in 2002 when Lyndhurst welcomed 14 Japanese students from Nagoya High School. In 2004, students from Germany, Norway and Brazil attend the College whilst 15 Japanese students joined us in 2005 from Tomiya High School.
In 1989, the school introduced its House System, with houses named after former students or who had a relationship with the college or area. More information about the origins of the college House System is available on its own tab below, including profiles of the people the original houses were named after and how the college has ensured we honour this history as part of its House Renovation Project which commenced in 2023.
1990 to 2006: The Early Lyndhurst Secondary College Era
Cranbourne Meadows Technical School changed to Lyndhurst Secondary College in 1990 after many consultations and surveys were held over the naming of the college, with the first school magazine produced under that name. The uniform changed to the blue we see today, with many variations in colours over the years, from a bright royal blue to the current navy blue with cyan accents.
Lyndhurst Secondary College continued to grow in student population and facilities, with major works being undertaken, the Science wing taking shape, as well as C Block. Permanent buildings were the goal for the school, with portables gone. The Library Resource Centre renovations were complete in 1998 which doubled the floor space of the centre and included new, more comfortable furniture.
The College has been very active with students able to participate in many and varied events. A few events that students have been involved with over the years include:
- Great Victorian Bike Ride
- Rock Eisteddfods
- Wakakirri Dance
- Variety Nights
The college also has a long history of great musical entertainment, with bands running over the years. This includes the Rock Band, Jazz Band and Concert Band, as well as a variety of Music Tours throughout Australia to places such as Regional Victoria (Gippsland) in 1998, Northern Victoria for 5 days in 1990 and another 5 day tour in Adelaide in 2000.
The college also attended the RACV Energy Breakthrough weekend at Maryborough for a number of years, where we showcased our student’s commitment and endurance to race their school-made vehicles over a 24 hour period.
Swimming Carnivals, Athletics Carnivals and Cross Country events were (and are) always popular events and fun days away from the college. Outdoor Education excursions are also a great experience for our students to apply their learning in the beautiful outdoor classrooms we have throughout Victoria. There have been many statewide and interstate camps, and even an Indonesian trip for some lucky students.
2007 to 2019: The Evolving Lyndhurst Era
The year 2007 saw the opening of the Year 9 Inquiry Centre, with many schools from far and wide (including overseas) coming to see our approach to teaching and learning for our Year 9 students. Highlights of the Inquiry Centre include:
- The Night of the Know-It-Alls;
- City Week;
- Advance Community Projects; and
- The Real Thing program.
The College has endured quite a few natural disasters over the years, with floods and even fires in its history. In 2009 after flooding of the library, a carpet dryer left on during the night in the library caught fire, resulting in the whole fiction collection being destroyed, with every surface and surviving book being covered in black ash. However worse was to come…
On the second day of the 2011 school year, major flooding occurred, inundating the whole administration wing, senior area, library and other classrooms, with school operations coming to a grinding halt. Luckily Cranbourne East Secondary College was able to accommodate our Year 12 students on their site temporarily whilst all other year levels were affected. It took two full weeks to get the college back together again, but through the hard work and dedication of the staff and the Department, this was achieved.
To further support our school vision about empowering students for learning and life, the college has always maintained its strong vocational education programs. On June 15 2018, the Cranbourne Region Trades Skills Centre opened. This project saw Lyndhurst Secondary College in a partnership with Alkira Secondary College, Cranbourne Secondary College and Marnebek School to offer VET courses to students across the schools so more students could access high quality courses in a school setting. Lyndhurst Secondary College.
2020-Present: The Lyndhurst Remote Learning and Beyond Era
The COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and saw the college go into remote learning, an incredible feat for all members of the learning community. Everybody worked and supported each other tirelessly, and we emerged in 2021 with a full return to all students on site in Term 4, 2021 after periods of lockdowns over the 2020 and 2021 school years.
Lyndhurst Secondary College has grown from small beginnings to a vibrant, committed place of learning. The student population has evolved and become a mix of many cultures, which is evident in performances like the 4Cs groups. The facilities are being upgraded continuously, with new technology being introduced to keep up with this modern world.
The college is looking forward to the next stage, which will include major works being conducted over various areas after an election commitment of $13.6 million to upgrade out facilities. We are excited for this to take the college well into the 21st century, and a very bright future.
Who have been our College Principals over the years?
- 1981-1985: Mr David Llewellyn
- 1985-1987: Mr Roland Stanes
- 1988-1993: Mr Jim McCullough
- 1994-1998: Ms Sue Slater
- 1999-2001: Ms Margaret Corcoran
- 2001-2008: Mr Steve Phillips
- 2009-2015: Mr Warren Wills
- 2016-2021: Ms Konnie Prades
- 2021-Present: Ms Eloise Haynes
Who have been our College Captains & Dux over the years?
College Captains
- 1990: C. Leask / C. Eagle
- 1991: N. Potter / G. Saxon
- 1992: N. Collett / B. Mellis/B. Gaine
- 1993: M. Langenhoff / E. Nair
- 1994: M. Jacobson / J. Audsley
- 1995: A. Johnson / J. Salem
- 1996: L. Callander / N. Carkeek
- 1997: E. Maddaford / D. Macrae
- 1998: C. Myors / B. Whittingham
- 1999: B. Lewis / K. Smith
- 2000: T. Longmuir / D. Blangiardo
- 2001: G. Robottom / B. Bunn
- 2002: J. Teunissen / S. Carter
- 2003: H. Iverson / M. Hutchinson
- 2004: S. Beaver / M. Noweir
- 2005: S. Broome / J. Sharp
- 2006: P. Sudhaker / M. Davies
- 2007: S. Zoljan / C. Gillingham
- 2008: A. Koe / B. Van Den Boogaard
- 2009: B. Hepburn / J. Santos / B. Anderson / B. Schilling
- 2010: J. Neang / J. Schuyler / B. Twyford / M. Selleck
- 2011: A. Derek / L. Mawley / M. Kahlon / R. Mokrzycki
- 2012: V. Guerra / K. Latchford / A. Sonnet / D. Tuimaseve
- 2013: T. Beveridge / A. Bruce / S. Sagele / J. Twite
- 2014: S. Adams / T. Deaner / B. Hallam / J. Knowles
- 2015: M. Cameron / T. Chellew / M. Husaini / C. Mason
- 2016: M. Cooper / T. Muralidharan / T. Sangkhamatr / M. Tapleton
- 2017: D. Campang / J. Friday / K. Hill / R. Zahra
- 2018: M. Bailey / N. Saga Fia / N. Janagha / E. Mason
- 2019: D. Blucher / N. Krzywinski / W. Just / B. Soth
- 2020: N. Kuach / J. Minton / J. Tagagloe-Leniu / D. Talo
- 2021: A. Ahmadi / B. Soth / J. Delaroche-Souvestre / N. Ueseli
- 2022: B. Ban Loon / M. Druger-Mwanzia / E. Jobson
- 2023: J. D’Orival-McGuiness / J. Proudlock / E. Denness / B. L. Soth
- 2024: A. Samu / A. Saga Fia / Z. Baltruschaitis / T. Tuhi
College Dux
- 1986: A. Gillett
- 1987: –
- 1988: G. Davidson
- 1989: C. Leask
- 1990: J. Ryan
- 1991: P. O’Gorman
- 1992: A. Murphy
- 1993: D. Wellard / T. Mahoney
- 1994: D. Wellard
- 1995: K. Bravington
- 1996: C. Brown
- 1997: A. Heward
- 1998: A. Carnevale
- 1999: L. Tassone
- 2000: A. McDada
- 2001: D. Wilson
- 2002: J. Thompson
- 2003: S. Harrison
- 2004: D. Brockie
- 2005: J. Sharp
- 2006: A. Lomax
- 2007: L. Twite
- 2008: C. Dowell
- 2009: B. Garlick
- 2010: P Christidis
- 2011: M. Kahlon (VCE) / T. O’Sullivan (VCAL)
- 2012: V. Guerra (VCE) / K. Ainsworth (VCAL)
- 2013: A. Smit-Geason (VCE) / J. Twite (VCAL)
- 2014: L. Morris (VCE) / R. Johnston (VCAL)
- 2015: R. Prowd (VCE) / A. Koot (VCAL)
- 2016: H. Heng (VCE) / J. Sadikovski (VCAL)
- 2017: H. Sharma (VCE) / K. Hill (VCAL)
- 2018: A Ghuman (VCE) / J. Roberts (VCAL)
- 2019: D. Blucher (VCE) / A. Batten (VCAL)
- 2020: R. Singh (VCE) / D. Talo (VACL)
- 2021: J. Liang (VCE) / J. Delaroche-Souvestre (VCAL)
- 2022: S. Vlachou (VCE) / C. Grace (VCAL)
- 2023: A Qasimi (VCE) / R. Wright (VCE VM)
What were the original Houses at Lyndhurst?
In 1989, the following house names were chosen by the student body of the time. These were:
- Flintoff (Yellow House)
- Hale (Red House)
- Kettner (Green House)
- Sayers (Blue House)
Each of these people had a connection to the college in its early years and achieved sporting excellence. A short profile is included for each person below.
As part of the House Renovation project, the college houses were updated. To honour the history of the houses, each of the original house names has been honoured with an award presented at the college’s annual Presentation Evening held in December each year.
To learn more about the origin of each house name, click the buttons below:
Yellow House
Named after Debbie Flintoff-King
Red House
Named after Ian Hale
Green House
Named after Steve Kettner
Blue House
Named after Craig Sayers
Alumnus when Lyndhurst Secondary College was known as Cranbourne Meadow Tech School