Beaconhills College is a

co-education Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to ...

al,

ecumenical Ecumenism ( ; alternatively spelled oecumenism)also called interdenominationalism, or ecumenicalismis the concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships ...

independent school A private school or independent school is a school not administered or funded by the government, unlike a State school, public school. Private schools are schools that are not dependent upon national or local government to finance their fina ...

providing education from early learning to prep to year 12. The college has 2 campuses: One located in

Pakenham, Victoria Pakenham ( ) is a suburb of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District and the most populous in the Shire of Cardinia. Pakenham recorded a population of 54,118 at the 2021 census. Pakenham has be ...

and one located in

Berwick, Victoria Berwick () is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-east of Melbourne's central business district, located within the City of Casey local government area. Berwick recorded a population of 50,298 at the 2021 census. It was named ...

, Australia, each campus with a co-located Little Beacons Learning Centre. Beaconhills was established in 1982 by the

Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

and Uniting Churches to serve the education needs of the Christian community in the greater Pakenham area. The college celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2022.

College history

The idea to establish a local, independent, Christian school was conceived by a group of parishioners a
St. John's Anglican Church
in Upper Beaconsfield in 1980. By March 1981 a steering committee had been established with John McConchie appointed as chairperson. The steering committee called a public meeting at the Pakenham Hall on 11 March 1981 where the proposal to establish an ecumenical, co-educational, low-fee secondary school was ratified in the presence of some 250 people. In 1981, as the steering committee continued to hold public meetings seeking support for the new school, a site on Toomuc Valley Road, Pakenham was purchased and portable classrooms obtained from St. Catherine's School in

Toorak Toorak () is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Stonnington local government area. Toorak recorded a population of 12,817 at the 2021 census. The name ...

, and Frank Millett was appointed as founding principal. On 3 February 1982, Beaconhills Christian College opened with 34 students and five staff. A dedication service was held at St. James Church on 28 March 1982. Frank Millet led the college as principal until 1988, by which time the college community had grown to include 388 students and a teaching staff of 30. John McConchie, having led the steering committee, was chairperson of the board until 1986.

Campuses

Beaconhills College operates two campuses across

Victoria, Australia Victoria, commonly abbreviated as Vic, is a state in southeastern Australia. It is the second-smallest state (after Tasmania), with a land area of ; the second-most-populated state (after New South Wales), with a population of over 7 million; ...

. The 18-hectare Pakenham campus opened in 1982. The boarding house is adjacent to the campus. The Berwick campus opened in 2003. The 630-seat community performing arts auditorium, the Tony Sheumack Centre for Performing Arts, is located at the Berwick campus. Both campuses have a performing arts auditorium, a human movement centre, outdoor multipurpose courts, sporting ovals, visual art studios, woodworking workshops, food technology kitchens, and computer laboratories for students.

SEISA

Beaconhills has hosted multiple SEISA competitions across both campuses in soccer, softball, basketball, netball, hockey, theatre sports, public speaking, and debating.

Co-curricular clubs

Beaconhills College offers more than 40 co-curricular clubs and outdoor experiences. * Cadets * Sparks * Taiko drumming club * Rainbow Club * Performing Arts ** Wind Orchestra ** Strings Group ** Ensembles ** Choirs ** Productions ** Bands **Tech Team (Light & Sound) *SEISAs *Tennis *Equestrian *STEAM Club *Human Powered Vehicle

Performing Arts

Instruments Offered: * Cello * Double Bass * Viola * Violin * Guitar * Clarinet * Flute * Saxophone * Voice * Bass Guitar * Trumpet * Trombone * Euphonium * Tenor Horn * Tuba * Piano * Drum kit Dance Offered: * Hip Hop * Ballet * Jazz * Acrobatics * Contemporary – Lyrical Drama: Individual or Duo lessons.

Notable alumni

Pippa Black Pippa Black (born 16 October 1982) is an Australian actress. From 2005 to 2009, Black played Elle Robinson in the soap opera ''Neighbours''. Black played Tonya in the NBC series '' Outsourced'' from 2010 to 2011. Career Black appeared in the ...

– Actress * Tom Bugg – AFL Footballer *

Matthew Buntine Matthew Buntine (born 19 October 1993) is a professional Australian rules footballer who last played for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was drafted with pick five in the 2011 national draft. Bunti ...

– AFL Footballer * Callum Porter – AFL Footballer

References

External links

Beaconhills College website
{{GIS Schools Private secondary schools in Victoria (state) Gippsland Independent Schools Educational institutions established in 1982 Anglican schools in Victoria (state) 1982 establishments in Australia Buildings and structures in the City of Casey Buildings and structures in the Shire of Cardinia