PHHS turns 50
In 1959, the first Secondary school in the Sutherland Shire was opened. Students were transferred from Sutherland Intermediate High School to Port Hacking High School which was to offer education up to Fifth Form. At that time, the majority of students left school after the Intermediate Certificate in 3rd Form (Year 9). Students could complete an additional two years leading to the Leaving Certificate at the end of Fifth Form, (Year 11).
However, education on its present site goes back much further. Most of the area now occupied by the Sutherland Shire had been acquired from 1861 onwards by Thomas Holt who was a very wealthy politician, pastoralist and businessman. He had tried many ventures including sheep and cattle grazing, timber cutting and oyster farming, mostly with little success. He intended to maintain control over his land by granting 99 year leases.
However, poor soils in much of the area and difficult access meant that relatively few settlers took up an option. The Miranda district with its rich farming soils did however attract settlers from the 1890's onwards and the area prospered. Miranda was centrally located and the hub of a busy agricultural area that specialised in poultry farming, orchards, market gardens and bee keeping. The particularly rich soil and proximity to the punt at Tom Ugly's helped establish Miranda. The Ly's were a family of market gardeners who farmed the present site of Port Hacking High School.
Parents applied for a school in October 1892. The district was then called 'Homewood', but to avoid confusion with another school the Department of Education decided to name it 'Miranda' (the name of the nearest Post Office). The name 'Miranda' (a female character in Shakespeare's play 'The Tempest') was given to the locality by James Murphy, Manager of the Holt- Sutherland Company (formed in 1881) which he deemed to be an appropriate name for a beautiful place.
The first school began on the 10th July 1893 in a privately owned tin shed on a site in Wandella Road, now occupied by the Port Hacking High School Auditorium. Rent was 10
shillings per week ($1). Enrolments began at 18 and finished at 48 by the end of the year. Later the site was moved to the corner of Kiora Road and Kingsway (or Malvern Road as it was called then).
In 1952 a new site was opened on the corner of Wandella Road and Kingsway (the site of the present Miranda Public School). Land maps from that time show the site the High School now occupies had been gazetted as the site for Miranda Secondary School.
More history later…
Mr B Watt
