Richmond High School (Victoria)

Public, co-educational school in Richmond, Victoria, Australia

Richmond High School

Location

Richmond

Victoria

Australia

Information
Type| Public, Co-educational
Motto| Make a Difference
Established| 2018
Founders| Government of Victoria
Grades| 7 - 12
Campus| Griffiths St (Academic Campus) and Gleadell St (Sports Campus) (Richmond)
Colour(s)| Orange and Grey
Affiliations| Melbourne Girls College
Website| https://rhs.vic.edu.au/

Richmond High School (commonly referred to as RHS) is a high school located in the Melbourne, Australia suburb of Richmond. The new Richmond High School celebrates the return of a much missed local comprehensive co-education secondary school to Richmond site.[1] The school consists of a multi-storeyed modern academic building and a comprehensive sports campus, accommodating over 500 students - as of 2024.

Its predecessor, Richmond Secondary College, was the centre of a public protest and occupation of the site[2] after it was listed for closure by the Liberal Kennett Government in 1993.

# History

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## 1967–1992

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The school commenced in 1967 in portable classrooms at the back of Brighton Street Primary School, before moving in 1970 to purpose-built premises on the banks of the Yarra River near Bridge Road. The school's name was changed to Richmond Secondary College, and in 1992 it was listed for closure by the Kennett Government.[3] Community protests against the closure were endorsed by the Victorian Trades Hall Council and lasted 360 days before protesters were evicted by the Victoria Police Force Response Unit.[4] The methods of crowd dispersal used by police on Monday 13 December 1993, which included "pressure holds" and a baton charge, were the subject of a parliamentary inquiry,[5] with 30 demonstrators receiving $300,000 in a settlement from the Bracks Government in 2000.[6][7] In 1994, the buildings became the campus of the new Melbourne Girls College.

In 2014 the Labor Party pledged to build a new Richmond High School if elected.[8] In 2016 the Labor Government announced plans to build the school.[9]

## 2018–present day

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The new Richmond High School is located in Gleadell Street (Sports and Multi-purpose Campus, opened in 2018) and Griffiths Street (Academic Campus, opened in 2019).[10] Richmond High School welcomed its first Year 12 cohort in 2023. It ranked in the top 30 public schools in Victoria in their first VCE year.[11]

Richmond High School is also a one of the foundation network schools for the Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES). They are also a member of The City Edge Network of Schools.

# Curriculum and Extra Curricular

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Richmond High School offers the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) to all of their senior students (10-12). RHS also offers VCE VM for years 10-12 upon request. [12]

## Languages Program

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Richmond High School is the only government school in Victoria, to offer the Enhanced Chinese Program (ECP). This allows students to engage with bilingual Chinese enhancing academic excellence and engagement. [13] Richmond High School from 2023 also offers a Spanish program.[14]

# Heritage Schools

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\- Richmond Central State (Primary) School - 1872-1987[15]

\- Richmond Girl's High School - 1926-1993[16]

\- Richmond High School – No. 8269 - 1967-1992[17]

\- Richmond Technical School - 1926-1988 (Merged with Richmond High School - No. 8269)[18]

The new Richmond High School (2018-Present) serves as the key co-educational provider for the suburb of Richmond and is the local school for large parts of Abbotsford, Hawthorn and Kew.[19]

# References

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1. ^ "'An extraordinary opportunity': the new schools opening in 2018". 28 January 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2025. `{{cite news}}`: `|first=` missing `|last=` (help)
2. ^ Kennett, Jeff (3 June 2014). "A Lesson in How Good Grew From Bad". Herald Sun. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
3. ^ "Richmond's $43m, really high school gets off the ground, aims to be open by 2018". 21 February 2017.
4. ^ McCulloch, J.; Clayton, Marcus (June 1996). "Victoria on the Move! Move! Move!" (PDF). Alternative Law Journal. 21: 103–108.
5. ^ Investigation into Alleged Excessive Force by the Police Against Demonstrators at the Richmond Secondary College on Monday 13 December 1993 and Investigation into Crowd Control Methods Used by the Victoria Police Against Demonstrators Outside the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Headquarters Victoria Parade East Melbourne on Thursday 10 February 1994 (PDF) (Report). State Ombudsman, Victoria. November 1994.
6. ^ Richards, Chris (host) (24 October 2000). "Protesting Legalities". The Law Report. ABC Radio National. Transcript.
7. ^ Iltis, Tony; Price, Susan (1 November 2000). "Bracks, police cop it at Labor conference". Green Left Weekly. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
8. ^ "Labor promises new high school for Richmond". 4 August 2014.
9. ^ "Victorian state budget 2016: Labor pledges $1.1 billion education spending blitz". 26 April 2016.
10. ^ "Richmond High School".
11. ^ "School Rankings 2023l".
12. ^ School, Richmond High School (3 April 2025). "Curriculum". Richmond High School. Retrieved 3 April 2025.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
13. ^ School, Richmond High School (3 April 2025). "Enhanced Chinese Program". Richmond High School. Retrieved 3 April 2025.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
14. ^ School, Richmond High School (3 April 2025). "Enhanced Chinese Program". Richmond High School. Retrieved 3 April 2025.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
15. ^ School, Richmond High School (3 April 2025). "RHS History". Richmond High School. Retrieved 15 April 2025.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
16. ^ School, Richmond High School (3 April 2025). "RHS History". Richmond High School. Retrieved 15 April 2025.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
17. ^ School, Richmond High School (3 April 2025). "RHS History". Richmond High School. Retrieved 15 April 2025.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
18. ^ School, Richmond High School (3 April 2025). "RHS History". Richmond High School. Retrieved 15 April 2025.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
19. ^ School, Richmond High School (3 April 2025). "RHS History". Richmond High School. Retrieved 15 April 2025.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

## External links

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* Richmond High School
* www.richmondhighschool.info

37°49′18″S 145°00′52″E﻿ / ﻿37.82167°S 145.01444°E﻿ / -37.82167; 145.01444