Our History
St Philip's College has undergone significant change over it's 75+ year history: transforming from a boarding facility for the children of families living in remote Central Australia to the thriving day and boarding school it is today.
1945
In 1945 the Reverend Harry Griffiths, who worked for the Methodist Inland Mission in Alice Springs, saw the need for a boarding facility for children of families living in remote areas in Central Australia who needed access to schools.
He and his wife established Griffiths House, on a site in the town centre, and for many years it became home for students from all over the Outback, including many young Aboriginal people.
Opening Day of A Block, 18 February 1970. Note the wrought iron cross visible on the wall. (Deidre McNeil)
Griffiths House in the 1950s. (Source unknown, SPC Archives)
34 Hartley Street - signage on the front of Griffiths House (Deidre McNeil)
1950
In the late 1950's the Rev Dr Fred McKay, successor to the Rev John Flynn as Superintendent of the Australian Inland Mission, lobbied the United Church in the Northern Territory to build and expand on this important start.
Together the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational churches embarked on a missionary venture to develop St Philip's College - a new, larger residential hostel which would one day become a full boarding school.
An ideal site - 22 acres of bush at the junction of the Charles and Todd Rivers and backing on to the Telegraph Station National Park - was secured and after six years of planning, construction began in 1964.
1960 and the work parties
Although work on the new school site was progressing steadily, there were still issues that were delaying the opening. Fred McKay proposed a number of Work Camps to help get the work completed.
The work parties were comprised of volunteers from all over Australia who travelled to Alice Springs, paying their own way and volunteering their expertise, time and labour, to turn a dream into a reality. This is a fantastic tradition that continues today, with work parties arriving during the mid-year school break.
On 13 February 1965 the first boarders moved in to St Philip's College.
For the first 24 years, therefore, St Philip's College operated as a residential hostel only.
1986 - Chris Tudor and the beginning of the day school
The College’s ninth Headmaster, Mr Christopher Tudor, arrived in 1986. He and the Council Chairman, Mrs Jan Heaslip, judged that the time was right to complete the original plan to turn St Philip’s College into a fully fledged independent boarding/day school, serving not only “bush” families, but also the growing population of Alice Springs.
The then College Council embraced the idea and three years of frantic, determined preparation and planning commenced, culminating in an extensive $2 million building program in 1988, and the day school opened in 1989.
2016 to the Present
In 2016, after 30 years of unprecedented and dedicated service, Headmaster, Chris Tudor retired. During his tenure the College saw growth in student numbers and in the construction of campus facilities.
The College's current Principal, Leslie Tilbrook continues the vision set by her predecessors in ensuring that all children in Outback Australia have access to excellence in education.
To this day there continues to be further development with the completion of the Discovery Centre in 2024.
We acknowledge the Arrernte people as the traditional custodians and first educators of Mparntwe. Our school is home to students from nations all around the world. We ‘strive’ to work with and continue learning from First Nations people. We ‘seek’ to be a part of Australia’s reconciliation journey by engaging in truth-telling. We aim to ‘care’ for Country through connection and environmental education. We pay our respects to elders past and present and thank them for their care of Country and sharing of knowledge.