“A school for self-reliant young women,” a phrase that echoes through the history of St. Gabriel’s. St. Gabriel’s Anglican Church stands as a testament to faith and education in Queensland. It is located in Carindale. But its story stretches far beyond these walls. Let me tell you about St. Gabriel’s.
St. Gabriel’s story began in 1921. The Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent established it. It was founded as a school for girls. They aimed to provide education to children in Northern Australia. St. Gabriel’s became known for producing independent young women. The school espoused the Platonic ideal. This ideal focused on developing the whole person. Mind body and spirit were all important.
During the Second World War, St. Gabriel’s faced disruption. The school was commandeered by the US Military. It was used as a Military Hospital. The students were relocated to the Royal Hotel at Richmond. This was hundreds of miles west. But the school continued. Large numbers of boarders still sought a “Gabes” education. Imagine the classrooms transformed into hospital wards. Picture the students studying in a hotel.
Miss Ena Eden took charge of St. Gabriel’s School at the end of 1941. This was due to a shortage of staff. The previous headmaster Canon O’Keefe had resigned. Miss Eden led the school through the challenging war years. But sadly she died suddenly in January 1944. Archdeacon James Norman then became Priest-in-charge. This lasted until 1945. There were 22 boarders at the school in 1944.
The American Military Hospital left St. Gabriel’s in June 1944. The students returned. After the war, an old Army hut became the meal room. It is now used as a prep room. In September 1940 a house was purchased. It was moved to the school grounds. It was used as part of the Military Hospital during WW2. It was known as Becket House.
St. Gabriel’s has a connection to All Souls’ School. All Souls’ was a school for boys. It was established in 1920. It served as a memorial to the fallen of the First World War. By the 1970s, St. Gabriel’s and All Souls’ conducted co-educational classes. By 1990 the two schools had merged. They were located on the All Souls’ campus. In 2000, the school’s ownership changed. It passed to All Souls St Gabriels School Inc. This created a new, growing school. It incorporated the traditions of the past. Today, students still discover the benefits of a “Souls” or “Gabes” education.
Now, standing here at St. Gabriel’s Anglican Church in Carindale, we see a place of worship. But it is more than that. It is a reminder of resilience. It is a symbol of dedication to education. The spirit of St. Gabriel’s lives on. It lives on in the lives it has touched. It lives on in the community it serves.