Pascoe Vale Girls’ Secondary College

In 1956, Pascoe Vale Girls’ College first opened its doors to 115 eager students. Imagine those first classes, not within the modern buildings we see today at Pascoe Vale Girls’ College, but in borrowed spaces. The Holy Trinity Parish Hall and the Central Progress Association Hall served as temporary classrooms, while the permanent site on Lake Avenue was being built. Pascoe Vale Girls’ College quickly grew, reaching 500 students by the time they moved to their current location in 1957. Construction continued in stages. By 1962, the main building was complete. A ceremony marked the occasion, with the Director of Education himself unveiling a commemorative plaque. Pascoe Vale Girls’ College continued to evolve under the leadership of Miss E.D. Daniel. She became Head Mistress in 1963. She was a strong advocate for girls’ education. She championed their academic potential and encouraged them to pursue leadership roles. Reflecting this ambition, the school shed its “Girls Domestic School” label and officially became Pascoe Vale High School in 1966. A new assembly hall, named after Miss Daniel, opened in 1968. Interestingly, despite not having a sixth form at the time, enrollments at Pascoe Vale Girls’ College kept rising. Talented students had to transfer to other schools to complete their final year. Further developments came in the 1970s and 1980s. A Commonwealth Science block was added. The school oval was named after long-serving School Council President, George O’Brien. The library, named after Principal E. De Motte, was also built during this period. The school continued to adapt to the changing educational landscape. In 1991, Pascoe Vale Girls’ College transitioned to become a Secondary College. It embraced self-management in 1995 as part of the “Schools of the Future” program. In 2002, the school’s name officially changed to Pascoe Vale Girls’ College. Even today, with over 800 students, Pascoe Vale Girls’ College continues to serve a diverse student body from a broad geographical area. More recent renovations, completed in 2011, brought a $6.3 million upgrade to the facilities. Did you know that the school’s previous principal, Miss Helen Jackson, holds the record as the longest-serving principal in Victoria? With over 60 years of teaching experience, her dedication is truly remarkable. Today, Pascoe Vale Girls’ College thrives under the leadership of Principal Kay Peddle, appointed in 2015. The school is divided into four houses: Cowan (green), Wake (red), Melba (blue), and Alberti (yellow). These houses are named after inspiring women: Edith Cowan, Nancy Wake, Nelly Melba, and Susan Alberti. They represent the school’s commitment to celebrating female achievement.