Before Penrith High School stood a mansion. Locals called it ‘The Towers’. Imagine its grand rooms filled with laughter and echoes of bygone days. Penrith High School’s story begins with this mansion.
Penrith High School opened in 1950. It wasn’t always a high school though. It started life as an intermediate school in the 1930s. This was on land next to the current Penrith Public School. The Department of Education acquired ‘The Towers’ in the 1940s. They demolished the old mansion to build the school we see today.
Two original sandstone pieces from ‘The Towers’ remain. They stand proudly in the Alumni Garden. These mark the entry to a gazebo. A replica of a plaque also sits there. The original plaque is in the school’s archives. It commemorates the opening of the original Penrith Intermediate School.
The school’s legacy extends beyond its bricks and mortar. Penrith High School boasts a remarkable academic history. Its NAPLAN results are among the highest in the state. The school consistently ranks highly in the Higher School Certificate. Over 90 students regularly achieve an ATAR over 90. The median ATAR recently reached 92.50. All students go on to university.
The school’s magazine still bears the name ‘The Towers’. It’s been in continuous publication since 1950. A quarterly alumni magazine shares the same name. The school marked 70 years in 2020. It will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2025.
Penrith High School is more than just a building. It’s a living testament to the past. It’s a place where academic excellence thrives. It’s a place where history lives on. It’s a place built on the foundation of ‘The Towers’. A place shaping the future of its students. A place worth exploring and remembering.