Time Line of Urrbrae Agricultural Highschool by Charlotte Thomas

1834

charlottethomas199 — 2025-03-20 04:22:18 UTC

In 1834 on the 9th May, in Kirkcaldy, Scotland Peter Waite was born. Being born in Scotland, he was exposed to the farming life, which would later leave a positive impact on his career as agriculturist. Meanwhile the land of Urrbrae was owned by a family, the Mitchell family.

1859

charlottethomas199 — 2025-03-20 04:33:01 UTC

In 1859, Peter Waite was at the age of 25 and had made the decision to follow the footsteps of his two brothers (James and David) by migrating to the Colony of South Australia. He joined his brother James at ‘Pandappa’, a pastoral property near Terowie in the north east of South Australia.

1862

charlottethomas199 — 2025-03-20 04:41:19 UTC

In 1862, Peter waite was offered a lease of a nearby property from Thomas Elder (who was a Scottish-Australian pastoralist). Peter took the lease willingly, seeing it as a good opportunity and good investment.

1863

charlottethomas199 — 2025-03-24 01:10:20 UTC

In 1863, Peter Waite faced a personal tragedy when his brother James came to his death. James was crossing a flooded horseback when unfortunately he slipped and drowned in the fast tide of the water. Other than this being a emotional part of Peter's life, it also gave him the ownership of his brothers property 'Pandappa'. This added to Peter's wealth and influence. Just a year after getting ownership over Pandappa, Peter Waite had established himself as a pastoralist and property manager.

1864

charlottethomas199 — 2025-03-25 07:36:43 UTC

By 1864, Peter was ready to bring his fiancé Matilda Methuen, (who was his first cousin) down to South Australia. She caught a voyage down called 'city of Adelaide' and then had a long journey to Pandappa in horse drawn vehicles. Later in November Peter and Matilda got married.

1872

charlottethomas199 — 2025-03-25 07:46:04 UTC

In 1872, a major event happened in Peter Waite's time, and that is his purchase of Urrbrae Estate. This would play major part in Peter's life since alot of his work after this purchase would involve Urrbrae, as well as it just being good for his place as a pastoralist. In March 1877 Peter Waite and his family moved into the Urrbrae House, which was a house built designed by C. H. Marryat and E. J. Woods, built by Nicholas W. Trudgen.

1913-1932

charlottethomas199 — 2025-03-27 07:11:55 UTC

1913, Peter Waite gifted 114 acres of land to Urrbrae for the purpose of creating an Agricultural Highschool through his passion of pastoralism and being an agriculturalist. In 1932 the high school opened for the first time, there was a total of 62 students and 4 teachers, the first head master was A.K Hilton.

1950s

charlottethomas199 — 2025-03-27 07:23:18 UTC

John Tennant Mortlock introduces a 10,000 pound scholarship for excellence in academics, which later become known as the 'Mortlock Scholarship'. The annual magazine (Harvest) was first created in 1954 and has continued each year since providing a good overview of the successful schooling year.

1970

charlottethomas199 — 2025-03-27 09:22:52 UTC

The last 32 acres of land were handed to Urrbrae from Peter Waite at a price of 20 shillings a year. This was after 20 acers of land was cut out from the property for the setting up of Unley High School.

1974

charlottethomas199 — 2025-03-27 09:56:28 UTC

It was in 1974 that Urrbrae changed the rules and allowed girls to attend the school which was a huge milestone in history for the school. Two girls were enrolled after the changes were brought in.

1978

charlottethomas199 — 2025-03-27 10:12:52 UTC

In 1978 there was a proposal for there to be a high school and further education facility on the campus, this was after new agricultural facilities were built from parental donations including a piggery, stables, stock, poultry, cattle and implement sheds that were completed in 1976.

1994

charlottethomas199 — 2025-03-27 10:24:59 UTC

In 1994, Premier Dean Brown announced a 19 million redevelopment and expansion for rural education under the U.A.H.S group.

1995

charlottethomas199 — 2025-03-27 10:32:40 UTC

Paddock c was built to teach sustainable agriculture, while over 5000 fodder and bush tucker vegetation was planted as well as the construction of wetlands, nocturnal house and marsupial enclosure was built between 1995 and 1997.

1998 - 2000

charlottethomas199 — 2025-03-27 10:43:54 UTC

New teaching blocks were opened in 1998 as well as a new administration office, T.A.F.E buildings in 2000.

Now

charlottethomas199 — 2025-03-27 10:50:43 UTC

2025 Urrbrae now educates over 1500 students across the campus including a 35 hectare farm and T.A.F.E campus.