School Houses

Students at Illawarra Grammar are proudly part of one of four houses: Aranda, Coligan, Kogara and Wolgal.

Mr Ian Chapman – Headmaster (1972-1988)

The House System

From 1961, students were organised into three houses: Kingsley, Wilberforce, and Shaftesbury (regularly called Sharksbury by the students). A fourth house, Hammond, was introduced in 1965.

In 1968, under the leadership of Headmaster Mr Jock Mackinnon AM, there were three houses, named Farrer, Mawson, and Wentworth.

In 1973, Headmaster Mr Ian Chapman implemented a significant reform to the School’s House System at The Illawarra Grammar School. This new system introduced four houses named after Aboriginal people groups (found in a book in the Library): Aranda, Coligan, Kogara, and Wolgal. Each house was designed to foster a supportive, interage structure, where senior students could mentor and assist younger students.

House History

Our current House System has been in place since 1973, with all students allocated to one of four houses. Students are placed in the same House as any siblings, cousins, or alumni family members, such as parents and grandparents, to continue the tradition.

Aranda

Aranda House derives its name from an Aboriginal group originally inhabiting a large area in central Australia along the upper Finke River. Traditionally, the Aranda people were divided into five sub-groups, each marked by dialectal differences.

Coligan

The name Coligan honours the Gulidjan people, an Aboriginal group whose lands are in the Lake Colac area of Victoria. Known by various names, including Coligan, the Gulidjan language is now extinct. They occupied the area east of Lake Corangamite, bordering other Aboriginal groups such as the Wathaurong and Djargurd Wurrung.

Kogara

Kogara House takes its name from an Aboriginal group traditionally residing along the northern edge of the Nullarbor Plain, from Naretha to north of Loongana. This region, spanning approximately 28,600 square kilometres, was home to the Murunitja people, also known as Kogara, a name that signifies “east” or “easterners.”

Wolgal

Wolgal House is named after the Walgalu people, who lived around the snowfields near Kiandra and along the headwaters of the Murray, Tumut, and Murrumbidgee Rivers. Known for their strength, the Walgalu were prominent in the area. Their territory included the highlands of the Kosciuszko region, where they gathered seasonal resources.

Shell Shield

House points are earned through competing in the Swimming Carnival, Cross Country Carnival, Athletics Carnival, ArtsFest Competition, House Song and Interschool Debating.

Towards the end of each year, the House with the most points is awarded the Shell Shield.

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