North Sydney Technical High School on Miller Street, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia first opened as St Leonard's Superior Public School (opening 1844). The school has subsequently been named: Greenwoods, North Sydney Primary School, North Sydney Household Arts (Home science) School, North Sydney Intermediate High School, North Sydney-Chatswood Junior High and finally as North Sydney Technical High School until its closure in 1969.[1]
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The original 1844 school was managed by The Church of Scotland, and first operated from a timber shed then a larger stone building which is still standing on the eastern side of Miller Street, North Sydney.
1912 North Sydney Superior Public School was upgraded and split into North Sydney Primary School and North Sydney Intermediate High School. 1914 “Intermediate” graduate girls seeking further study transferred to the new North Sydney Girls ‘High’ School on Lane Cove Road (now Pacific Highway). 1915 “Intermediate” graduate boys seeking Leaving Certificate qualifications enrolled at the newly opened North Sydney Boys ‘High’ School at Falcon Street. 1932 Due to the demolition of school buildings to make way for the Harbour Bridge access road cutting (Pacific Highway see left), staff and “Household Arts” girls were transferred to be the initial student population of the new Willoughby Home Science School at Mowbray Road. Additionally, “Infant and Primary” students were transferred en bloc to the new North Sydney Demonstration School on the Lady Hay Estate (cnr Pacific Highway & Bay Road.) North Sydney Intermediate High School
The old stone buildings on the school site have been restored and incorporated into the modern Greenwood Hotel, a favourite drinking site for local business people. The Old Lions still have a connection to the site with their Old Lions Den which is a museum of the former school and is a focal point for the members of the Old Lions.
Upon closure in 1969, the majority of pupils transferred to North Sydney Boys High School. Among their number was future Australian Cricket Captain Allan Border. In a sense events had come full circle as the first classes of North Sydney Boys High School were temporarily formed at the Miller Street site from 1912 to 1914 under the supervision of the legendary Nimrod Greenwood. Today the connection is remembered in the annual Old Lions Award at North Sydney Boys High School.
The Old Lions is made up of the former students and teachers of that school which as well as providing a contact point for those connected with the school via its newsletters, website http://www.oldlions.org.au and dinners, also maintains a museum of the school and of early education on the north shore. The Lions Den is within the Greenwood Hotel complex on the old school site.
The Old Lions mounted a very strong defence of the old school after the site was sold and the old stone buildings threatened with demolition. The area has now been named Greenwood plaza in memory of the very influential and popular Headmaster of the school from 1884 to 1914 Nimrod Greenwood
The Old Lions holds a members dinner and a teachers lunch each year. Membership is very strong considering that the school closed more than 40 years ago.
The school has had a number of notable Australians amongst its alumni: