James Nash State High School


James Nash State High School is a coeducational public secondary school in Gympie, Queensland, Australia. It was established in 1977 and named after gold discoverer James Nash. The school serves over 1,200 students and maintains a focus on academic and extracurricular programs, with its current principal being Jackson Dodd.
WWW Official Site

History

The school opened on 24 January 1977, honouring James Nash who identified the Gympie Goldfield in 1867.
It received a Queensland Showcase Award for Excellence in Education in 2013.

Structure and governance

James Nash State High School operates under the Queensland Department of Education. Leadership includes a principal, four deputy principals, and departmental heads overseeing curriculum and pastoral care. Staff numbers align with standard Queensland secondary school staffing ratios for its enrollment size.

Curriculum and activities

Sports program

The school organizes students into four sporting houses named after historic local gold mines:
HouseColors
CaledoniaBlack, purple
ColumbiaGreen
GlanmireBlue
PhoenixRed

These houses compete in annual inter-school athletics events and swimming carnivals.

Extracurricular offerings

Programs include:
  • Agriculture: Working farm with cattle and crop facilities
  • Performing arts: Annual musical productions
  • STEM initiatives: Robotics club and regional science competitions

Campus

Located at 109 Myall Street, the 14-hectare campus features:
  • Specialist facilities for vocational education
  • Sports ovals and multipurpose courts
  • Agricultural plots and greenhouse complex

Recognition

  • 2013 Queensland Showcase Award for Excellence in Education
  • Regional winners in STEM competitions

History

James Nash State High School officially opened on 24 January 1977 and was named in honour of James Nash, who discovered the Gympie Goldfield on 16 October 1867.
In 2013, James Nash State High School received a Queensland Showcase Award for Excellence in Education.

Sporting houses

James Nash State High School includes the following four sporting houses, all of which are named in reference to gold mines worked on the Gympie Goldfield, with their respective colours:
House nameColour
Caledonia Black, purple
Columbia Green
Glanmire Blue
Phoenix Red

Extracurricular activities

Clubs and societies

Sports

Inter-school sports competitions are available for AFL, Hockey, Netball, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Soccer.
Students have an ability to make representative regional teams in the following sports:
  • AFL
  • Basketball
  • Cricket
  • Golf
  • Hockey
  • Netball
  • Rugby League
  • Rugby Union
  • Soccer
  • Squash
  • Softball
  • Tennis
  • Touch Football
  • Volleyball
Annual Sports Carnivals are held for Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics. These carnivals are the base for James Nash State High School's four representative houses to vie for the ‘James Nash House Cup’.

Notable alumni