Urrbrae Agricultural High School


Urrbrae Agricultural High School is a public high school in the Australian state of South Australia, with 1,500 students. The school is located in the Adelaide suburb of Netherby, about south-east of the Adelaide city centre. It is adjacent to the Waite Agricultural Research Institute of the University of Adelaide, the CSIRO Agricultural Research facilities in the suburb of Urrbrae, and various other agricultural and horticultural facilities established by Peter Waite, the University of Adelaide, and the South Australian state government.
The school is designated as a Special Interest School in Agriculture and the Environment, and is the only comprehensive special interest agricultural secondary school in South Australia. Its courses are strongly focused on agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, aquaculture, environmental earth, and other environmental subjects. Agricultural awards are awarded in these areas each year. Urrbrae also has a strong science and technology background, with extensive technology workshops, and many related courses available to students;. It also offers education programs for adults, and houses a TAFE campus.
Urrbrae Agricultural High School has an application process for students in Year 6 who wish to attend Urrbrae in their secondary school years. Unlike most public schools, Urrbrae is not part of the zonal system, and does not accept students based on where they live. Being the only comprehensive special interest agricultural secondary school in the State, it has students from all over the state. Students from country and distant areas often board locally, and many students travel long distances to school.
The campus includes a 35 hectare farm, and year 10 students give trail tours to visiting students from other schools. Urrbrae also has a swimming pool, a rock climbing wall, new tennis courts and large playing fields. A third of the site is a wetland, which is at which tours to other school are run by Urrbrae.
WWW urrbraehs.sa.edu.au

History

The school was founded in 1932 through a bequest from Peter Waite,, as a school to teach agriculture to boys. In 1972 it enrolled its first two female students, and in 2002 it achieved its first year-level that was equally represented by both genders.
The Urrbrae Old Scholars Association was established in 1934.

Farm

The UAHS farm is a 35 hectare farm which has many enterprises, including:
  • Sheep
  • Cattle
  • Poultry
  • Aquaculture
  • Horses
  • Orchard
  • Bees
  • Alpacas
  • Native Animals
  • Goats
  • Vineyard & winery
  • Olive trees
  • An extensive Wetland
  • Pigs
  • Native Animals
  • Birds
The Year 10, 11 and 12 students are involved in wine making, and with parental permission, are allowed to sample their own wine. Students are also able to make other produce, like butter, honey and yoghurt, through Agriculture Studies courses. These include practical lessons during the week, where students are able to participate in hands-on activities in all the different enterprises at the school. Activities include grooming and caring for the animals, preparing them for shows, and making butter, olive oil, and dried fruit from the school orchard and vineyard. In Year 8, students undertake a "Home Project" where they care for an animal or a plant, and record their experiences. Students also make vegetable gardens and are permitted to take home any produce they grow.
There are many lunch time clubs for students, with one for nearly every enterprise on the farm, including poultry, horses, plants and bee-keeping. Although club membership is voluntary, these clubs have high participation rates.

Uniform

  • Dress – Green Urrbrae dress
  • Skirt – Green Urrbrae skirt
  • Shirt – Green Urrbrae shirt with yellow logo
  • Shorts – Grey shorts
  • Trousers – Grey trousers or bone moleskins
  • Dark denim straight-leg jeans
  • Blazer/Jacket – Green Urrbrae jumper of various styles
  • Socks – Black or white
  • Footwear – Black leather shoes with no stripes or logos and matching laces or black/brown ELASTIC SIDED work boots
  • Scarf – Bottle green or Maroon
  • Hat – Green Bucket Hat
;Show Uniform
  • Shirt – Grey, available on loan
  • Trousers – Bone moleskin
  • School tie – available on loan
;Physical Education
  • Shirt – Red with green stripes
  • Shorts – Black gym shorts
  • Shoes – White soled
;Agriculture Uniform
  • Overalls or jeans
  • Hat
  • Boots

Notable alumni

Federal politicians

State politicians