Cranbrook,in Bellevue Hill,was founded in 1918. Its alumni include billionaire Kerry Packer and his son James Packer,David Gyngell,the former chief executive of Nine Entertainment Co,owner of this masthead,and Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes.
Fees are up to $38,862 for years 11 and 12,making it Sydney’s third most expensive boys’ school after The King’s School and Scots College. Cranbrook is also planning a $125 million redevelopment,one of the most expensive of its kind,to add an aquatic centre and a ‘Centenary’ building.
Sources said Mr Farquhar,a graduate of public school,James Ruse Agricultural High,was an enthusiastic proponent of the plan and was a generous donor. Atlassian refuses to comment on the personal affairs of its directors,but his sons are believed to attend the school.
Forbes Magazine report Mr Farquhar is worth more than $18 billion. His co-founder Mr Cannon-Brookes is not involved in the Cranbrook proposal,multiple sources said.
There are few schools in the eastern suburbs for girls and boys - even the state schools are single sex - so the change would increase options for parents who now look to the co-ed Redlands in Cremorne and St Andrews in the city. One high-profile alumnus contacted by theHerald privately backed the move. Several parents also said they thought it was a good idea.
Sydney has more single-sex private schools than Melbourne,where many of its wealthiest schools such as Caulfield Grammar,Wesley College and Geelong Grammar,have been co-ed for decades. It also has fewer single-sex state schools.
Loading
Barker College,at Hornsby on Sydney’s upper north shore,has accepted girls in years 11 and 12 since 1975 but began moving towards being fully co-ed in 2016. Boys’ school St Andrew’s Cathedral became co-ed in 1999.
Several Marist Catholic high schools in Penshurst,North Sydney and Maroubra,have either become co-ed or announced plans to do so in recent years.
As part of the transition,they have added facilities for activities popular with girls,such as netball courts and dance studios,hired staff with experience in educating girls,and put existing staff through ‘gender bias training’.