Melbourne Grammar School

Boarding at Melbourne Grammar School offers boys the opportunity to benefit from the exceptional educational experience available at one of Australia’s leading schools, Melbourne Grammar School.

With a warm, friendly ‘home away from home’ atmosphere within our boarding precinct, boarders are welcomed into a warm, safe, and inclusive community that supports student learning and promotes a strong moral code of behaviour.

We provide accommodation for around 120 boys from Years 7 to 12 in our boarding precinct, located just a few minutes’ walk from our Senior School and Wadhurst campuses. We have three houses within the precinct – one for students in Years 7 – 8, and two for older students. Younger students share rooms but, by Year 11, boys have their own room. The precinct also houses recreational spaces, kitchenettes and study areas.

The Royal Botanical Gardens are adjacent to the boarding precinct and the MCG and AAMI Park are a short walk away. Beaches and central Melbourne are minutes away by tram.

A caring culture that supports achievement

The values that underpin all our activities across the School also strengthen the culture of care, warmth and acceptance in our boarding houses. All boarding staff members live in or near the boarding precinct together with their family, creating a strong community. Our boarders tend to form lifelong friendships with fellow students who share their experiences and aspirations.

Some students enjoy the structure provided by boarding, and find their academic results improve as a result. For others, having easy access to exceptional learning facilities and a wide range of co-curricular activities – from band and performance rehearsals to sports practice and careers events – is a major benefit.

Creating a home away from home

In many ways, Melbourne Grammar School boarders have an experience that is very similar to day students, but with the benefits of after-hours academic support, dedicated pastoral care, delicious provided meals. They share the experience of having a welcoming, home-like environment to return to at the end of the day.

The range of activities on offer within each boarding house, and the expertise and care of our staff, means that boys tend to quickly and happily settle into boarding life.

Of course, regular contact with home is encouraged and staff ensure parents are kept informed of their son’s academic and social progress.

Our boarding family

At Melbourne Grammar School, our boarding staff live in and around the boarding precinct, together with their families and pets.

This creates a true sense of community that warmly encompasses and supports boys, encourages the building of strong friendships, and provides immediate support if they do have issues or concerns.

Within this family-like community, our older boarders also watch out for the well-being of younger students. Parents are encouraged to stay in regular contact with their sons and their involvement in School life is welcomed.

Our approach to pastoral care extends to making sure the ‘habits of home’ are embedded in our day to day activities. For example, we make sure the milestone’s of boarders lives are celebrated – from simply spending time together sharing a birthday cake to recognising students’ achievements in sport and performance, and providing a smiling face to welcome them home at the end of the school day.

Life in the boarding house

Our boarding houses are happy and safe places that are an extension of the School community. We seek to provide students with stability, care and structure across every aspect of their boarding lives, along with the support of staff who are actively engaged with their learning and well-being.

A home away from home

Students describe life in our boarding houses as varied and accepting, providing them with many opportunities to become independent while building friendships that are often sustained well beyond graduation.

The fact that our boarding staff and their families live alongside our boarding houses just a few minutes’ walk from the School, means the entire boarding precinct operates as a single, close-knit community where boarders feel connected to and cared for by those around them.

Key boarding facilities and activities

Shared and private spaces

Boarders live in shared twin rooms in their lower secondary years and move to single rooms by Year 11. TV/lounge areas, table tennis and games rooms and a shared courtyard are all available for in-house leisure time.

Off-campus activities

On weekends, students can participate in activities including trips to the beach, cycling, ice skating, skiing and visits to the theatre. Our boarding houses are located close to public transport and students are within walking distance of the CBD, the Tan running track, the Royal Botanic Gardens and many other Melbourne attractions.

Nutrition

We are committed to providing boarding students with tasty and nutritious meals which promote healthy habits. Three hearty meals a day are prepared by our in-house catering team, together with morning and afternoon tea. Boys also have access to well stocked kitchenettes if they wish to make their own snack or cup of Milo.