Grace C. LawrancePrint Page

The gates commemorate Miss Grace C. Lawrance, who was the first principal of the Glennie School, from 1910 to 1925.

On 27 July 1908, Grace and Margaret Lawrance were invited to become the first co-principals when the Diocese of Brisbane acquired their school, St Alban’s College which had been established in the home of Mrs Cruise in Russell Street. Following Canon Glennie’s death, an endowment fund was established and became known as the Glennie Memorial School Fund. Under this title, the endowment fund attracted considerable public support and became the nucleus of the monies that built the ‘Glennie Memorial School’.

The original school building was opened and dedicated on 10 August 1910 on its present site. It remains a fine example of the architecture of H J Marks whose designs can be found in a number of historic buildings in Toowoomba.

Miss Margaret Lawrance later moved on to Newcastle Girls’ Grammar School, whilst Miss Grace Lawrance stayed to guide the School through its founding years, finally retiring from a well-established Glennie in 1925. She then moved to Sydney where she founded Queenwood School for Girls.

An arresting design in stone and wrought iron has been conceived by Mr. J. V. D. Coutts, F.R.A.I., architect, for the memorial gates to be erected in memory of the late Miss C. G. Lawrance, first principal of the Glennie Memorial School, Toowoomba. Miss Lawrance, who died in Sydney in November, 1932, was principal from 1910-25, and was greatly revered by her old students. In order to perpetuate her memory a committee resolved to erect memorial gates, and the design of Mr. J. V. D. Coutts was chosen from seven others.
The Courier-Mail (Brisbane), 4 May 1934.


TOOWOOMBA, December 11. The dedication and opening of the gates of the Glennie School, erected in memory of Miss Grace Lawrance, the first head mistress of the school, which was performed this afternoon by Dr. Wand, Archbishop of Brisbane, was marred by steady rain but hundreds assembled in the school grounds or remained seated in cars. Because of the conditions the addresses to be given by the Rev. J. E. N. Osborn, chaplain, and the Archbishop were cancelled. Mr. Osborn alluded to the presence of the Rev. B. G. Lawrance, of Southport, brother of Miss Grace Lawrance. Cutting the school ribbons which spanned the front of the gates, his Grace declared them officially opened.
The Courier-Mail (Brisbane), 12 December 1934.​

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