The foundation for today’s vibrant learning environment began in 1966 when the Yarra Valley Church of England School opened with 135 boys under founding Principal, Mr John Pascoe. Together with his staff, they were commissioned ‘to guide and instruct the boys in their care’.
A busy decade of substantial building and development followed, including the construction and opening of the Senior School Library, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Arts and Crafts buildings, Music School and Administration block.
The School’s Hearing Unit opened in 1972, enabling hearing impaired students to enjoy all aspects of the School’s learning environment. This milestone represented a significant achievement for the parents of these students and for the School community.
In 1978, just 12 years after the School opened, girls were enrolled in HSC (Year 12) marking Yarra Valley Grammar’s co-educational beginning – a development that enriched the School’s learning environment as it flowed through the younger year levels and by 1994 the School was fully co-educational, ELC to Year 12.
Further works over the next 20 years extended the School’s exceptional facilities to include the Performing Arts Centre and the Physical Education and Sports Complex. As the School’s facilities increased, so did its student body. The concept of a Junior School, Middle School and Senior College was introduced in the 1990s, by which time student numbers exceeded 700.
In 2002, our Early Learning Centre was officially opened, bringing with it the introduction of continuous learning for students from three years of age.
In 2015 a new Science and Mathematics faculty was opened, replacing the original Science building that was lost to fire in 2012. This state-of-the-art building offers a genuine 21st learning experience for our students with dedicated mathematics classrooms and science laboratories, lecture theatre and Collaboratory spaces for group and individual learning. Also new in 2015 is a Food technology kitchen and classroom enabling Food technology to be incorporated into the curriculum.
In 2016 Yarra Valley Grammar (re-named in 1999) community proudly celebrated 50 years of success in all aspects of school life. The remarkable development of Yarra Valley Grammar and its unique and dynamic learning environment could only have been achieved with the assistance and commitment of students, parents and the greater School community.
In 2019 the new Research Centre was officially opened and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit was dedicated on 18 June by The Most Reverend Dr Philip Freier, Archbishop of Melbourne and Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia.
In 2020 Mr Chris Lawson, Deputy Principal and Head of Junior School, retired after 14.5 years of distinguished service to the School.
In 2021 the new Fine Arts Building was officially opened on Friday 21 May by The Governer of Victoria Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC. The building was also dedicated by The Most Reverend Dr Philip Freier, Archbishop of Melbourne.
In 2022 students, staff, parents and friends gathered to celebrate 50 years of the Hearing Unit.
In 2023 The inaugural Cater-Merry Football Cup between YVG and Mentone Grammar was won by the Yarra First XVIII. The new Junior Primary Building and ELC extension opened in Term Three. The conversion of the Lecture Theatre into two new Science Laboratories was completed for Term Three.
In 2024 The new Junior Primary playground officially opened on 19 February. Work commenced on the Performing Arts and Media School which will open in 2025. Mrs Carrie Edwards-Britt took over from Mr Andrew Hirst as Chair of the School Board
In 2025 Dr Mark Merry, Principal, announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2025 academic year after 16 years of inspirational leadership and distinguished service to the School.
The Dr Mark Merry Performing Arts and Media School was officially opened on Thursday 3 July by Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria. The building was dedicated by Right Reverend Dr Paul Barker, Bishop for the Jumbunna Episcopate and Right Reverend Dr Paul Barker, Bishop for the Jumbunna Episcopate.
2026 marked the 60th anniversary of the School with a special service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Sunday 8 February, the anniversary of the School’s commencement in 1966.
The School announced the introduction of four new Houses from the beginning of 2027. The new Houses have been named after four of Yarra Valley Grammar’s Chairs of the School Board who have contributed so much to the life of the School community, and will join our existing Houses – Arnott, Annells, Hughes and Plummer. These Houses are:
Edwards: Carrie Edwards‑Britt- YOG 1999, Chair of the School Board 2024-current.
Hirst: Andrew Hirst - YOG 1988, Yarra parent, School Board member 2012 – 2024, including five years as Chair.
Tipping: Sarah Tipping – School Board member from 2001 to 2019, including nine years as its first female Chair.
Vick: Gary Vick – Yarra parent. School Board member 1996, serving for sixteen years, including as Chair (2008–2011).
The seventh Principal of Yarra Valley Grammar, Dr Amy Van Arkkels, commenced on Monday 6 July.
Levavi Oculos
Yarra Valley Grammar’s motto is Levavi Oculos, which means ‘I lift up my eyes’. It comes from the first line of Psalm 121 and reflects the School’s Christian ethos of an inspirational, yet humble approach to student life.
Our School badge, a Bishop's Mitre, represents the tongues of fire that appeared above the head of each apostle at Pentecost, the Feast of the Holy Spirit. The Cross of Christ appears on the Mitre three times, signifying the Holy Trinity. As the light of Christ conquers even the darkness of death, so too the red and yellow, the colours of Pentecost, stand out against the black reminding us that the deeds of light always overcome the deeds of darkness.
The School Chapel is dedicated to the Holy Spirit, and the School's Holy Day is the Feast of Pentecost. Yarra Valley Grammar’s motto was chosen at the founding of the School. The location of the School overlooking the Yarra Valley towards Mount Dandenong and the Warburton Ranges, and the aim of the School, to be a place of inspiration, make the opening line of the Psalm a very appropriate motto.
I lift up my eyes to the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip
He who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you
The Lord is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm -
He will watch over your life;
The Lord will watch over your coming and going
Both now and forevermore.
