List of Old Sydneians

The following is a list of notable past pupils of Sydney Grammar School (SGS). Former pupils of the School are known as Old Sydneians.

Old Sydneians' Union Logo

Politics, public service and the law

High Court of Australia

• Sir Edmund Barton (1859–1864), former Justice of the High Court of Australia and the first Prime Minister of Australia[1]
• William Gummow, former Justice of the High Court of Australia
• Sir Anthony Mason, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia and Chancellor of the University of New South Wales[2]
• Sir Richard O'Connor (1867), former Justice of the High Court of Australia and politician[3]
• Albert Piddington, former Justice of the High Court of Australia[4]
• Sir George Rich, former Justice of the High Court of Australia[5]
• Sir Victor Windeyer, former Justice of the High Court of Australia

Federal Court of Australia

• James Allsop AO, current Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia

Supreme Court of New South Wales

• Sir Leslie Herron, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales[6]
• Kim Santow, former Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales Court of Appeal, and a former Chancellor of the University of Sydney[6]
• Sir Kenneth Street, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales[7]
• Sir Philip Street, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales[8]
• Mark Leeming, current Justice of Appeal of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
• Francois Kunc, current Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
• Dr Andrew Bell SC, current President of the NSW Court of Appeal

Other notable lawyers

• Alan Blow AO, current Chief Justice of Tasmania and Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania
• Sir Norman Cowper, former lawyer. businessman, and administrator
• John Peden, former lawyer, politician and law professor[9]

Australian parliament

• Sir Edmund Barton (1859–1864), the first Prime Minister of Australia; Justice of the High Court of Australia[1]
• Peter Baume, former Senator for New South Wales; physician; Chancellor of the Australian National University[10]
• Max Falstein, Member for Watson (1940–1949) in the Australian House of Representatives[11]
• Paul Fletcher, current minister in the Morrison Government and Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts
• Sir William McMahon (1923–1926), 20th Prime Minister of Australia[12]
• Harold Thorby, former Member for Calare in the Australian House of Representatives and NSW government minister[13]
• Malcolm Turnbull, 29th Prime Minister of Australia[14]

New South Wales parliament

• Sir George Fuller, former Premier of New South Wales[15]
• Alex Greenwich, the current Member for Sydney[16]
• Sir Norman Kater, politician, medical practitioner and grazier[17]
• James Macarthur-Onslow, member of both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council; Australian Army Major General; later a businessman[18]
• John Maddison, former Attorney General of New South Wales[19]
• Harold Thorby, former NSW government minister and Member for Calare in the Australian House of Representatives[13]
• Andrew Tink, former politician, historian and author[20]

Other state parliaments

• Alan Cobcroft, former member of the Legislative Council of Samoa[21]
• John Fletcher, former Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and cricketer[22]
• Charles Mein (1857–1859), justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland, Member of the Queensland Legislative Council[23]
• Sir Boyd Dunlop Morehead, former Premier of Queensland[24]

Local government and community activism

• George Newhouse, former Mayor of Waverley Municipal Council[25]
• Brett Solomon, co-founder of accessnow.org[26]
• Steven Lewis, Waverley Municipal Council

Public servants

• Nicholas Cowdery, former Director of Public Prosecutions in New South Wales.[27]
• Sir Robert Garran, former lawyer and first Solicitor-General of Australia[28]
• Sir Hubert Murray, former Lieutenant-Governor of the Territory of Papua and boxer[29]

Military service

• General John Antill, Australian Army Major General during World War I[30]
• Clive Caldwell, Royal Australian Air Force World War II ace fighter pilot[31]
• General Sir Harry Chauvel, Australian Army Chief of Staff
• General John Grey, Australian Army Chief and Chancellor of James Cook University
• James Gordon Legge, Australian Army Lieutenant General during World War I[32]
• Daniel Levy, Australian Army Lieutenant General during World War I[32]
• James Macarthur-Onslow, Australian Army Major General during the Second Boer War and World War I, and later politician and businessman[18]
• Henry Normand MacLaurin, Australian Army Brigadier General during World War I[33]

Humanities

Academia

• Henry Kingsley Archdall, academic and clergyman
• Sir Christopher Clark, academic and Regius Professor of History at the University of Cambridge
• Alec Hill, historian[34]
• Dr Stephen Spurr, headmaster at the Westminster School[35]
• E G Waterhouse - linguist, professor of German at Sydney University, plant breeder

Social sciences

• Hugh Mackay, social commentator and former Chairman of Trustees of Sydney Grammar School[36]
• Malcolm Mackerras, psephologist[37]

Media and journalism

• George Blaikie, author and journalist
• Richard Carleton, reporter with the Australian edition of 60 Minutes[38]
• Charles Firth, member of The Chaser comedy team[39]
• Bruce Gyngell, first man to appear on Australian television[40]
• Richard Kingsmill, broadcaster with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• Dominic Knight, member of The Chaser comedy team[39]
• Chas Licciardello, member of The Chaser comedy team[39]
• Tim Palmer, journalist with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation[41]
• Siimon Reynolds, Australian advertising executive who developed the Grim Reaper advertisement for AIDS awareness[42]
• Nicholas Stuart, author and journalist.

Business

• Len Ainsworth, founder of Aristocrat Leisure Limited
• Demetrius Comino, engineer, inventor and philanthropist[43]
• Sir James Oswald Fairfax (1863–1928), newspaper proprietor[44][45]
• Sir James Reading Fairfax (1834–1919), newspaper proprietor[44]
• David Gonski, current Chairman of the Future Fund, Coca-Cola Amatil, Australia Council chairman, and Chancellor of the University of New South Wales[2]
• Simon Hannes, Macquarie Bank executive who was convicted of insider trading
• Sir Samuel Hordern, a director of Anthony Hordern & Sons[46]
• Nick Kelly (advertising) – advertising person and member of the so-called "Budgie 9" at the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix[47]
• Steven Lowy, co-Chief Executive Officer of Westfield Corporation

Sport

Athletics

• Slip Carr, Australian Olympian sprinter (1924)[48]
• Stuart Gyngell (1968–81), Australian Commonwealth Games shot putter (1986; 1 bronze medal)[49]
• Lachlan Renshaw, Australian Olympian middle distance runner (2008)

Boxing

• Sir Hubert Murray (1872–1877), English Amateur Heavyweight Boxing Champion; Lieutenant-Governor of the Territory of Papua[29]

Cricket

• Eric Barbour, NSW cricketer with 23 first class matches and 1,577 runs[50]
• Sir Edmund Barton (1859–64), first class umpire; first Prime Minister of Australia[51]
• Jim Burke, Australian international with 24 tests and 1,280 runs[52]
• Albert Cotter, Australian international with 21 tests and 89 wickets[53]
• John Fletcher, Queensland cricketer with 3 first class matches and 97 runs[22]
• Sir Norman Gregg, NSW cricketer with 3 first class matches and 116 runs[54]
• Hunter Hendry, Australian international with 11 tests and 335 runs[55]
• Sammy Jones, Australian international with 12 tests and 428 runs[56]
• Alan McGilvray, NSW cricketer with 20 first class matches and 684 runs, most notable for his cricket radio broadcasting[57]
• William Robison, NSW cricketer with 1 first class match and 15 runs[58]
• Fred Spofforth, Australian international with 18 tests and 94 wickets; first test cricketer to take a hat-trick
• Alan Walker, NSW and Nottingham cricketer with 94 first class matches and 221 wickets; also played for Australia in rugby union[48]
• Sammy Woods, Australian and England international with 6 tests and 10 wickets; also played for England in rugby union[59]

Rowing

• Mervyn Finlay, Australian Olympian (1952; 1 bronze medal)[60]
• Joe Gould, Australian Olympian (1936)
• Frederick Septimus Kelly, British Olympian (1908; 1 gold medal)
• Vic Middleton, Australian Olympian (1952)[60]
• Hugh Ward, Australasian Olympian (1912); soldier who was awarded the Military Cross and two Bars[61]
• Stuart Welch, Australian dual Olympian (2000 and 2004; 1 silver medal, 1 bronze medal)[62]

Rugby league

• Dallas Hodgins, North Sydney Bears player[48]
• Nick Pappas (1969–78), Chairman of South Sydney Rabbitohs[63]

Rugby union

• Malcolm Blair, Australian international with 3 caps and 0 points[48]
• Ernie Carr, Australian international with 6 caps and 3 points; brother of Slip Carr[48]
• Slip Carr, Australian international with 4 caps and 9 points; Australian Olympic athlete; brother of Ernie Carr[48]
• Tim Clark, Australian sevens international[48]
• Cam Crawford, NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies player with 13 Super Rugby caps and 40 points
• Emile de Lissa, President, Barbarian F.C.
• David Emanuel, Australian international with 9 caps and 0 points[48]
• Arthur Finlay, Australian international with 12 caps and 0 points[48]
• Charlie Fox, Australian international with 17 caps and 6 points; also the Australian captain[64]
• Charles Hammand, Australian international with 2 caps and 0 points[48]
• Bill Hemingway, Australian international with 5 caps and 9 points[48]
• Julian Huxley, Australian international with 9 caps and 22 points
• Wal Ives, Australian international with 5 caps and 0 points[48]
• Doug Keller, Australian and Scotland international with 13 caps and 0 points; also Scottish captain[48]
• Bob Loudon, Australian international with 13 caps and 12 points; Australian captain; brother of Darby Loudon[48]
• Darby Loudon, Australian international with 4 caps and 5 points; Australian captain; brother of Bob Loudon[64]
• Jack Maddocks Current player for the Melbourne Rebels, played for Australian Under-20s
• Hyam Marks (1886–92), Australian international with 2 caps and 0 points; played in first ever test[48]
• Andrew Mower, Scotland international with 13 caps and 0 points[48]
• Walter Phipps, Australian international with 1 cap and 0 points[48]
• Roland Raymond, Australian international with 13 caps and 30 points[48]
• Alex Ross, Australian international with 20 caps and 43 points; also the Australian captain[64]
• Geoff Storey, Australian international with 8 caps and 0 points[48]
• Alan Walker, Australian international with 5 caps and 3 points; also a first class cricketer[48]
• Alfred Walker, Australian international with 16 caps and 9 points; also the Australian captain[48]
• Johnnie Wallace, Australia and Scotland international with 17 caps and 48 points; also the Australian captain[64]
• Clarrie Wallach, Australian international with 5 caps and 0 points[48]
• Colin Windon, Australian international with 20 caps and 33 points; also the Australian captain[64]
• Sammy Woods, England international with 13 caps and 6 points; also an international for Australia and England in cricket[59]

Swimming

• Boy Charlton, Australian Olympian (1924, 1928 and 1932; 1 gold medal, 3 silver medals, 1 bronze medal)
• Frederick Lane, Australian Olympian (1900; 2 gold medals); Australia's first Olympic swimmer[65]

Tennis

• John Newcombe, seven-time Grand Slam winner[66]

Other sports

• Andrew Lock, Australian mountaineer[41]
• Rohan Chapman-Davies, Australian Olympic mogul skier
• Jim Ferrier, golfer

Arts

Film and theatre

• Dr Richard James Allen, writer, director and choreographer (Thursday's Fictions 2006 and numerous short films)[67]
• Stephan Elliott, writer and director (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert 1994)
• Richard Francis-Bruce, Academy Award-nominated film editor (The Shawshank Redemption 1994, Seven 1995, Air Force One 1997)
• Andrew Lesnie, Academy Award-winning cameraman (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 2002)
• John Meillon, film, television and voice actor (Crocodile Dundee, Crocodile Dundee II)[68]
• Gregan McMahon, actor and theatrical producer[69]
• Julian McMahon (1973-1986), actor; son of Prime Minister McMahon
• Charles 'Bud' Tingwell, film and theatre actor[70]

Music

• Alexander Briger, conductor[71]
• Nigel Butterley, composer
• Tim Derricourt, songwriter for indie rock group Dappled Cities and current English master at Sydney Grammar School
• Ross Edwards, composer
• Rob Hirst, drummer for Midnight Oil[72]
• Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor[73]
• Antony Walker (1980-1985), conductor[71][74]

Visual arts

• Charles Bryant, visual artist[75]
• Max Dupain, photographer[76]
• Donald Friend, visual artist and author[77]

Writing and poetry

• Dr Richard James Allen, poet, dancer, choreographer and director[67]
• John Le Gay Brereton, poet and professor of English[78]
• Michael Dransfield, poet[79]
• Joseph Jacobs, folklorist and literary critic best known for preserving fairy-tales such as Jack and the Beanstalk and The Three Little Pigs[80]
• Dowell Philip O'Reilly, poet and short story writer[81]
• Banjo Paterson, poet and journalist[82]

Science and medicine

• Dr Bryan Gaensler, Young Australian of the Year, 1999; former Assistant Professor of Astronomy at Harvard University; current professor at the University of Sydney
• Dr Rowan Gillies, former international president of Médecins Sans Frontières[41]
• Sir Norman McAlister Gregg, ophthalmologist who discovered the link between maternal rubella and birth defects[83]
• Edward Rennie, chemist[84]

See also

• List of non-government schools in New South Wales
• Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales

References

1. Edmund Barton Cricinfo. Retrieved on 9 December 2006.
2. The Chancellors of the University of New South Wales Exhibition University of New South Wales. Retrieved on 9 December 2006. Archived May 5, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
3. O'Connor, Richard Edward (1851 - 1912) Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition. Retrieved on 9 December 2006.
4. Albert Bathurst Piddington (1862 - 1945) Archived 21 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.
5. Rich, Sir George Edward (1863 - 1956) Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition. Retrieved on 9 December 2006.
6. Herron, Sir Leslie James (1902 - 1973) Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition. Retrieved on 31 December 2006.
7. The Honourable Sir Kenneth Whistler Street, K.C.M.G., K.St.J. Lawlink NSW. Retrieved on 31 December 2006. Archived November 4, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
8. Street, Sir Philip Whistler (1863 - 1938) Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition. Retrieved on 31 December 2006.
9. Peden, Sir John Beverley (1871 - 1946) Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition. Retrieved on 31 December 2006.
10. Foundations Sydney Grammar School. Retrieved on 31 December 2006. Archived August 20, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
11. "Falstein, Sydney Max (1914–1967)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
12. Australia's Prime Ministers - Fast Facts - McMahon National Archives of Australia. Retrieved on 9 December 2006. Archived March 23, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
13. Thorby, Harold Victor Campbell (1888 - 1973) Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition. Retrieved on 31 December 2006.
14. Malcolm Turnbull defeats Tony Abbott in leadership spill Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved on 14 September 2015.
15. "In the beginning..." Illawarra Mercury. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2004.
16. Retrieved on 26 June 2013.
17. "Sir Norman William Kater". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
18. Macarthur-Onslow, James William (1867 - 1946) Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition. Retrieved on 31 December 2006.
19. "The Hon. John Clarkson Maddison (1921-1982)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
20. Who's Who in Australia 2011 page 2106
21. Samoan elections Pacific Islands Monthly, December 1932, pp38–39
22. "Fletcher, John William (1884–1965)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
23. "Mein, Charles Stuart (1841–1890)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 16 July 2014 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
24. Morehead, Boyd Dunlop (1843 - 1905) Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition. Retrieved on 9 December 2006.
25. Tale of the tape: Malcolm Turnbull v George Newhouse The Australian Jewish News. Retrieved on 26 September 2007. Archived October 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
26. "Panelists". Q&A. Australia: ABC TV. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
27. Rotary Bulletin Vol 30 No 15 Rotary Club of Berowra Inc.. Retrieved on 31 December 2006.
28. Garran, Sir Robert Randolph (1867 - 1957) Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition. Retrieved on 31 December 2006.
29. Murray, Sir John Hubert Plunkett (1861 - 1940) Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition. Retrieved on 31 December 2006.
30. Major General John Antill University of New South Wales. Retrieved on 5 January 2007. Archived May 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
31. Group Captain C R "Killer" Caldwell, 1 Fighter Wing, RAAF Digger History. Retrieved on 5 January 2007
32. Legge, James Gordon (1863 - 1947) Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition. Retrieved on 31 December 2006.
33. Brigadier General Henry MacLaurin Australian Defence Force Academy. Retrieved on 31 December 2006. Archived January 15, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
34. Grey 2008, pp. 220–221 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFGrey2008 (help)
35. Westminster welcomes Dr Stephen Spurr Old Westminsters Online. Retrieved on 2 September 2007. Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
36. Hugh Mackay Financial Demographics - Population, Financial and Investment News. Retrieved on 12 December 2006.
37. Appendix IV: Contributors The Samuel Griffith Society. Retrieved on 7 January 2007 Archived June 29, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
38. Richard Carleton 60 Minutes Online. Retrieved on 12 December 2006. Archived August 21, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
39. Cutting to The Chaser The Age. Retrieved on 12 December 2006.
40. Gyngell, Bruce The Museum of Broadcast Communications. Retrieved on 12 December 2006.
41. Dr Rowan Gillies, Tim Palmer & Andrew Lock Sydney Grammar School Old Sydneians' Union. Retrieved on 5 January 2007. Archived August 21, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
42. http://www.abc.net.au/tv/talkingheads/txt/s2371209.htm
43. Darbyshire, Anthony, and Duckworth, Eric (2011), Demetrius Comino: A life and legacy of achievement, Comino Foundation.
44. Fairfax, Sir James Reading (1834-1919) and Sir James Oswald (1863-1928) Australian Dictionary of Biography Online. Retrieved on 13 December 2006.
45. Sir David Griffin: Renaissance Man NLA News. May, 2003. Retrieved on 9 December 2006.
46. Hordern, Sir Samuel (1876 - 1956) Australian Dictionary of Biography Online. Retrieved on 13 December 2006.
47. Dye, Josh. "Budgie Nine 'very glad' to be back on home soil after arrest for Grand Prix stunt". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
48. Stark, Andrew. "The History of Grammar Rugby: Rolling in the Dust — The Story of Sydney Grammar School Rugby". The Friends of Grammar Rugby. Archived from the original on 29 October 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
49. 'WORLD MASTERS (VETERANS) CHAMPIONSHIPS (MEN)' GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 16 March 2008. Archived January 17, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
50. "Barbour, Eric Pitty (1891–1934)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
51. "Edmund Barton". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
52. "Jim Burke". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
53. Cotter, Albert (1883 - 1917) Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition. Retrieved on 12 December 2006.
54. "Gregg, Sir Norman McAlister (1892–1966)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
55. Stork Hendry Cricinfo. Retrieved on 12 December 2006.
56. "Percy Jones". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
57. Alan David McGilvray, AM, MBE Cricinfo. Retrieved on 12 December 2006.
58. "Other deaths in 1916". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
59. Sammy Woods Cricinfo. Retrieved on 12 December 2006.
60. "Grammar Foundations" (PDF). Sydney Grammar School. June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
61. "Roar" (PDF). University of Sydney. Autumn 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
62. Stuart Welch Archived 2006-10-11 at the Wayback Machine Rowing Australia. Retrieved on 12 December 2006.
63. In George We Trust ABC Documentary Transcript. Broadcast on 2 August 2001.
64. Howell, Max (2005) Born to Lead - Wallaby Test Captains, Celebrity Books, Auckland NZ
65. Lane, Frederick Claude Vivian (1880 - 1969) Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition. Retrieved on 3 January 2007.
66. Newcombe, John (2004). Newk: Life on and off the court, p. 14. Momentum, Sydney. ISBN 1760080667.
67. Australian Poetry Library Retrieved on 3 February 2012
68. Giles, Nigel. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
69. McMahon, Gregan (1874 - 1941) Australian Dictionary of Biography Online. Retrieved on 13 December 2006.
70. Buds Birthday Party At Wallaby Dreaming Gallery Archived 14 September 2006 at Pandora Archive The Producers' and Directors' Guild of Victoria. Retrieved on 6 January 2007
71. Aronsten, Erica (November 2005). Barr, Philip (ed.). "Well conducted careers" (PDF). Grammar Foundations. Sydney: Sydney Grammar School Foundation (33): 18–19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
72. Macolm Turnbull the school bully Archived 2007-09-16 at the Wayback Machine The Bulletin. Retrieved on 17 September 2007.
73. Moss, Stephen (20 August 2005). "The modest maestro". Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 16 October 2007.
74. Newsletter No. 5; Antony Walker Archived April 19, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Pinchgut Opera Ltd. Retrieved on 13 December 2006.
75. "BRYANT, CHARLES DAVID JONES (1883-1937)". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
76. Max Dupain Max Dupain & Associates. Retrieved on 13 December 2006.
77. Donald Friend Eva Breuer Art Dealer. Retrieved on 13 December 2006.
78. Brereton, John Le Gay (1871 - 1933) Australian Dictionary of Biography Online. Retrieved on 13 December 2006.
79. Guide to the Papers of Michael Dransfield National Library of Australia. Retrieved on 13 December 2006.
80. Joseph Jacobs: Writer of Children's Literature Archived 27 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine Storyteller.net. Retrieved on 13 December 2006.
81. O'Reilly, Dowell Philip (1865 - 1923) Australian Dictionary of Biography Online. Retrieved on 7 January 2007.
82. A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson Library Sydney Grammar School. Retrieved on 13 December 2006. Archived October 26, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
83. Paul A. L. Lancaster, Gregg, Sir Norman McAlister (1892 - 1966), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 14, Melbourne University Press, 1996, pp 325-327.
84. "RENNIE, EDWARD HENRY (1852-1927)". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Retrieved 16 July 2014.

External links

• Sydney Grammar School website
• The Old Sydneians Union