# Parkdale Secondary College

Parkdale Secondary College is a public, co-educational secondary school located on Warren Road in the Melbourne suburb of Mordialloc, Victoria.
The college has completed the first stage and the second stage of a major upgrade which includes an early learning centre.
The principal of the school (from late 2017) is David Russell.

## Overview

Parkdale Secondary College is a year 7–12 public secondary college with an enrolment of approximately 1,800 students. Parkdale is involved in the iiNet program of RATL, which allows international students to study at the school. Parkdale also has a sister school in Japan called Nishi High School.
The college's median subject study score for 2008 and 2009 was 30, with 5% of the students receiving a score of above 40. They were ranked the 222nd school in the state in 2008
In October 2014, the school celebrated its 50th anniversary.
In October 2024, the school will celebrate its 60th anniversary.

## Principals

* John F Dower (1963–1967) founding principal
* R G Gilmour (1968–1973)
* L D Thomson (1974–1978, 1980)
* M J O'Brien (1979, 1981–82, 1983–1986)
* D Stewart (1987)
* Philip Knight (1988–2006)
* Greg McMahon (2007–2014)
* Debby Chaves (2014–2017)
* David Russell (2017–present)

## History

Parkdale High School was established in 1964. In its first year, it was located in four prefabricated classrooms within the grounds of Mordialloc Secondary College and although it shared some facilities it was run as a separate school by principal John F Dower with five teachers and 78 students. After a late start to the year 1965, the buildings on the present site were completed sufficiently for occupation by the now two school levels (then known as forms 1 and 2) and comprised approximately 200 students.
In 1989 the name of the school changed to Parkdale Secondary College. During the time Phil Knight was principal, the school grew from approximately 400 students in 1988 to 1025 students in 2006 and under Greg McMahon it grew from 1100 to over 1789 students.

## Sport

Represented by the Parky Seahorse, Parkdale competes in the Beachside District in athletics, swimming, cross-country and alternative sports. The Mordialloc-Braeside Football Club was formed in February 1969 by three 13-year-old students of the then Parkdale High School, which included Peter Moait, John Ronke and Dean Carroll.

### SSV championships

Parkdale has won the following School Sport Victoria state championships.
Boys:
* Football (Year 7) – 2013
* Football (Senior) – 2014, 2016 (2)
* Football (Intermediate) – 2016
* Rugby League (Junior) – 2011
Girls:
* Football (Junior) – 2019
* Netball (Year 7) – 2014
* Soccer (Intermediate) – 2019
* Soccer (Year 8) – 2017
Mixed:
* Baseball (Intermediate) – 2018
* Baseball (Year 8) – 2013, 2017 (2)
* Baseball (Year 7) – 2012, 2016 (2)
* Basketball (Year 8) – 2008
* Cricket (Year 8) – 2004, 2005 (2)
* Golf (Senior) – 2014
* Hockey (Year 7) – 2018

## Arts
### School productions

Andrew Mullett, a teacher at the school, has directed the annual school play since 1983; his recent additions include those below:
* 2025 - School of Rock
* 2024 - Freaky Friday
* 2013 – Promises/Taking Stock
* 2011 – A Rum Business
* 2010 – Going Forward
* 2009 – Shady Deals
* 2008 – The Night Shift
* 2007 – Lost for Words
* 2006 – Perspectives

### Rock Eisteddfod

Parkdale competes in the National Rock Eisteddfod biennially. Most recently, the 2009 entry, Dream Stealers, was awarded third in the grand final, and received a wildcard into the National TV Special Results. In the 2007 entry Parkdale positioned 3rd in the Premier Division and was a wildcard in the 2007 National TV Special Results. The 2005 entry positioned 4th in the Premier Division Grand Placings, and was the Victorian state winner of the National TV Special Results.

## Notable alumni

* Harley Balic – former AFL player for the Fremantle Football Club and the Melbourne Football Club
* Michael Clarke – Melbourne Cup winning jockey
* Heath Davidson – Paralympian
* Tom Lamb – former AFL player for the West Coast Football Club
* Nicole Livingstone – Olympian
* Peter Slade – former VFL/AFL player for the Melbourne Football Club
* Peter Williamson – former VFL/AFL player for the Melbourne Football Club
* Jesse Wyatt – Paralympian