Monterey Secondary College

Of the two antecedent schools that merged to establish the College, Monterey High School was established in 1967 and Monterey Technical School in 1968. Both of the schools served the growing demand for secondary education in the northern City of Frankston suburbs of Frankston North, Carrum Downs and Seaford. During this time, homes in the suburb of Frankston North (a former defence force/government housing estate) were being transferred to private ownership, the suburb of Carrum Downs was being redeveloped (from a post-war Salvation Army settlement) and new home construction was progressing in the suburb Seaford.

The campus of the High School on Monterey Boulevard was completed in late 1966, with its first students starting at the commencement of 1967. The Technical School operated out of portable buildings at the High School campus while its own campus was being constructed on Silvertop Street. The initial buildings at each school were mostly constructed of mixed brick and breeze block and were connected via both covered and uncovered pathways. Multi-purpose gymnasiums were constructed at each campus and basketball and tennis courts and football and soccer fields were created on each campus' grounds. A large music centre was also constructed at the Technical School campus, and continues to be used by the College today.[4]

By the early 1990s, the Victorian Department of Education decided to merge the High School and Technical School in order reduce administrative costs. During this time, attendance at technical schools in the state of Victoria had declined dramatically as students began to strive more for academic achievements rather than learning a trade.[6]

Following a series of consultative parent-teacher meetings, the merger of the two schools was announced to take place in 1993. The College's records show that the main concern voiced by parents and teachers was that the merger may "incite violence" between the traditionally competitive High School and Technical School students. Some "tension" was reported between students in the early years of the new College, following the merger, however a reputation for "unruliness" was short-lived. The new name of Monterey Secondary College was adopted at the merger of the schools in 1993, and officially used upon its full completion in 1994.

The former Technical School became the main campus (years 7–10) of the new College. The former High School was retained for senior students (years 11–12) completing the Victorian Certificate of Education in the merger years. The former High School was eventually closed in 1995, and has since been redeveloped into a community park—with a cycling and walking track, playground and skate park now in place.[7]

In 1997, a petition was presented to the Legislative Assembly of Victoria signed by 1,879 residents of Carrum Downs which sought action for the "construction of suitable facilities in Carrum Downs with the view of relocating Monterey Secondary College from its present location in Frankston North".[8] The petition was unsuccessful.[8] During the 2000s, the public Carrum Downs Secondary College as well as the Carrum Downs Campus of the private Flinders Christian Community College were eventually established in Carrum Downs to ease enrolment at Monterey Secondary College.

During the 1990s, a new multi-purpose gymnasium was constructed and the former gymnasium redeveloped into a dance and drama centre.[1] New theatrettes and art, computer, graphic art, science and textiles classrooms as well as a hobby farm were also added.[1] During the 2000s, eight new free-use computer labs were added and the College's canteen redeveloped into a 1950s-style American diner.[2] Since the early 2000s, the College has also established a reputation for innovation and success in performing and visual arts.[2] During the 2010s, a new A$2 million science centre was constructed and the College's existing classroom wings were modernised in a A$4 million refurbishment.[5][9]

The Monterey Art Exhibition is the College's annual student art exhibition, which is held at the Frankston Arts Centre. A notable artist is invited to open the exhibition each year—such as Robyn Bounds and Jeff Hook among others.[10][11] Since 2015, the winning artwork of the exhibition has been selected for the permanent collection of law firm Gilbert + Tobin and displayed in their Melbourne offices.[12]

The College has a number of school bands, including junior and senior school bands and a jazz band, as well as other smaller instrumental ensembles.[4] Its jazz band is considered to be one of the finest in the state of Victoria and receives regular invitations for public performances—such as Federation Square in 2004.[4]

The College first entered the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge in 1994, with an original production based on the history of the car. It won the 1996 Victorian premier division competition with a production based on the Batman comic book and media franchise. Controversy ensued in 1996 when Nine Network broadcast the production of St. Columba's College, based on the 1990s television series The X-Files, instead of the winning production of Monterey Secondary College. It won the 2000 Victorian premier division competition with an original production based on the life of the Siberian Ice Maiden. It also produced award-winning productions based on the 1960s television series The Thunderbirds and the rise of the Roman Empire before the cancellation of the Challenge in 2010.

• Glenn Aitken, Councillor of the City of Frankston representing North-West Ward (2003–present) who was Mayor of Frankston (2006–2007)
• Bruce Billson,[17] Member of the Parliament of Australia representing the Division of Dunkley (1996–2016) who was Minister for Veterans' Affairs (2006–2007) and Minister for Small Business (2013–2015)
• Nathan Burke, Australian rules football player (1987–2003) who was captain (1996–2001) and a director (2008–2015) of the St Kilda Football Club, "Burke" sports house at the College named after him
• Ebony Butler, filmmaker and human rights activist who produced and directed the award-winning documentary film A Brilliant Genocide (2016) and founded the African charity Bikes 4 Life
• Lisa Campbell (née Bryant), badminton player who competed in the Commonwealth Games (1994 gold medalist) and Olympic Games, "Bryant" sports house at the College named after her
• Shaun Carney,[18] author and journalist who was associate editor and chief political columnist of The Age newspaper (1997–2012), currently an Adjunct Professor in the School of Political and Social Inquiry at Monash University (2012–present)
• Stephen Foster, international triathlete who was inducted into the Australian Triathlon Hall of Fame (2014), "Foster" sports house at the College named after him
• Russell Greene,[19] Australian rules football player with the St Kilda Football Club (1974–1979) and Hawthorn Football Club (1980–1988)
• Simon King, cyclist, five-times Australian cycling champion, "King" sports house at the College named after him
• Natalie Plane, Australian rules football (AFLW) player with Carlton Football Club (2016–present)
• Craig Semple,[12] commercial and corporate lawyer and the Melbourne partner of law firm Gilbert + Tobin (2013–present), member of the College Council (2015–present)
• Jackie Woodburne,[20] actor who currently plays Susan Kennedy on the television soap opera Neighbours (1994–present)

• Victor Majzner, former faculty,[21] painter whose work is held by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Heide Museum of Modern Art, National Gallery of Australia and National Gallery of Victoria
• Janet Matthews, former faculty,[22] wildlife artist whose work is held by Australia Post (for reproduction on postage stamps), Gold Coast City Art Gallery and New York State Museum
• Judith Smith, current faculty,[23] Fédération internationale de natation (FINA) and Olympic Games official and swimming instructor
• Geoff Todd, former faculty,[24] contemporary and portrait artist whose work is held by the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, National Gallery of Australia and National Gallery of Victoria