Our Story

Hobart City High School acknowledges the ancient history of the Tasmanian Aboriginal people as the first people of lutruwita/Tasmania.

Hobart City High School is located in the suburb of New Town, one of the earliest established parts of Hobart, and Hobart’s first ‘suburb’, having been settled within a week of the primary settlement at Sullivan’s Cove.

In 2022, Ogilvie High School and New Town High School joined, becoming the two campuses of Hobart City High School. The campuses bring a rich history and long-standing traditions that are a keystone of the new school.

Ogilvie High School was opened in 1937, first known as the New Town Commercial High School, built on an area that had been part of a Government Farm. This was originally a co-educational school, though changed to a girls’ school in 1963. Ogilvie was originally designed by prominent Tasmanian architect, SWT Blythe, one of the pioneers of modern architecture in Tasmania.

New Town High School was opened in 1919, first known as the Hobart Junior Technical School. It started with five staff and an enrolment of 50 boys. In 1947 the school leaving age was raised to 16 and so the four-year Schools Board Course was offered. Matriculation classes were started when the School moved to its present site in New Town in 1952. The move also saw the school change its name to the Hobart Technical High School. With the formation of separate matriculation colleges, the last matriculation classes at Hobart Technical High School were held in 1961. With these changes, the School became a regional comprehensive high school and in 1962 adopted the name, New Town High School.