Originally established in 1849 at Observatory Hill, Fort Street High moved to its present site in 1916 and became a co-educational high school in 1975. The school has always been academically selective.
Facilities: Located in the heart of urban Sydney, the school has large and leafy grounds with facilities for tennis, volleyball and basketball. There is a large playing field for rugby, hockey, and soccer. The school has a gymnasium, a well-stocked library and modern computer labs.
Electives: The school offers a full range of NSW Board courses with a wide selection of languages including Japanese, which it has offered since 1916.
Sport: The school participates in the full range of combined high school sports in grade and knockout competitions. There are also recreational sports such as fencing, aikido, yoga and table tennis.
Extracurricular activities: A strong instrumental music program includes wind ensemble, concert band, stage and show bands, symphony orchestras, percussion and brass ensemble(s), a jazz ensemble, strings, vocal ensemble and individual music tuition. Drama productions feature each year. Debating, public speaking, Mock Trial, Tournament of Minds, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, chess, and an Amnesty International group, are also offered.
Welfare and personal development: Programs include SRC, leadership training, peer tutoring, peer support, peer mediation, personal development camps, Year camps, Year 7 teaming, an extensive excursion program, a wide-ranging career and work experience program, PD/Health/PE, supportive welfare network.
Special features: Students are selected on the basis of academic excellence through the Selective Schools Entrance Test. Entry is extremely competitive.
Famous ex-students: Dr H V Evatt, Dr John Yu, Jan Stephenson, Neville Wran, Justice Michael Kirby, Sir Garfield Barwick, John Singleton, Mary Kostakidas, Margaret Preston, Sir Douglas Mawson, Marlene Matthews.