This College is named after a famous early Australian. The Reverend Thomas Hassall was born in England on May 29, 1794. He came to the young colony of New South Wales with his missionary parents, Rowland and Elizabeth Hassall, in 1798. Walk around Parramatta, even nearby Fairfield, and you will see streets, even schools named after Rowland.
We are proud to be the only school in Australia named after Thomas. As a young man he established the first “Sunday Schools” in Australia, at which the children of the colony were taught reading, writing, maths and the Christian faith. In due course Thomas went back to England to gain his M.A. and train to be an Anglican clergyman. He returned to the colony and established a number of Anglican churches and schools. He gained the affectionate title of “the galloping parson” because of his mode of travel, especially between his home for thirty years at “Denbigh” near Cobbitty and Parramatta. He was thus a frequent traveller along the Cowpasture track, renamed in modern times as Cowpasture Road.
Throughout his life, Thomas had a passion for teaching and learning, a warm heart for people, and a deep love for the Lord Jesus Christ. He was a staunch advocate of the connection between education and Christianity.
Thomas died at Denbigh on 29 March, 1868 and his body was buried beside the church he built in Cobbitty. Since our commencement in February 2000, we have established a strong relationship with members of the Hassall family, now scattered throughout Australia. We have been presented with a copy of the Hassall Family Coat of Arms. The Hassall Family has raised money for a perpetual, prestigious award that is presented each year to the most outstanding all-rounder senior student of the College.
The Hassall Family celebrated a special 200 year anniversary in 2023.
