1987
Planning meeting held at St Mary’s Tewantin
WITHOUT HISTORY, there would be no future…
“Each person in our
College community plays their special part in helping Flinders to grow and flourish.”
– Michelle Carroll, Principal
On January 29, 1990, the first students walked through the gates of Matthew Flinders Anglican College in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast.
Once a thriving citrus orchard, over more than 30 years Flinders has grown to become one of Queensland’s leading co-educational academic schools with a rich co-curricular program.
From an enrolment of 161 in its foundation year, the College now supports more than 1,400 students from Prep to Year 12 as well as children in the Flinders Early Learning Centre.
On these pages, you’ll find an evolving collection of stories, photos and milestones that highlight our College’s growth, community and vision.
We hope you enjoy stepping back through time as we celebrate more than 30 years of educating for excellence.
WITHOUT HISTORY, there would be no future…
Welcome
BY THE PRINCIPAL
From humble yet inspired beginnings, Matthew Flinders Anglican College opened its doors in January 1990 with 161 students from Years 5 to 8, and 19 staff on campus.
The Foundation Committee of the College decided on the name ‘Matthew Flinders’ in recognition of the spirit of one of our distinguished explorers, in the same way that James Cook and Charles Sturt have universities named in their honour.
Surrounded by rainforest and red dirt, our College steadily grew, year by year. As more families joined us, we built more classrooms and facilities, we employed more staff, we expanded our curriculum offerings and launched new sports, arts, music and co-curricular programs.
And here we are today: each year we support more than 1,400 students from Prep to Year 12, as well as children through the Flinders Early Learning Centre. We also value the more than 280 staff members on our team.
Our College has proudly grown to be a leading school in Queensland, committed to educating for excellence in learning and life. Each person in our College community – student, alumni, staff member, parent, grandparent and community member – has played their special part in helping Flinders to grow and flourish.
In 2025, we will celebrate 35 years of Matthew Flinders Anglican College. And we continue to celebrate our achievements through the milestone and celebratory pieces we share on these pages.
We encourage you to get in touch with our Community Engagement Team or share your story HERE if you have your piece of Flinders history to contribute.
Here’s to a successful and rewarding future for our College and our students as, together, we strive for excellence in learning and life.
Michelle Carroll | College Principal
Acknowledgement of Country
Matthew Flinders Anglican College was built on the Mooloolah Plains at the foot of Buderim Mountain. It is framed by the tidal Mountain Creek traversing the campus; the Stringybark Trees which give their name to our street; and is visited by the Eastern Grey Kangaroos who are frequent neighbours on the grounds.
The College acknowledges that the Land upon which we work, meet and play is Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi Country, a Land that was never ceded nor sold.
We pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of the Land, the Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi people, to Elders past, present and emerging, recognising the spiritual connection they have with the land, water, sky and sea.
We extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
May we learn from and with them to care for the Land.
