Our College

Heritage

ROBERT JAMES NICHOLLS 

(16-Jun-1947 to 02-May-2011)

Foundation Principal & Foundation Chairman of TMC Board

Mr. Robert Nicholls started the College at the Tamborine Mountain Showgrounds in 1995 with only 16 students. The College relocated to the Convention Centre in 1996 and finally the College campus was officially established at the present location of 80 Beacon Road, North Tamborine in 1997. Mr. Nicholls was a Science teacher who had a vision for a small, independent, non-denominational, coeducational College, serving the community of Tamborine Mountain. His philosophy was to create a personal, caring, safe learning environment. The College uniform and logo were specially designed for the College by his supportive wife, Mrs. Maureen Nicholls. Mr. Nicholls retired as Principal in 2001 and continued in his role as Chairman until his passing in May 2011.

Mr Nicholls was instrumental in championing the College’s Masterplan, which saw the official opening of stage one, The Robert Nicholls Science Centre, in 2010.


COLLEGE TIMELINE

1995

Mr Nicholls started the College at the Showgrounds in 1995, with only 16 students in Year 8.

1996

The College is relocated to the Convention Centre temporarily.

1997

Finally, the College campus is officially established at the present location of 80 Beacon Road, North Tamborine.

1999

The first Year 12 class graduates. The College uniform was specially designed for the College by Mrs. Maureen Nicholls. The uniform originally had a tartan skirt, which later became grey from 2015.

2002

Mr. Nicholls retires and Mrs. June Melbourne takes over leadership of the College as Principal. Mr. Nicholls remains as Chairman of the Board until his death in 2011.

Prime Minister, Mr. John Howard, meets College Captains.

2006

Eduquest is launched as a challenge day for Primary students to win prizes and TMC Scholarships.

2007

Construction of our stage area is completed.

2008

TMC's motto is "Victory & Valour", symbolised by our two lions and the classes named Vic and Val.

2009

Mr. Nicholls was instrumental in championing the College’s Masterplan, which saw the official opening of stage one, The Robert Nicholls Science Centre, in 2010.


2010

2010 saw the official opening of Stage one, The Robert Nicholls Science Centre.

The Robert Nicholls Science Centre boasts a range of features such as teaching areas, extended experimental investigation areas, preparation rooms and more.

2011

Tamborine Mountain College celebrated its first official Reunion and Heritage Event in April 2011. The Heritage DVD and Photobook were presented to Mr. and Mrs. Nicholls in appreciation and recognition of the College’s beginnings and their valuable contribution to our community – thus the history of the College has been recorded for posterity.

A month later, in May 2011, our beloved Foundation Principal sadly passed away. His vision for the College still remains today, carried on by Principal Mrs. June Melbourne and new College Chairman Mr. Michael Kyle OAM.

2012

In honour of one of our Foundation Directors, 2012 saw the completion of Stage 2, Professor Jack Walton Resource Centre.  Professor Walton passed away aged 90 in 2014.

This state of the art wireless centre boasts international reference collections, six classrooms, top floor multipurpose room, interactive white boards for all classrooms and a touch board for the central hub. The Professor Jack Walton Resource Centre, like the entire College, has wireless and laptop facilities to ensure campus wide connectivity.

2014

Stage 3 of the Secondary building plan was the construction of The Michael Kyle Learning Centre.

2015

TMC Primary is established and so the College is now Prep - Yr12.


This same year the College uniform underwent some changes with the introduction of Primary. The most significant change being the replacement of the tartan skirt with grey, in keeping with the boys' uniform.

2017

Our Platypus and Kookaburra purpose-built buildings are completed for Prep & Year 1 classes.


In November we also opened the Maureen Nicholls Learning Centre.

2018

Our Administration building was officially opened on Friday 7th September. We included a Time Capsule to be opened in 25 years - 2043.


2019

The Early Learning Centre opened in 2019 for Pre-Prep students, aged 3 – 4 years.

Tamborine Mountain College's Early Learning Centre aims to ensure children have a safe and nurturing environment to develop all of the skills essential for a smooth transition to Prep, with priority placement for our Pre-Prep students into TMC Prep the following year.

This year also saw the purchase of another property - an acquisition for the College's future.

Also in 2019 our College Captain meets the Prime Minister, Mr Scott Morrison.

2020


Our 25 Year Anniversary under the leadership of Principal, Mrs. June Melbourne and Heads of School, Mrs. Fiona Stevens and Mr. Mark Stevens.

The Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) had a significant impact on health, the economy and education, not only here, but world-wide. TMC introduced a program of Home- Based Learning which was well received by our students and families and was successfully implemented. A difficult year of isolation and social distancing which affected sport, co-curricular events, camps and trips. Our students, families and staff maintained resilience and stayed positive and committed as usual.

Michael Adams, Maintenance Manager, retired after 20 years of faithful service to the College. A small bridge, which had been built by him, was named in his honour ADAMS ARCH.

2022

CARPARK & PRIMARY BUILDING CONSTRUCTION BEGINS IN 2022

We are excited to confirm the start of our new twin construction project in 2022.

The first phase of the project is the completion of the carpark to link the current carpark with our Early Learning Centre (ELC), providing our families with many more spaces and safe access to the ELC.

The second phase of the project will see two new primary buildings standing proudly at the rear of the grassed area behind the ELC.

After Primary classes move in, this will free up Secondary rooms currently being used by Primary. 

It's wonderful that the project will benefit the entire College, K-12! 

TMC - Empowering Every Student

Mrs. June Melbourne retires after 21 Years.


2023

Mrs. Fiona Stevens, College Principal