House System
The House System at Balwyn High School cultivates a strong sense of community, promoting teamwork, school pride, and constructive competition through a diverse range of academic, sporting, and cultural pursuits that engage students across all year levels.
Students earn House points through their participation in a variety of House events held throughout the year. The House with the highest cumulative points is formally recognised at the annual Presentation Night, where the House Captains are presented with the award on behalf of their House.
Balwyn High School’s House System was established in 1954, the Royal year, with the original Houses named Edinburgh, Strathmore, Windsor, and Churchill, each adopting a distinctive colour. In 2025, the school introduced new House names as part of our commitment to First Nations representation. This change honours our dedication to acknowledging the land we occupy and integrates Koorie culture, which has become a key part of the school’s identity through the Marrung strategy and the Department of Education’s Aboriginal Education Plan.
Wurun (war-run), Karawun (car-a-won), Ngawan (ngah-wan) and Galada (gal-ah-da) now continue the tradition of our old House system, reflecting the elements and local flora.
Insightfully, the local woi-wurrung language, perfectly reflects the elements of our surrounding landscape.
- Karawun (Green)– represents the grass we walk on, used as a source of fibre and traditionally used for basket weaving. It also represents Country, growth, and learning.
- Galada (Blue) – the river, ties to the river which used to sit behind the school community, now Maclaey Park. Water is also a symbol of health, cleansing and learning and moving forward towards the future.
- Ngawan (Yellow) – reflects the beautiful sunrise and sunsets seen through hills of Balwyn. The Sun symbolises life, happiness and hope.
- Wurun (Red) – the beautiful river red gum trees we see surrounding our community. The red of the new leaves, symbolic of growth, and the tree represents being welcome.
Different to our old House system, the elements sit separately and in unity with one another reflecting growth and connection to land for our diverse and multicultural community. The elements, sun and water pivotal to the development of the flora starting with dirt and grass, further nourishing the tree and the red of the new gum leaves reflecting growth and connection.