History

Beginnings

Barkly Highway State School was opened on 16 May 1959, by Her Royal Highness, Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone. 

School badge

This was designed by Mrs Marjorie de Kruijff with Mr Dan Coleman, the first Principal of the school. The shape of the badge is the same as the RSL badge. This was chosen as the school is located in the suburb of Soldiers Hill. The badge is blue and gold, which are the school's colours.

• The Star represents the gully that is located at the back of the school - Star Gully.
• The lions symbolise royalty - the opening of the school by Her Royal Highness.
• The map of Queensland symbolises the state in which we live.
• The symbols pointing to the location of Mount Isa are the Mount Isa Mines symbols for the minerals obtained there.
• Queensland is enclosed by a letter 'C' which symbolises the Centenary Year. In 1959 Queensland was 100 years old.
• The boat shaped scroll at the bottom encloses the school motto 'Endeavour'.

School playground and oval

A stony playground of spinifex grass was transformed by volunteers with the assistance of Theiss Brothers Company which supplied the heavy machinery and Mount Isa Mines which supplied the trucks to cart the topsoil. The fig trees which lined the Bougainville fence line came from Darwin and were donated by Mr W Farlow (senior). To plant the trees it was necessary to use gelignite to blow holes as the ground was solid rock.

The main school oval was named the Lloyd-Martin oval after parents Mr Percy Lloyd and Mr Keith Martin who did so much work to establish the oval. A plaque was unveiled officially naming the oval on the 16 May, 1984. 

Our four sporting houses are named after people of historical significance: