In 1958, Applecross High School opened its doors to cater for students south of the Swan River, and so relieve the pressure on Kent Street High School and John Curtin High School. The first students came from the contributory suburbs: Applecross, Ardross and Mount Pleasant. In addition, students came from Bicton, Como, Koonawarra, Manning, Palmyra and Willagee. On the opening day, the foundation Principal, Stanley Demasson and a staff of twenty four commenced the school year in incomplete classrooms with nearly six hundred students.
The School reached Senior High School status in 1961, and under the then Principal, William Stallwood, and a staff of sixty five, the enrolment reached 1 420. The courses of study available to Junior Certificate students were four options: Academic, Commercial, General and Technical, while a Special High School Certificate course provided for those not attempting the Junior. In this year, 101 of the 325 original Junior Certificate class returned to study for the Leaving Certificate.
From its inception, Applecross High School promoted a vigorous participation in sport and fostered drama, debating, music and dancing. The School’s choirs, brass band and orchestra performed frequently both locally and in competition. To support the sporting endeavours, the Parents and Citizen Association undertook and completed a school oval with three practice wickets and playing fields, tennis courts and basketball courts, and proposed another project, the provision of a swimming pool. This became a reality on 14 October 1963. However, the lack of a School Hall seriously hampered drama, music both vocal and instrumental, gymnastics and the social activities at the School. The Principal and the Parents and Citizens Association began the planning that eventually resulted in the present Hall-Gymnasium by late 1969. In 1978, this building was named Stallwood Hall.
In 1962, fully equipped Science rooms, a Home Economics centre, and later a Manual Arts wing were added. The Science Centre was opened on 14 October 1965 by Senator Hon. John Gorton MA. In the same year, with a population of nearly 1 600 and a staff of sixty five, Applecross became a Senior High School with Leaving Certificate classes. Almost immediately the School’s reputation for academic achievement was foreshadowed: in 1963, the second only Year Twelve class scored 113 successful passes with thirty two Commonwealth Scholarships. Furthermore, Applecross Senior High School could now compete on equal terms with other Senior High Schools, and began its long and credible record of inter-High School competition.
By 1968, it was obvious that a more spacious library was required to provide better facilities than the one room had allowed. On 10 December 1971, the new, well appointed Library opened for school use. In 1968, classes were formed in certain Western Australian schools to cater for the gifted and talented students. Applecross Senior High School provided Art as its speciality subject, and three classrooms were adapted exclusively for this purpose. Later, in 1975, a new Ceramic Art Centre expanded the School’s Art facilities.
