History of the Barker College Fair
From Fete to Fair: Celebrating 100 Years of Good Old-Fashioned Fun
Barker College held its first fair—then known as a fete—on Saturday 18 April 1925 from 2:30pm until late. Organised by Lady Wade, Mrs Mackenzie, Mrs Abbott and Mrs Fleming, the event was officially opened by Dame Mary Hughes, wife of former Prime Minister Billy Hughes. It was a grand beginning for what would become one of the school’s most enduring and beloved traditions.
1925–1936 The Early Years
Following the opening of the War Memorial Oval in 1924, Barker mothers banded together to raise funds for a grandstand where spectators could enjoy events on the new oval. The first fete raised an impressive £500, which was immediately used to begin construction of the Mothers’ War Memorial Pavilion. The grandstand was completed and opened later that same year. A second fete in March 1926 cleared the remaining £1,400 debt, and from this momentum, the Barker College Mothers’ Association (BCMA) was born.
These early fetes were nothing short of spectacular. The school grounds transformed into a vibrant market square, with stalls adorned in lattice, gum leaves, and native flowers. Strings of bunting and flags connected the stalls beneath towering gum trees, and in some years, festoons of Chinese lanterns and “gaudy streamers” added a festive flair. Community bands played cheerful music, and the crowds—brightly dressed and full of energy—made the fetes a true spectacle.
Staff and students were central to the festivities. School Masters pitched in, while students ran sideshows like duck pond, hoopla, and football kick, and performed plays entirely produced by pupils. Evening entertainment included dancing in classrooms—perhaps the only time students were encouraged to rearrange the furniture.
In one memorable year, Mrs Rhodes, an amateur enthusiast, set up shop in the headmaster’s office, offering fortunes with such skill that she was “besieged with clients.” Though “not a professional fortune teller,” she was “an adept in the art, and always ready to lend her services in a good cause.”
Even the strictest school rules seemed to melt in the face of ice cream. In 1930, Sister Friedman, Barker’s vigilant matron, kept a close eye on the stall as boarders nervously approached for their fifth—or was it sixth?—scoop. “The watchful eye of Sister Friedman… did not diminish a record trade at the ice-cream stall,” though her presence did inspire a certain cautious shuffle.
By 1935, the fete had expanded to include a gymkhana, a cat and dog show near the swimming pool featuring both beautiful and amusing pets, dramatic sketches performed by past and present students, and evening activities like dancing and bridge.
The 1936 fete raised £150 for the Swimming Pool Fund, but with limited financial success, the BCMA decided to retire from fundraising, and fetes were paused.
1953 The Revival
Seventeen years later, the fair returned with renewed energy. The 1953 event was a whole-school affair, and when wet weather threatened, 800 Barker boys unscrewed every desk in the school to create indoor space—a logistical feat that surely impressed even the most seasoned facilities manager.
The programme included performances by St Andrew’s Sydney Pipe Band, a swimsuit parade featuring professional models, a fencing display, dancing, a steak barbecue, and the presentation of Miss Barker candidates. Stalls ranged from a boutique and pot plant stall to a “discarded clothes” department. A live pig, sheep, and turkey drew crowds of children eager to guess their weight—though the animals themselves may have preferred anonymity.
The fete raised over £8,500, exceeding expectations and funded not only a new scoreboard, but also dressing sheds on No. 3 Oval, toilets and spectator seating around the Swimming Pool, fencing around the Memorial Oval, and three new tennis courts.
1964–1979 The Fete Returns
After another brief hiatus, the 1964 fete was organised by the BCMA, with the Old Boys Union running a fruit and vegetable stall. The event raised £2,450, which funded seating for the newly built Leslie Hall.
The 1970 fete funded additional tennis courts, and in 1978, the “Red and Blue Fete” raised over $14,000 to improve school facilities—a testament to the dedication of Barker parents and the broader school community.
2001–2025 The Spring Fair Era
In 2001, the event was rebranded as the Barker College Spring Fair, and has since been held semi-regularly, usually every two years. Now organised by the Barker College Parents’ Association (BCPA), the Spring Fair continues the tradition of bringing the entire school community together.
With an extensive array of attractions, sideshows, entertainment, and stalls, the Spring Fair remains a highlight of the school calendar. It’s a celebration of Barker’s spirit, history, and community—where fundraising meets festivity, and where the echoes of past fairs still ring through the gum trees.
Future 2025 and Beyond
Following the successful format of the 2025 Spring Fair, the 2027 Fair will be rebranded as “Barker Fair and Fireworks” (presented by BCPA) to better reflect the event as a whole-of-Barker community celebration.