Founded in 1882 by George Henry Crowther, Brighton Grammar has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for over 1,500 students from the Early Learning Centre (ELC) to Year 12.

It soon moved to Temperly Lodge, located on Outer Crescent, north of Allee St. where the school's Urwin Centre for Learning currently stands.

In 1905, the Headmaster and founder purchased Rosstrevor, a large estate south of Allee St and its surrounding swampland.

In February 1927, the Governor-General Lord Stonehaven opened the present site of Brighton Grammar's Quadrangle.

Rofe oversaw a large change in the school, with BGS’ facilities drastically expanded to accommodate an increasing number of students.

He had previously held the position of deputy headmaster at Brisbane Grammar School, and began his term by implementing a curriculum review, a pastoral care system, and a program of modernisation.

In 2011, under Urwin still, the Peter Toms Early Learning Centre was established, whilst construction began on the new middle school.

Robertson Hall at Wilson House, renovation of the Crosby Building into the B-Hive, complete reconstruction of the Annandale Pavilion, internal renovations to the Argyle Building, the Tower and Hancock Wings and the Junior School, as well as ambitious projects such as the Urwin Centre for Learning (opened 2014) and the upcoming Centre for Science, Creativity and Entrepreneurship turning soil in late 2022.

[16] The Crowther Centre for Learning and Innovation is an organisation run under the auspices of Brighton Grammar School to provide support services for the educational community.

[17][18] The Crowther Centre is part think-tank and research arm overseeing the collection and analysis of data to provide improved and informed decision-making processes.

The team recorded a 17th place finish at the school's first outing at the World Finals, with the 8th quickest car of 68 competitors.

Brighton Grammar School runs the iDesign program in Year 8, a competition where students are encouraged to design and pitch new products to the cohort.

[26] Brighton Grammar staffer Cameron Tweeddale Smith was charged with 51 counts of sexual abuse against least eight students between 2003 and 2008.

[27] Smith was a volunteer with St John Ambulance Victoria and established a program at the school teaching first aid and conducting medical examinations on the students.

[31][32][33] Iliakis pled guilty to the charges, including possession and creation of over 16,000 images and videos, in 2010 and was sentenced to four years in jail.