The school colours chosen were two shades of blue and grey with the motto Opera Ad Maiora, which may be translated from Latin to "Work for Higher Endeavour".

The sporting houses, reflecting the history of the area, were named after the ferries that originally carried patrons to the picnic grounds: Rawson, Napier, Ferguson and Carrington.

By the time the school was officially opened on 9 August 1962, by Sir Eric Woodward, the Governor of New South Wales, the enrolments had grown to 927 with a staff of 47.

To much controversy, the school was threatened with closure by the New South Wales Government in 2002, as part of its "Building the Future" plan.

[3] Teachers and students protested against the sale, and in 2002, following the commencement of the Save Hunters Hill High School Act 2002, drafted by Kerry Chikarovski,[4] former New South Wales opposition leader, the decision was withdrawn just weeks before the planned closure date.