[4] The School commenced operations under Headmaster John Richard Buckland at Ingle Hall, a large Georgian house dating from 1811 which still stands in lower Macquarie Street, Hobart.

Three years later it moved several blocks up Macquarie Street to a purpose-built schoolhouse designed by Tasmanian architect, William Archer.

The Senior School was later constructed on the adjacent site of the former Queenborough Cemetery, following a council referendum in which ratepayers voted '1 for educational purposes' in 1960.

The Macquarie Street building was sold in 1965, with Hutchins commencing full operations at Sandy Bay the following year.

[6] The school runs an extensive co-curricular program[9] offering music, performing arts, debating, sports and the Duke of Edinburgh International Award.

[24] Alumni have been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship for Australian states other than Tasmania, such as the 2016 New South Wales scholar, Harjeevan Narulla.