[10] In 1853, Bishop Perry commenced planning for the diocesan experimental school to become permanent, although on a larger site and not under his direct management, and so he set up a committee of eminent men to consider the task.

[11] The first board of governors was elected in 1854 to take over from the committee, and it set about drawing up a constitution, finding a headmaster and a new site.

This is the inner South Yarra land now occupied by the Senior School and Wadhurst, next to the Royal Botanic Gardens and a short walk from the city centre.

The governors chose architects Charles Webb and Thomas Taylor, well known Melbourne contractors George Cornwell and Co. undertook the construction, and Bishop Perry laid the school's foundation stone on 30 July 1856.

[11] The Melbourne Church of England Grammar School was finally opened on 7 April 1858 with 76 pupils, and with John E. Bromby as the first headmaster.

[11] The school's first 40 years proved to be a struggle, exacerbated in the 1890s by economic depression, financial concerns and changes of headmaster.

They formed The Old Melburnians Society in 1895 "to be the means of bringing together many former schoolmates, reviving pleasant recollections, and at the same time benefiting the life of the School as it is today".

[11][12][13] Two significant developments of the late 19th century were, firstly, the recognition that with a limited site, one storey buildings were not a wise use of space.

Some 3,500 old boys enlisted in the services, and school buildings were commandeered by Australian and American forces with some students dispatched to the country and others doubled up in crowded quarters.

[11] By the 1950s it became clear that the school was seriously lacking adequate space, with expansions, extensions and renovations mostly crammed into Bromby's original 15 acres (61,000 m2).

[11] The 1980s and 1990s were times of further growth, with the outdoor program expanded with three permanent campsites at Breakfast Creek near Licola, Woodend and Banksia Peninsula on the Gippsland Lakes.

On 7 April 2008, as part of the celebrations of Melbourne Grammar's sesquicentenary, the school officially opened the multimillion-dollar Nigel Peck Centre for Learning and Leadership on the Domain Road boundary, an event which was attended by the then Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, who is also an Old Melbournian.

[14] It was Hone who gave the coup de grâce to the worst school house rituals that remained by the end of his first year.

[citation needed] In 2009, Mark Drummond took over the orchestra and in 2010 it toured Japan, performing in Osaka, Tokyo (at the Okuma Auditorium at Waseda University) and Gamagori.

[citation needed] The MGSSO toured France and Belgium in 2012, then the United States in 2014, and Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic in 2016.

The MGSSO has accompanied international soloists such as Ronald Farren-Price, Leslie Howard and Neville Taweel, and has premiered works by Australian and British composers.

Inaugurated in 2008, it represents the Rose of England (symbolising Melbourne Grammar School's origins) and the Thistle of Scotland (symboling the roots of Scotch College).

The 2016 MGS 1st VIII, having won the Head of the River title, went on to compete at the Henley Royal Regatta in the UK, in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup.

Following the hiring of VIS youth coach Ernie Merrick in 2000, the 1st XI began a steady improvement in subsequent years, leading to a third-placed finish in a tightly contested 2014 season and subsequently missed out on winning the premiership cup following a draw against the reigning premiers, Brighton Grammar.

The strong performances of the 1st XI, as seen in 2014 and 2015, have partly been due to the guidance of Jesper Olsen, former Manchester United and Danish International winger.

Recent noteworthy players include Dane Pineau (recruited by St Marys College US), 2012 Captain and also Captain of the Australian under-19s national team, Daniel Fisher, who went on to attend American University on a scholarship and Victorian State and BigV men's players Jakob Cornelissen (recruited by University of Hawaii US) and Andrew Panyiotou.

Melbourne Grammar School's highest placing in the APS Volleyball Competition is 1st in 2016 and has forged a rich heritage of boys going on to play at State levels.

Most recently led by 6'2 Utility Hitter/Setter Sebastian Herbst[23] who currently plays collegiate volleyball at Cumberland University.

Notable productions in recent history have included Tim Winton's Cloudstreet, Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance, Lerner and Loewe's "My Fair Lady", Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband, and Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story.

The post-COVID era of Melbourne Grammar School drama productions was rejuvenated in 2022 with Romeo and Juliet as the quad play and famed musical Guys and Dolls.

These plays take place in late Term Four, off-campus to leave the Memorial Hall free for VCE exams.

In 2013, the Wadhurst Production took the form of a film, featuring a Melbourne Grammar twist on Alice in Wonderland, produced by students.

The school motto, Ora et Labora, which may be translated from Latin to "Pray and Work", was chosen by the second headmaster, Edward Morris, in 1875.

[1] Melbourne Grammar's fight song is "Play Together, Dark Blue Twenty", sung to the tune of "Men of Harlech".

[26] The lyrics cover the school's three main sports in the late-19th century: Australian rules football, cricket and rowing.