GYMNASIUM 
Gymnasium Interior, circa 1911.
First mentioned in the
Annual Report of 1872, as being erected, this wooden building appears in many of the early images of the School. One of its endearing features was its mobility as it appears in a variety of locations over the years. Images from around 1872 and 1873 depict it at the North-west corner of the George Morrison Building a few metres west of the current Tait Forecourt.
For a considerable period an extended wooden building containing the gymnasium was located in the Cloister area with its western annexe wall along a similar line to the current War Memorial Wing. Though referred to as the gymnasium the building of the early 1900s included two class rooms and the Physics Laboratory with the gymnasium appearing to take up only about a quarter of the building. The Sloyd Room was built as an annexe on the western side. Its northern side left a narrow gap between the Northern Wing of the School and this was used as a shortcut by students. It became known as
Gun Alley.
When the South Wing was constructed in 1934, the wooden building was partially demolished and the gymnasium portion again moved to the South-west corner of the School property.
It again appears in photographs of about 1939 next door to Mackie House on its northern side and used as the Cadet Corps armoury. It survived for almost 100 years until the construction of the first stage of the Rolland Centre when the tired gymnasium was finally demolished and removed in 1971.
 Wiki.jpg)
Gymnasium 'On the Move' in 1934.