Percival William Hallett

“The Dog"- academic gown fluttering in the wind, stamping along the corridors, spreading fear among those transgressing school rules with stentorian voice, was an unforgettable experience - and loved by all.

So wrote an Old Boy about long-serving Deputy Headmaster, Percy Hallett.

Percy William "Pop" Hallett (also referred to by Sydney High boys as the "Dog" or "Bulldog") was born in Penrith and attended Fort Street Superior Public School and Sydney Technical College before going on to Sydney University. 

After teaching at Fort Street Superior Public School, and Newcastle, Maitland, Wollongong, Canterbury and Parramatta High Schools, Hallett came to Sydney High in 1927 as Mathematics Master and succeeded Mr W A Moore as Deputy Headmaster in 1935. He served as Deputy under three Headmasters, Frederick McMullen, James Killip and Gordon Barr and retired in 1952.

At the time of his retirement, he had been closely associated with much of the School’s history. He taught in the old building at Mary Ann Street, was present at the laying of the foundation stone of the Moore Park building and at its official opening. In 1939 and for part of 1950 and 1951 Hallett was Acting-Headmaster, during the absence of James Killip overseas. At different times in his career he had been associated with nine of the first 10 headmasters (the exception being the first Headmaster, Joseph Coates, who died in 1896).

The Record of 1952 had this to say:

It is his personal qualities, however, which will live in the minds of all those who have been associated with him: his energetic handling of a multitude of tasks, none too big and none too petty for his personal attention; his efficiency in everything he handled; his thoughtfulness and consideration for others; his cheerful disposition, his verve and gusto; his ready participation in every activity of the Staff or the School.

Murray Callaghan, writing in 1976, said Hallett was "a man of prodigious memory":

he stored up, seemingly without effort, names and personal details, records and performances, dates and events all ready for instant recall whether that recall was needed one day, one year or fifty years later. He was a computer, before computers were invented.

Killip paid tribute following Hallett’s death in 1973:

He was a dedicated teacher, sincere, practical, methodical and his greatest joy was wading into the job that had to be done. We were both fully co-operative. He was a good staffman, and a good Headmaster's man.

The sundial in the main courtyard was unveiled as a tribute to Hallett on 9 December 1965. It was given by the Old Boys' Union, and designed by architect William McMurray (1939). Originally located adjacent to the Killip Wing next to the driveway that goes up to the Sir Roden Cutler VC gates, it was relocated to the main courtyard in 1977.