The students gathered at the All Seasons Hotel for the reunion and launch of a book documenting the school's history.

The book, researched and compiled by Lister House graduate Jenny Pata and her husband Ken, includes photographs and stories contributed by the school's students

Mrs Pata said it contained plenty of tales of cheeky antics from the school's boarding house.

Former Lister House student and lecturer Professor Pam Bell launched the book, entitled First of its Kind. 

Mrs Pata said former students came from as far away as Western Australia to attend the reunion, which is held every five years.

Graduates from the school's very first class of 1953 chatted alongside those from its final 1989 class.

There was plenty of catching up with familiar faces from the past.

Mrs Pata said she caught up with her former roommate whom she hadn't seen since their graduation in 1968.

"It was a terrific day," she said.

"Everyone was just so noisy and so excited to see one another again."