Founded in 1990 by Stephanie Bourke, a drummer and singer for band Hecate (called Litany when touring overseas), Melbourne Rock 'n' Roll High School provided a venue for hundreds of mostly female students to collaborate and learn to play rock music. Bands launched by the school include Bindi, Midget Stooges, Sourpuss, Tuff Muff and Sheraw.

Bourke began the school after her experiences teaching classical music piano to students in (mostly female) highschools, where students were interested in learning guitar, drums, keyboards, and bass and making their own music. Bourke began running a summer school from a space in East Melbourne in summer 1989. At first she was able to borrow gear and set up a band room and recording facilities, putting out the word through girl networks and employing friends as teachers, and working out some basic fees to cover costs. Bourke and others then approached the Victorian Women's Trust and Government agencies (VicHealth) for funding, and rented a space for a permanent Rock 'n' Roll High School in 1990 at 186 Easy Street, Collingwood. The school's programs resulted in CDs, live shows, and an eventual worldwide network of musicians as Riot Grrrl emerged as a movement.

Sources:

- Shaw, Megan. (1997, December 29). "Sounds like the girls are playing up" The Age.

- Milne, Lachlan. Email correspondence, February 2012