A vision for a Steiner school in Australia emerged first in the 1930s from a group founded by the designer of Canberra, architect Walter Burley Griffin and his wife Marion. The group included Eric and May Nicholls, Lute Drummond, Alice Crowther, all of whose names now grace major school buildings. They were pioneers in Australia of the path developed by Dr Rudolf Steiner and known as 'Anthroposophy', which literally translated from the Greek means "the wisdom of humanity'', a non-denominational path of knowledge leading from the spiritual in the individual human being to the spiritual in the universe.

From this artistic and spiritually inspired group came the vision for the first Steiner school in Australia, a school that was to exemplify this "wisdom of humanity" but teach no dogma. It would use Steiner's educational methodology to develop a creative individualism balanced with a sense of community responsibility, all within an ethical framework.

This educational methodology was ahead of its time, especially in Australia. Today it is a commonplace for schools to foster values, the arts, a connection with Nature, and to educate the "whole child". In the early part of the 20th Century schools tended to be, with some distinguished and humane exceptions, unidimensional places of instruction in the 3 R's and sport. As a result, establishing an independent school with such a broad and over-arching vision of education was a long and arduous task.

In 1956 the , the Anthroposophical Society, guided by Eric Nicholls, bought 'Dalcross', an existing Kindergarten at Pymble. In 1957 'Dalcross', the first Steiner school in Australia, was opened with three pupils taught by co-founder Sylvia Brose who brought to the school her Australian teaching qualifications and experience and four years' training and experience gained at the Rudolf Steiner Edinburgh School in the UK. Miss Brose recalled the early years of the school as a time of constant struggle trying to establish the new school, with its unique educational philosophy --- well respected in Europe, virtually unknown in Australia.

By 1961 the school had outgrown 'Dalcross' and begun the move to Middle Cove, a four and a half hectare bushland site in Glenroy Avenue, purchased in 1954 with funds bequested by Ivor Crawford McDowell, a member of the McDowell retailing family. 'Glenaeon' had been the name of his family home at Frenchs Forest.

In 2007 the school celebrated its 50th birthday over its now three campuses at Middle Cove, Castlecrag and Willoughby.