Westbrook Academy

Founded in 1847 by the witches Sheena Callahan, Beverly Haynsworth, Antoine Devereaux, and Victoria Weller, as a boarding school for young witches whose parents either could not or would not teach them magic, or for those who were born to mortal parents. Most students were girls, largely because of the feminine nature of witchcraft, but the school did allow boys to attend. The public face of the academy was as an elite and exclusive private girls' finishing school. Male students were explained away as staff - butlers, valets, footmen, etc. The four founders worked as a partnership, however Sheena was usually deferred to, as she was the most powerful witch of the four. After Sheena's death and Moira's move to Cape Otway in 1852, Sheena's second daughter Iona took her mother's place as headmistress of the academy. She was succeeded upon her death by her niece Nerida in 1895. Nerida was succeeded upon her death by her niece Dana in 1900. After Dana's death in 1945, there were no witches experienced enough or willing enough to take on the position of headmistress thanks to World War II, and too few young witches to attend. The academy was closed down, but the deed to the property remains in the Haynsworth family. When the school was active, the building and grounds were protected with various wards, but those have long since dissipated.