 On Ann McDonald's retirement her daughter, Margaret Markham, took over the Ann McDonald College of Dancing.In 1983 Markham saw the opportunity for establishing a specialist academic and performing arts school for gifted children, and subsequently, in partnership with Ann Fraser and Maxine Kohler, agreed to change the Ann McDonald College of Dancing from a private company into a community-based, not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, thus facilitating the establishment of The McDonald College Limited.The McDonald College commenced in 1984 with 75 students in Strathfield.