3 minute read
A brief history
1882
The Wesleyan Methodist Church’s commitment to education led to the founding of MLC with the rallying cry that Methodist girls in Australia deserved the same opportunities given to Methodist boys at Wesley College (est. 1866). From the outset, founding Principal Rev Dr WH Fitchett (Principal 1882 – 1928) successfully attracted interstate and international students, promoting MLC as “The Queen of Australasian Schools”.
1890s -
Late 1920s Reputation, size, and a varied curriculum saw MLC through the 1890s financial crisis. By the 1920s, higher academic standards and enhanced sciences and mathematics programs increased opportunities for students who wished to pursue tertiary study. A state-of-the-art Domestic Sciences building opened, and there was an increased emphasis on sport. Business Diploma programs attracted new students and helped train young women to fill positions vacated by men serving in the war.
1928 - 1938
By 1928 enrolment had risen to 73. Principal Rev John W Grove and the Methodist Conference successfully navigated through financial challenges incurred during Fitchett’s last years and The Depression. Grove maintained MLC’s goals of “developing a girl’s whole character [and] encouraging individual abilities”, noting that young women could certainly become a “force and power in the community.”
1939 - 1966
The term of Principal Rev Dr A Harold Wood saw a strong academic emphasis, in part due to growing competition from government schools and higher government standards for curriculum, teaching and facilities. This also led to a major rebuilding and expansion program funded largely through philanthropists George and
1967 - 1978
Alfred Nicholas. Dr Wood was adamant that fees were to be kept low “in order to make education widely available,” stating that education “was not for monetary rewards but to benefit mankind and to serve the present age.” Enrolment rose dramatically and MLC’s student population became even more diverse. Many girls of Asian and Jewish heritage began to attend the school, the latter specially invited by Dr Wood, who provided them with modified scripture classes.
The social upheaval of the 1960s perhaps influenced Principal Rev Ron AW Woodgate to dramatically alter MLC’s administrative structure by facilitating much greater autonomy for staff and students. Teachers’ and students’ ideas and input were encouraged and the Staff Association and SRC both originated during this time. He described MLC as a “living institution”, noting that his role was to release individual teachers’ potential so they, in turn, could release the potential in students and ensure the College would provide a meaningful experience for each girl.
1979 - 1996 David Loader became the first lay Principal of MLC in 1979. His primary goals were “more active, self-directed student learning” while maintaining the “full growth of all individuals.” In a period of rapid technological development, MLC in 1990 became one of the first schools in the world to provide laptop computers for students. Recognition of the importance of physical activity took many forms: the PEC opened in 1987, more extra-curricular sports, including rowing, were offered through increased parental involvement and MLC Marshmead was established in 1991 near Mallacoota, to provide an exceptional educational experience including leadership, sustainability and collaboration for Year 9 students.
1997 - 2018 Encouraging students to develop their leadership style and ensuring that MLC’s culture fostered diverse opportunities were mandates of Rosa Storelli’s term as Principal (1997 –2012). Ongoing exchanges with the Ngukurr community in southern Arnhem Land were initiated in 1999 by Debbie Dunwoody (later the MLC Interim Principal 2012 – 2013). The introduction of the International Baccalaureate program in 2000 provided additional opportunities for academic excellence.
The opening of MLC Kindle in 2000 ensured a stream of students to feed into the Junior School, which was redeveloped in 2007, honouring MLC’s long tradition of accommodating younger students. In 2002, MLC expanded the College’s world class education program by launching MLC Banksia. This site, located on the unique Banksia Peninsula of the Gippsland Lakes, was acquired to provide Years 5 to 8 students with an outdoor learning program that, like MLC Marshmead, builds skills, confidence and environmental awareness. Older girls benefited enormously from the new Science Precinct at MLC Kew, opened in 2010.
2014 - 2022 Principal Diana Vernon, commenced in 2014 and led the development of MLC’s vision, ‘inspiring students to be the citizens the world needs’ steering MLC into an exciting new era of innovation in young women’s education.
Ongoing commitment to the enhancement of students’ learning environments saw the development of the Kew Campus Masterplan. The first major project within this was the 2019 development of the Nicholas Learning Centre for Year 7 and 8 students. 2021 saw the completion of the Dr Wood Learning Centre redevelopment (previously known as the Harold Wood Wing), as a home dedicated for Year 9 students. The ongoing refurbishment and development across the MLC Kew, Banksia and Marshmead campuses ensure that we continue to update our students’ access to tools and facilities for dynamic 21st Century learning.
2023 - Principal Julia Shea commenced.
Sources:
Historysmiths Pty. Involving Learning: MLC 1982 – 2007. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2007). Zainu’ddin, Ailsa G. Thomson. They Dreamt of a School: A Centenary History of Methodist Ladies’ College Kew, 1882 – 198 (Melbourne: Hyland House, 1982). MLC
Archives: various documents.
