Celebrating 70 years - where it all began

Celebrating 70 years - where it all began

Merilyn Orchard - Archivist

2022 marks the 70-year anniversary ofPenrhos College. In this article, I wouldlike to take you on a journey back intime, to learn how it all began…

Before there was Penrhos College, there was Mends Street Hall. What is now known as the Old Mill Theatre was originally built in 1899 as a Mechanics’ Institute Hall – it was used for concerts, a library and billiards parlor. Over time, the Hall was acquired by the South Perth Council in 1913 and over the next 37 years used as a venue for a number of private schools for children living around South Perth. As part of my research, I referred to a book published in 1988 by Susan Clarke, Penrhos: Her Heritage, which traced a historical link from schools established at Mend Street Hall beginning with Miss Burnet's 1901 School right through to the founding of the Methodist Ladies' College, South Perth, in 1951, eventually becoming Penrhos College.

The discovery of gold in Western Australia from 1885 saw an increase in activity around Perth and surrounding suburbs, with many new families moving into the South Perth area. Mends Street Hall was first used as a school in 1901, when Miss Burnet, a local teacher, set up a school for the local children. After a few years, Miss Burnet was ready to hand the responsibility of the school to Miss Beatrice Orchard in 1904 who renamed the school to Neeamarra. Miss Orchard was not trained as a teacher but had a natural aptitude and great love for children, she ran the school from 1904 - 1912 for around 25 children. Unfortunately for Miss Orchard, a new teacher had arrived in South Perth, Miss Binsted, with a teaching degree from Oxford, which caused a shift from parents who decided to send their children to Miss Binsted.

In 1912 Miss Binsted took over the school and it was renamed again, this time becoming South Perth High School. The school continued to run out of the Mends Street Hall from 1912 until 1918 with enrolments of 26 children in most years.

Miss Agnes Cross was the next Principal and she renamed the College Raith Girls Grammar School with boys still remaining at the school. A small boarding house was established in the home of Mr and Mrs Gibbs, parents of May Gibbs one of Australia’s foremost children’s authors and illustrators, on Harvest Terrace. The Boarding House later moved to Professor Walter Murdoch, Chancellor of the University of Western Australia, home on Mill Point Road. Miss Cross left the school in 1922 due to family commitments in Melbourne. During the period of 1923 – 1933, the school remained known as Raith Girls’ Grammar School and four different Principals managed the school through this period.

Miss Jill Hargrave who was an alumni of Neeamarra and South Perth High School, finished her education at Miss Parnell’s Girls’ High School and went on to complete her teacher training in 1923. Her love for teaching was so great that she set up St Chads, an infant school in her home for children up to the age of eight in 1926. However, the school quickly outgrew the space on her side veranda so Miss Hargrave successfully applied to continue using Mend Street Hall when Raith Girls Grammar School closed in 1933. The name Raith remained until 1935 when Miss Hargrave changed it to St Anne’s Kindergarten and Junior School.

With a lack of opportunity for expansion at the Mends Street Hall, the Miss Hargrave asked her brother, architect Jack Hargrave, to help her locate land and build her a school.

The new red brick building, built by Jack, was located at 13 – 15 Angelo Street, South Perth - it housed a large general hall, classrooms and kitchen. From accounts from staff and students the new location was opposite the Zoo where the sounds of the birds and animals amused the children. Visits from cheeky squirrels and peacocks looking for scraps after lunch were a daily occurrence.

The school experienced harder times during World War II, with shortages of supplies and a general fear for safety, but staff always made St Anne’s a safe and happy place. By 1951, student numbers had grown to approximately 140; however, the future fell into doubt with Miss Hargrave deciding that she would step back from running the school due to family health issues.

In 1951, the Hargrave family approached the Methodist Church, who bought St Anne’s to be a sister school of Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC) Claremont, it then opened as MLC South Perth in 1952 with Miss Jill Hargrave staying on in a teaching role. With a diminished pool of teaching candidates available due to the war, the school faced a problem with the appointment of a Principal. Mrs Margaret Way had been involved with St Anne’s as a parent, part of the sub-committee involved with the MLC purchase of St Anne’s and an alumni of MLC Claremont. She later became part of our history with her appointment as the first interim Principal. Mrs Way, who was a qualified accountant, initially agreed to take the Principal role to ‘hold the fort’ until a suitable candidate was found. She stayed on for close to 20 years, until she retired in 1971. She remains a significant part of the Penrhos history and an inspiration to current students and alumni.

In the next chapter of our 70 year historical series we will look at the life of Mrs Margaret Way and the independent identity the school gained, with changes to the College’s location and name.

To learn more about the rich history of Penrhos College, head to penrhos.wa.edu.au.

Imagery:

1. St Anne's on Angelo Street, South Perth c. 1950s. 2. Miss Jill Hargrave c. 1920s. 3. Students at St Anne's Primary School at Mend Street Hall c. 1937 - 1938 * 4. St Anne's report card. 5. Jill Hargrave in front yard of the Hargrave residence, South Perth c. 1950s *6 Mend Street Hall (current)

*Image source: City of South Perth Local History Collection