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Since its foundation at East Melbourne in 1875, Presbyterian Ladies’ College has provided boarding facilities for girls whose families have lived out of town or overseas. 1875 The College opened with some of then the original sixty pupils enrolled as boarders and housed in School House. 1957 Final Closing Service for the boarders held in Wyselaskie Hall, East 1908 ‘Junior House’, (later ‘Koorinya’) for Melbourne. younger boarders was purchased and renovated for boarders. Boarders number 61. 1958 Final church service for boarders held at Scots Church on 11 May. Boarders’ 1919 A solid balcony was built around church dresses changed from the old navy two sides of the Junior House building with blue to a smart grey dress. The two PLC 26 beds for junior boarders. East Melbourne Boarding Houses 1922 The Boarders’ Choir was started. House at PLC Burwood.

1929 The “Harriette Wilson Prize” for Boarder Prefects was founded in memory of Mrs J. P. Wilson, wife of Dr. Wilson, Head Master of the College 1888-1906.

1934 During the Centenary Celebrations of Melbourne, the Boarders were taken to see decorations and illuminations of the city, and to numerous celebrations of this historic event.

1936 The Boarders’ Choir made its debut over the air in the Presbyterian Half-Hour.

1937 PLC boarders were more or less quarantined for term 2 due to the acute anterior poliomyelitis epidemic. The outbreak from 1937-39 was particularly severe in Melbourne, causing the closure of schools and the banning of children from public transport.

1938 PLC purchased ‘Hethersett’ in Burwood.

1942 Due to the bombing of Darwin, arrangements were made in term one, for the temporary billeting of boarders with families in Burwood, Kew and Camberwell districts (all in close proximity to Hethersett) Girls were bussed to school from their ‘families’. Boarders helped dig trenches in the Fitzroy Gardens opposite PLC East Melbourne on the weekends. amalgamated into one in the new Boarding 1959 First edition of the boarders’ magazine ‘The Weird Mob’ published. First Boarders’ dance held in the Junior School Hall. First Boarders’ Sports held.

1960 Boarders’ prefects reduced to six in number. 93 boarders in all.

1966 A new television set was purchased for the boarders’ sitting-room and every bedroom was brightened by a new chenille bedspread.

1967 Boarders’ Prefects became the Boarding House Council.

1983 The Boarding House at Burwood named ‘Koorinya’ after the East Melbourne Boarding House. It housed Year 7 to Year 11 boarders. Year 12 boarders were housed in Hethersett House.

1988 Numbers reached 120 in the Boarding House.

1990 Two microwaves donated to the Boarding House by the Boarders’ Parents’ Association.

1991 Two computers introduced into the Boarding House. Girls were allowed to wear pants to church each Sunday instead of skirts. 1995 A sound system replaced the radio in the Boarding House. Desks were added to bedroom furniture in the Boarding House.

1999 Renovations made to the Boarders’ Sitting Rooms. Boarding House Cottage for Year 12 boarders opened in Daniel Street. ‘Sam’ the Spoodle came to live with the 80 boarders in the Boarding House.

2000 Boarders number 83 from 14 different countries.

2001 Mobile phones were allowed in the Boarding House.

2002 Curfew for Year 12 boarders extended to 10:30pm on the weekend. Pyjamas allowed for weekend lunchtimes for boarders.

2007 Year 9 and 10 boarders housed in ‘Mollison House’ during extensions and renovations to the Boarding House.

2008 Following the opening of the new extensions to the Boarding House, all boarders were once again housed in ‘Koorinya’.

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