HOUSES �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

College Houses

The strategic intent of our enhanced Wellbeing program is to increase our girls’ sense of belonging and connection – the two key elements of a flourishing student – through our Spirit House system.

Our eight Houses are named after people who have shaped the history of Pymble.

BENNETT [SKY BLUE]

Mr Joseph Arthur Bennett taught painting, drawing and modelling when the College first opened in 1916 until his retirement in 1926. He is responsible for the design of the College hat badge as well as the College Medallion. Mr Bennett painted the large pastoral scene, part of the College Art collection.

GOODLET [ROYAL BLUE]

Colonel John Hay Goodlet was a member of a sub-committee that was appointed to draw up a general plan for the College buildings. He made a special trip to Melbourne to interview Dr Marden and also to visit other girls’ schools. Colonel Goodlet was a very generous benefactor to the Church, and has been called ‘Sydney’s great Christian philanthropist’.

HAMMOND [ORANGE]

Hammond House is named after Dame Joan Hammond (1912-1996). Dame Joan was a student at PLC until 1928, she was a Prefect and played sports including golf and hockey. Originally a talented violin player she pursued a singing career studying overseas. She achieved great international success in a career of performance and recordings.

LANG [WHITE]

Reverend John Dunmore Lang was born in Scotland in 1799. He arrived in Sydney in 1823 to establish Presbyterianism in the colony and thereby raise moral standards. For the next 50 years he continued his fight against immorality, established Scots Church and wrote widely. He was a powerful force in education.

INGLEHOLME [GREEN]

Ingleholme was the name of the house purchased in 1959 to establish the first Junior School. The house in Boomerang Street, Turramurra, had formerly been the home of Sir Martin McIlrath. On 10 February 1960, Ingleholme opened as a school with 69 girls aged from four to nine years and was known as Ingleholme Presbyterian Ladies’ College.

MARDEN [RED]

In 1916, Dr Marden was appointed Principal of Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Pymble. He believed that “the welfare of the girls came before anything else” and in his opinion, “women should be given the best that education had to offer.”

THOMAS [PURPLE]

Barbara Thomas was a student at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Pymble from 1919 to 1924. She was Dux of the College in 1923 and 1924, College Prefect in 1924, and played in both Hockey and Netball. In 1930, Barbara toured overseas as a member of the first Australian women’s hockey team.

WYLIE [YELLOW]

Miss Mina Wylie taught swimming at the College for 42 years – from 1928 until her retirement in 1970. She was one of two women to represent Australia in the Stockholm Olympic Games winning a silver medal. Mina Wylie held the record for every swimming stroke and was the first woman to achieve a Diploma from the Royal Life Saving Society in Australia.