AROUND THE GROUNDS ������������������������������������������������������������������

College founders showed great foresight in purchasing the 50 acres that is Pymble Ladies’ College. 105 years later, our magnificent natural and built environments combine heritage appeal and 21st century education so we can fulfill our vision of providing an education that is universally acknowledged for its outstanding quality and exceptional opportunities.

1916

SCHOOL IS FOUNDED

Pymble Ladies’ College is a school of the Uniting Church in Australia. Originally Presbyterian Ladies’ College Pymble, the school was founded on 8 February 1916 as a branch of Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Croydon. It opened with 60 girls on the roll, 20 of whom were Boarders. Marden and Lang Houses had already been completed, as had the Colonnade building and Main Hall.

1926

GOODLET HOUSE

Goodlet House was officially opened in 1926. Named after Colonel Goodlet, one of the founders of Croydon and a member of the Site Selecting Committee for Pymble. The original swimming pool was opened in the same year.

1956

WAR MEMORIAL CHAPEL

On 27 April 1956, the PLC Pymble War Memorial Chapel was opened. The Chapel did not see the majority of its beautiful stained glass windows until almost 40 years after it was opened. The most notable windows are the ‘Getting of Wisdom’ window, located behind the Communion table and the ‘Robert MacArthur Commemorative Windows’ located in the gallery behind the pipe organ, both designed by David Saunders.

1959

INGLEHOLME PURCHASED

In 1959, the property known as ‘Ingleholme’, Turramurra, was purchased by the College Council to establish a second Preparatory and Junior School. In 1960, Ingleholme opened with 69 girls.

1963

DOROTHY KNOX HOUSE

Dorothy Knox House was opened in July of 1963 and addressed the need for additional class space in response to growing enrolment numbers. After the establishment of the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977, which saw the Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church and the Congregational Church combine, PLC Pymble became Pymble Ladies’ College.

1970s

FERGUSON BUILDING

Opened in 1970, the name of this building commemorates the work and service to the College by the Chairman of the Council, Mr George Ferguson CBE, BA. The Ferguson Building caters for Pymble’s Secondary School Visual Arts students. The building provides an art gallery, craft facilities, kilns for pottery and an open courtyard for sculpture.

1992

DAVID BLACKWELL MUSIC SCHOOL

The David Blackwell Music School was opened in 1992 and is named after the Chairman and long-serving member of the College Council, from 1965 to 1987. David is a past parent and also had two aunts, two sisters, five nieces and a great-niece attend the College.

1994

SCIENCE CENTRE

The Science Centre was opened by Professor Marie Bashir on 30 April 1994. With a distinguished career in medicine and academia, Professor Marie Bashir was a regular visitor to Pymble for Speech Days. She also officiated at the opening of the Kate Mason Senior Centre in 2011, during her service as Governor of New South Wales.

1998

MOLLIE DIVE FIELD

In 1998, a Year 12 Common Room and a synthetic surface hockey field were completed. Mollie attended Pymble from 1928 to 1931 and was Head Prefect in 1931. When a teacher told Mollie, “you spend too much time on the oval”. Mollie’s reply was a declaration of love for an activity that would remain a life-long passion. ‘I love sport,’ she said. ‘I just can’t help myself.’

1999

TECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED STUDIES CENTRE

In 1999, the Technology and Applied Studies Centre was opened. The Technology and Applied Studies Centre has workshop areas for electronics, wood and plastics, and specialised learning spaces for Textiles and Design, Food Technology and Hospitality.

2001

CONDE LIBRARY

The Conde Library is named after Mr John Conde AO, who joined the Pymble Ladies’ College Council in 1983 and became Chairman in 1992. The Conde Library provides Pymble Ladies’ College with a first class contemporary learning facility designed around the research and development needs of girls and staff.

2005

GILLIAN MOORE CENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS

The opening of the GIllian Moore Centre for Performing Arts (GMCPA) was excitedly anticipated. It opened to great acclaim to celebrate Mrs Moore’s contribution to the College as Principal from 1989 to 2007. It provides world class facilities for music, dance and drama.

2011

KATE MASON SENIOR SCHOOL CENTRE

The Kate Mason Senior School Centre was completed in 2011. Named for former Council Chair Kate Mason, this building is a specialist educational facility purpose designed and built to address the unique requirements of senior students as they exercise their growing independence and responsibility.

2016

BRAITH WILLIAMS AQUATIC AND FITNESS CENTRE

In 2016, the College celebrated its Centenary and the Braith Williams Aquatic and Fitness Centre was opened. Named for former Council Chair Braith Williams, this facility includes a 50m heated indoor eightlane swimming pool with multiple diving platforms, a dive bubble and a large purpose-built learn-to-swim pool. There is also a multi-purpose fitness centre, incorporating strength and conditioning facilities with consultation and remedial treatment rooms.

2020

VISION VALLEY

Pymble acquired the iconic and beautiful Vision Valley retreat at Arcadia in 2020. Located 45-minutes from the College, Vision Valley is set on more than 90 acres of land bordering the Berowra Valley National Park. It provides an extensive and diverse range of opportunities for experiential learning, wellness activities and accessible outdoor education opportunities.

2021 and beyond A NEW PRECINCT

The Grey House Precinct will provide a new home for girls in Years 5 and 6, a dance academy with six new studios, Out of School Hours Care and an Early Learning Centre. A new purpose-built health and wellbeing centre will be created within the development. The Years 5 and 6 Junior School component will provide general and specialist learning, with a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).