s e t a G l o o h c hT e S
A symbol of connection By Ian Robertson, Alumni Manager and Sandra Turner, Archivist
Our School Gates circa 1930s.
The large wrought iron gates that mark the entrance to Korowa in Ranfurlie Crescent are familiar to all Korovians. Over the years, thousands of Korovians have passed through these gates either coming to or going from the School. We are sure many think these are the only remnant of the imposing mansion, Knox House (formerly Ranfurlie) purchased by Miss Ethel Akehurst (Principal of Korowa 1905 to 1926) in 1913 as the new site of Korowa that stood to the east of the gates until its demolition in 1974. However, this is not the case. As the story goes, in February 1936, Miss Margaret Dickson, (Principal of Korowa from 1930 to 1949), was out for a weekend drive when she noticed an auction being conducted by Kaye, Gardiner and Lang of the mansion Chaddesley that stood at the corner of Balaclava and Orrong Roads in East St Kilda.
Chaddesley, the Residence of William Ford Esqr. J.P McDonald, Donald, photographer (between 1860 and 1879) State Library of Victoria.
The house was to be demolished in a subdivision and Miss Dickson decided that the imposing wrought iron gates would be appropriate for Korowa and purchased them. The gates were subsequently financed by the Korowa Parents’ Association for £40 and presented to the School. It cost the grand sum of £3 to deliver and £12 to hang the gates! However, they were not installed until 1938, following the building of the Junior School. The Archbishop of Melbourne, Frederick Head, dedicated the gates on 30 April 1938 along with the new Junior School building facing the oval (replaced in 1963) and the Amy Paterson sundial (restored in 2018). He dedicated the gates to ‘be ever open for the admission of the true, the beautiful and the good and closed in the face of all evil’. Miss Dickson paid for the crests on the gates, designed by Mrs Murray Dawson, Korowa’s Art and Craft teacher. Since installation, the gates have become part of the fabric of Korowa. It is always interesting to observe when Korovians visit the School or attend reunions, they want their photograph taken in front of the gates – a powerful symbol of connection and belonging.
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