elebrating 70 years - where it all began Merilyn Orchard Archivist
2022 marks the 70-year anniversary of Penrhos College. In this article, I would like to take you on a journey back in time, 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 1
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EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN
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. 3
