History Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney

1 history

1.1 foundation
1.2 growth
1.3 second world war

history
foundation

fernlea, plc s first home in ashfield, c. 1888

in 1883 general assembly of presbyterian church of nsw formed special committee investigate proposal establish boarding schools girls , boys, provide presbyterian alternatives proliferating number of roman catholic secondary schools in colony. minister @ richmond, rev james cameron stated: presbyterians should take prompt action because popish party, seeing want felt throughout colony in regard higher education, has stepped in supply want, , if protestants did not matter, roman catholics take advantage of them. general assembly inspired establish school, particularly ladies college, less worthy motives. other protestant denominations in nsw had established own ladies colleges, , neighbouring colony of victoria had maintained presbyterian ladies college since 1875, , felt nsw presbyterians should have one. @ 1884 assembly committee announced while boys school not needed, secondary education options available girls not satisfactory, , recommended ladies college, similar presbyterian ladies college, melbourne, established possible.

plc s first principal, dr john marden

a ladies college committee formed , july 1887 had leased property in ashfield. principal, unanimously selected dr. john marden, science master methodist ladies college (mlc) in melbourne, because of high academic standing, experience , success in teaching , high christian character . marden strong believer in equal opportunity in education, , has been described feminist . rejected idea plc merely finishing school daughters of wealthy, , once quoted saying:

i ... out of sympathy cry education unnecessary girls, , require few accomplishments. women have live life - in cases harder 1 men have. notion of accomplishments being sufficient girls surely remnant of barbarous days when women looked on plaything of men.

the presbyterian ladies college opened marden , lady superintendent, ms m. mccormick, on 30 january 1888, 39 girls. modelled on great english public schools, , first school established presbyterian church of new south wales. committee, marden responsible organising curriculum , hiring appropriate staff. during opening ceremony governor invited wife, countess of jersey, margaret child-villiers, speak. made sydney morning herald described capital impromptu speech . countess speech reported throughout australia , elsewhere around world, @ time quite unusual woman speak in public. plc s jersey day, annual event in ex-students return college on sunday closest 10 march, named in honour of countess.

growth

plc main school, built 1890

in years @ croydon, girls tended enrolled @ older age, typically on fourteen. apparent despite marden s insistence, many parents viewed college finishing school. today, not requirement students presbyterians, , school records indicate there number of roman catholic , jewish students. 1900 reputation of school had spread, , pupils starting come wider geographic area, including new caledonia, fiji, new zealand, northern territory, western australia, queensland , south australia.

sketch of plc, featuring gardens , shubra hall , main school towers, c. 1935

the increase in enrolments convinced council of need set branch school on site, preferably on north shore. in 1913 marden reported many applications being refused because of shortness of space. assembly approved establishment of branch @ pymble , gave council of plc croydon £5,000 erect new buildings , lay out grounds. presbyterian ladies college, pymble opened on 8 february 1916 48 day girls , 86 boarders. marden became principal of both schools. opening of pymble campus necessitated change of name croydon college, presbyterian ladies college, sydney presbyterian ladies college, croydon. marden retired @ end of 1919 , principal appointed each branch. dr e. neil mcqueen, prominent educational innovator had been vice-principal of 2 schools, became second principal of plc croydon. in 1918 school magazine aurora australis first published. on cover bore quotation thomas carlyle: . . . here hath been dawning blue day. think wilt thou let slip useless away.

second world war

advertisement plc @ temporary residence in strathfield, 1942

in 1941, both principal mary hamilton, , senior mistress (novelist, critic , historian) flora eldershaw, left school fill wartime positions in bureaucracy. in 1942, new principal, dr helen wilkie, arrived find falling enrolments, staffing problems , food shortages due effects of second world war. word received australian military authorities wished inspect school view taking over. on 24 march 1942, requested plc occupied royal australian air force (raaf) purpose of establishing top secret radar unit , military barracks known no.1 rimu (radio installation , maintenance unit). in order accommodate plc s students , classes, council approached meriden school in strathfield. meriden agreed house boarders , singing, domestic science, , physical education classes. plc purchased lingwood, property in strathfield, centre school s remaining activities.

at end of 1942, meriden authorities indicated no longer house plc boarders, lauriston, strathfield, on boulevarde, , welbeck, @ 18 margaret street, rented them. in july 1944 council agreed purchase lingwood, @ 16 margaret street, house kindergarten feeder school college, or site permanent move. few months later council decided future of plc lay in strathfield. croydon campus offered military £36,500 , plans made purchase welbeck , lauriston form new plc.

lauriston, part of plc s wartime strathfield campus

the council s preference strathfield permanent location school not shared of school community, , after intervention education trust of nsw general assembly decided plc reopen once again @ croydon in first term 1946. military agreed pay extensive renovations required, final cheque handed on government on 21 march 1949. lauriston , welbeck disposed of in 1946, lingwood property retained preparatory school. council negotiated margaret thompson, owner , principal of branxton, private school in strathfield, moving school lingwood property, retain name branxton , come under control of plc council.

evidence of plc s wartime occupation remain, tunnels , bomb shelters accessible below stage of college hall. plaque presented school raaf, in commemoration of plc s wartime involvement, can found on school verandah @ entrance main school.

earlier still:

miss freda whitlam (born 1920), sister of prime minister gough whitlam principal between 1958 , 1976. period of great social transition. in 1968 miss whitlam wrote: ours world each year become more conscious of how , radically our environment changing. technology taking drudgery out of our lives , opening exciting opportunities have general education , willing think positively , creatively. here girls aim in view. in 1970, after rev. bill mcleod spoke of seniors , advised intending become nurse or teacher learn greek or italian (to aid communication immigrants), miss whitlam took suggestion: have people time after exams @ end of each year - let s organise greek classes them . in march 1972 school produced newsletter ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ ΝΕΑ providing background on greek culture , language , bibliography of relevant books in school library.

in 1977, union of congregational, methodist , presbyterian churches took place, forming uniting church in australia. approximately 1 third of presbyterian church decided remain presbyterian, , consequently property of church had divided. in may of year announced plc croydon remain presbyterian , plc pymble transferred, name changed pymble ladies college. in 1978 decided plc croydon should return original name: presbyterian ladies college, sydney. freda whitlam took part in movement form uniting church , ended principalship of school. moderator of new south wales synod of uniting church in australia (1985-6).

plc sydney 120 year anniversary logo

in late august 2005, due financial troubles @ presbyterian ladies college, armidale, announced plc armidale , plc sydney join form alliance, both schools coming under executive leadership of dr william mckeith, principal of plc sydney. members of plc armidale council formed part of new joint school council, making 2 plc s true sister schools.

the aim of alliance strengthen plc armidale through cooperative marketing, change in management, , stronger financial base. meant benefit both schools providing student exchanges, accommodations sporting events or excursions, , additional country or city option prospective students. both schools maintain separate identities in order preserve unique histories , traditions both have developed on many years. plc celebrated 120th anniversary in 2008 , mark occasion college commissioned limited edition commemorative coffee table book, plc sydney 1888-2008: photographic essay.