St Catherine's School

The St Catherine’s Hall – A History

Wednesday 15 December 2010

Miss Davis welcomes Sir Dallas Brooks and Lady Brooks on 18 June 1955. Foundation Stone unveiled by General Sir Dallas Brooks The first Assembly was held in the Hall in 1956. The Archives has in its collection two examples of the metal and blue canvas chairs. Girls’ education has significantly changed since this article appeared in the Woman’s Day, 3rd September 1956 edition. The picture of Illawarra which appeared in the Woman’s Day.

Planning for a new hall began in 1954 with an emphasis on a modern design; it had to be light, have stage facilities and be large enough for the whole school to assemble together. Fundraising continued throughout 1954 and 1955, boosted by the introduction of a special fund of six pounds per annum, per pupil, which was directed mainly towards improving buildings.

The Hall’s Foundation Stone was laid by The Governor of Victoria, General Sir Dallas Brooks, on 18 June 1955.

The Hall was opened early in 1956 and in its first year was used for daily morning assembly; as a theatre; an exam centre; a venue for the school dance; a venue for an exhibition of rare and old children’s books; meetings; a venue for screening educational films; and for entertainment such as the French and German evening and the Latin festival.

In its opening year, the new Hall was included in an article in Woman’s Day magazine celebrating new school buildings, titled: “Today’s pupils live in luxury.” 1956 was an exciting year in Melbourne with new venues being built for the Melbourne Olympic Games. Buildings at this time were required to be modern and new. Luckily, however, St Catherine’s also retains heritage style building, Sherren House, and for the National Trust, maintains Illawarra for its Boarding House.