To understand your history is to understand who you are and why.

Sherren House was first built in 1858, over 160 years ago. It was described as “one of the finest homes in the Southern hemisphere”. Imagine how grand it must have seemed in 1858 and even more so when its grand entrance gates were built in 1890, the same Heyington gates that welcome us to the Senior School every day.

Its first owner, Henry Dauglish, named his impressive new home ‘Beaulieu’, because of its fine views across the Yarra to the hills beyond. Its third owner, Lachlan Mackinnon renamed it ‘Kilbride’ after his birthplace on the Isle of Skye and it was renovated to incorporate the ballroom.

In 1922, the School acquired Kilbride through the efforts of its Co-Principals – Ruth Langley and Flora Templeton, and the building has been the centre-piece of the School ever since.

In 1968, St Catherine’s renamed it ‘Sherren House’ in recognition of Ruby Sherren. ‘Shen’ (as she was known) had come to the School in Ruth Langley’s time, in 1923, to be matron of the boarders, some of whom were then as young as four years old.  She served as Matron from 1923-1946, rising at 5am each day and spending all Sunday in the steam laundry.

Sherren House has wrapped its arms around our students for nearly 100 years and has become more than just a name to us. In her 2015 Speech Night address, the St Catherine’s School Captain, Nicola Sitch referred to Sherren House in describing the strength of tradition in our school. She talked of “the hand marks on the walls. The way Sherren House creaks under the weight of 7000 girls past and present. The knowledge that, for almost 120 years, St Catherine’s students have sat together and wondered about the future… our stories are as much a part of its build as the glass and brick. In 10, 20, 30 years’ time, girls will walk through its halls and feel these memories, as we do when we step into the Boarding House or Wintergarden… We will remember that life changing conversation, or teacher and how empowered and loved we felt here.”

Sherren House will always be that to us.