This year, St Catherine’s School celebrates 100 years at Heyington Place. The relocation from Castlemaine to Williams Road to Heyington Place demonstrates the commitment and foresight of both Ruth Langley and Flora Templeton in guiding and ensuring the enduring success of St Catherine’s School.

The School moved from Castlemaine in 1920 relocating to ‘Maulstrasse’ at 247 Williams Road, Toorak to accommodate the rapid increase in student numbers with 83 girls enrolled, including 17 boarders. The Herald reported on Saturday 11 December ,1920: “Bishop Langley said he welcomed the establishment of the school in the city, where its first year [located at Williams Road] had met approval. The Report of the Principals referred to the successes of the school, in education and sport and to the fact that… it had become necessary to consider seriously the advisability of obtaining larger housing accommodation to meet increasing applications for entry into the boarding section of the school.”

In 1921 at the annual Speech Night, Miss Langley was reported in The Age newspaper: “that the school had gradually increased in numbers till it had exceeded the limit of 120 set by the Principals and was now 130. Alternative suggestions have been considered for extension of the present premises [at Williams Road] to provide adequate accommodation for the boarders, or the acquirement of new premises. A site was under offer at Toorak.”

After the turn of the century and following World War One, the subdivision of the grand old estates in Toorak began to increase when rising labour costs made the cost of servants and other people to maintain the estates prohibitive. These subdivisions opened the possibility of larger premises for the School.

The Herald reported on 17 May 1922 the sale of the mansion known as Kilbride with one acre of land. The remaining four and a half acres were subdivided and the School gradually purchased these properties with Wiltondale the final acquisition in 1999. The School was then officially opened and consecrated at Heyington Place on 25 September 1922, by the Right Rev. Doctor Langley, assisted by the Rev. Archie Law, Vicar of St John’s Church, Toorak, and Mr Colin Langley.

An advertisement in the Australasian newspaper on 11 November 1922 states: “While offering a sound education it is the special aim of the principals to train the girls for the responsibilities of life and to give them high ideals. To aid them in their work very beautiful and healthful surroundings have been provided.”

The School’s 1923 Annual Report describes the move as “the year of settling in and accommodating ourselves to our new surroundings. The new conditions of big garden space, and the freedom of open-air life at first seemed disturbing – the pupils did not at first appreciate their privileges.” However, this soon changed with students given access to the gardens and a competition held to encourage the girls’ sense of place. The 1924 form report cites “We have our own gardens to look after. Everyone is trying very hard this year [to win the prize.]”

In celebration of the 100 year anniversary at Heyington Place a Heritage Trail will be developed over time. Plaques will be placed at significant locations with a QR code for additional information and archival images.