Sherren House
Sherren House
First built in 1858, Sherren House, originally known as ‘Beaulieu’ was described as “one of the finest homes in the Southern hemisphere.”
In 1911 third owner, Mr Lachlan Mackinnon renamed the home ‘Kilbride.’
In 1922, Founding Principals, Miss Ruth Langley and Miss Flora Templeton acquired Kilbride, re-naming it Sherren House in 1968.
Sherren House has wrapped its arms around St Catherine’s students for over 100 years much like its namesake, Miss Ruby Sherren, the School’s much-adored Matron of the Boarding House from 1923 to 1946.
“The way Sherren House creaks under the weight of 7,000 girls past and present…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.”
Miss Nicola Sitch, 2015 School Captain.
MRS. C. LAWRENCE (MISS RUBY SHERREN)
Mrs. Lawrence (Shen) died on January 19th, 1976. Her loyalty and service to the School and her care for so many of the girls, particularly the boarders, who were pupils at the school during her twenty-three years there, will be remembered with great affection always.
Miss Sherren came to St. Catherine’s in September, 1923 to help Miss Ruth Langley by attending to the nursing and to look after the little boarders, at this time from the age of four years.
Miss Langley allowed Miss Sherren to make several improvements to the Boarding House, the main one being the addition of an isolation wing in the late 1920’s; this Miss Sherren helped to design.
During the depression years the school was at a very low ebb; because of this staff had to be reduced and Miss Sherren became Housekeeper as well as Matron. She remained in this position until she left because of ill-health in June, 1946.
When the school evacuated to Warburton during the war, Miss Sherren was still Matron-Housekeeper of the two Boarding Houses, and the numbers rose from sixty-five boarders to three hundred. This meant three sittings at all meals and Miss Sherren’s day started at 5 a.m. and Sunday was spent in the steam laundry, as it was impossible to get help during this time.
The school returned to Heyington Place in 1942 and prior to this Miss Sherren supervised evacuation of the W.R.A.A.F., and the restoration of the building for the school’s use. Because of the great physical and mental strain imposed on her during these years until 1946, her health was permanently impaired.
During her retirement years she always gave a warm welcome to any Old Girls who went to see her and kept a continuing interest in their careers and activities. Several years after leaving school, she married Mr. G. D. Lawrence who died in 1960.
She moved to a Little villa unit in Camberwell and many Old Girls visited her there and were inspired by her courage and cheerfulness. She was a loved member of the staff of St. Catherine’s and will never be forgotten.
