co 1 penrhos college and pine trees (cat c)

CITY OF SOUTH PERTH LOCAL HERITAGE INVENTORY

CITY OF SOUTH PERTH

LOCAL HERITAGE INVENTORY

PLACE RECORD FORM Prepared by Heritage Today, March 2000

Most recent update by City of South Perth, November 2015

Place No: Co 1 Penrhos College and Pine Trees

One of the entrances to Penrhos College. (Heritage Today 1999)

LOCATION

Name of Place Penrhos College and Pine Trees Other / former names Address 6 Morrison Street Suburb Como Local Government Authority City of South Perth Scope of listing This heritage listing applies to the whole of the site. LISTINGS BY OTHER BODIES

Name of Body Reference No. Grade of Listing Date Heritage Council of Western Australia 4809 Data base only – not listed -

Management Category

C

Place No. Co 1 : Penrhos College and Pine Trees


LAND DESCRIPTION

Reserve No. Lot Location No. Plan/Diagram Vol/Folio 29866 - Canning 2199 173604 V 383 F 83A PERIOD Late Twentieth Century

Design Style Late Twentieth Century Stripped Classical Construction Date 1971 (Stage One occupied) Source/Details City of South Perth Municipal Heritage Inventory (No.1) 1994. USE(S) OF PLACE

Original School and Boarding House Present School and Boarding Houses Other / former Collier Pine Plantation HISTORICAL NOTES

Penrhos College has a history that goes back beyond its current home in Como. The story of private school education in South Perth started with Miss Burnet’s school which operated from the Mends Street Hall (also known as the ‘Mechanics’ Institute Hall’ and more recently, as the ‘Old Mill Theatre’). For a number of years, children were educated by a variety of teachers who sometimes started schools nearby, in opposition to the one at the Hall. This situation continued until one teacher had ‘won over’ the majority of the pupils and the beaten teacher became resigned to her fate and left. The school at Mends Street Hall also had a number of different names and patrons. One of the last teachers in the Hall was Jill Hargrave who had named her school Saint Ann’s. In 1940, the school’s population had expanded beyond the capacity of the Hall and Jill Hargrave sought other premises. The new Saint Ann’s was built on blocks at 13-15 Angelo Street, opposite the Perth Zoo. The school had been a difficult project owing to the outbreak of World War II, as building materials and tradesmen were in more limited supply. After the move to the new school, boys were no longer taken into the school over the age of six. In 1951, Jill Hargrave offered Saint Ann’s College to the Church of England but they were not interested. However, the Methodist Church bought it and developed it as a sister school to Methodist Ladies College (MLC) in Claremont. Mrs Margaret Way commenced as the new Principal of MLC South Perth in 1952, and continued in the position until 1971. At the time of opening, the new school had 110 students. During her time as Principal, Mrs Way guided the school through a number of developments. Classrooms and a science lab were added in 1955. In 1958, the school became independent of MLC Claremont and in 1961, the school expanded to allow girls to continue their education through to Year 12. Achieving independent status led to a name change for the school in 1964, when Mrs Way chose the Welsh name ‘Penrhos’.1 The school continued to expand through the 1960s, leading to overcrowding and the establishment of a primary school in an old house on the corner of Onslow and Angelo Streets. However, this house was only a temporary measure while Mrs Way sought a larger site for her school. In 1966, the 20 acre (8 hectare) site currently occupied by Penrhos College, was made available by the government as part of their program of disposing of the land occupied by the former Collier Pine Plantation.

1 Meaning of the Welsh name ‘Penrhos’: ‘pen’ means ‘top’ or ‘summit’, as in mountain or hill; and ‘rhos’

means ‘heath’ or ‘plain’. There are several places thus named in Wales, including Penrhos Castle near Raglan.



HISTORICAL NOTES (cont’d)

In July 1969, a 20 acre 21 perches (8 hectare) site (currently occupied by Penrhos College) was made available by the government as Reserve 28966 for the purpose of a ‘School Site (Methodist)’, as part of their program of disposing of the B-Class Reserve 5988 comprising the Collier Pine Plantation. That year, Architects Cameron Chisholm and Nicol, in consultation with Mrs Way, developed the original concept plan. Mrs Way had been impressed with the elevations of the University of Western Australia as seen from Stirling Highway and the school was designed to reflect some of these elements. The architects developed a plan, which was followed in subsequent additions to the school, making the campus a pleasing aesthetic whole. Mrs Way, an MLC Claremont ‘Old Girl’ and a Saint Anne’s parent, agreed to act as Principal until such time as a satisfactory permanent appointment was made. An accountant by profession, Mrs Way’s unique vision and determination guided Penrhos College through its early years, despite limited means. She led the College until her retirement in 1971. The new Principal was Dr Vincent Horner, who stayed at the helm until 1980, by which time, the school had increased to 800 students. The Stage 1 plans were submitted to the South Perth Council by Cameron Chisholm and Nicol Architects, in August 1969. The plans were for three-storey buildings comprising classrooms, senior science laboratories, library and canteen; and for a two-storey boarding house (Colwyn Boarding House) with 50 bedrooms. The Foundation Stone was laid in July 1970. Stage 1 was completed in 1971 with the help of a Commonwealth Grant. Years 10, 11 and 12 students moved to the new Como site in February 1971, followed by Years 7, 8 and 9 in 1972. When the Junior School students moved to the site in 1974, enrolments sat at 425 students. Stage 2, undertaken in 1972, included a resource centre, the cost of which was met by using Library Grant funding. When Dr Vincent Horner joined Penrhos College as Principle in 1972, he established a Student Representative Council (SRC) as a way of involving students in the management of the school. He also oversaw the building of the Olympic-sized swimming pool that year, through a $3 building levy, paid per child per term. During the nex few years, the City approved additional classrooms (1972, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1985), a hall (1973), Administration block (1976), assembly hall and gymnasium (1977), boarding house (1977), additions to the Junior School (1979) and several other more minor improvements. Considerable fund raising by Parents and Friends resulted in the addition of further classrooms, a language centre, and a commerce and business centre. New Home Economics and Resource Centres were designed and built as part of Stage 5. The Chapel, with its stunning stained glass windows, was built in 1986, during Rev Alan Green’s (1981-1986) last year as Principal. The design was the result of an architectural competition, as was the Performing Arts Centre in 1994. The Chapel was opened and dedicated on 19 September 1986. Graham Rixon became Principal in 1986. That year, the iconic Margaret Way Courtyard, forming the heart of the Senior School, was completed. Mr Rixon (1986 – 2011) became the College’s longest-serving Principal to date. Some of his many achievements included the 50th anniversary Vision 2000 project and ensuring that Penrhos College became a technology-rich school. In 1989, the Junior School hall was converted into a Music Centre. In 1995, Penrhos College became one of the first Western Australian schools to establish a Middle School, dedicated to the education of girls in Years 7 to 9. Mrs Vicky Sunderland was appointed as the inaugural Head of the school. However, a restructuring of Penrhos College in 2010 resulted in the Middle School being discontinued, and the College reverting to a Junior School and Secondary School. The Performing Arts Centre (later renamed the Rixon Theatre after long-serving principal, Mr Rixon) opened on 11 March 1995. Additional classrooms were added in 1997, and other improvements continued to be made to the campus.



HISTORICAL NOTES (cont’d)

By 1998, the population of the school had increased to approximately 1100 students. During the 21st century, Penrhos College has continued to expand and improve its facilities and services. In 2000, the Vision 2000 50th Anniversary building program commenced. This including an upgrade and extensions to the Sports Centre, Dining Hall and Boarding House, with extensions being made to the Administration wing. In October 2009, the rebuilt Menai Boarding House was completed. In 2011, Mrs Meg Melville was appointment as Principal. On 18 March 2011, the two-storey Early Learning Centre opened. DESCRIPTION

The campus of Penrhos College, set in undulating grounds, has high integrity, as there has been a conscious effort to continue the Late Twentieth Century Stripped Classical Style that was initiated in the original building program in 1971. The buildings of up to three storeys are built in a salmon coloured brick with aluminium framed windows. The landscaping around the school is extensive and carefully maintained. A stand of Pine Trees has been kept at one of the entrances to the school, a remnant of the Collier Pine Plantation. ASSOCIATIONS ASSOCIATION TYPE

Mrs Margaret Way Founding Principal, retired 1971 Cameron Chisholm and Nicol Architects who designed the preliminary site layout

and building design, and designed the early stages of the campus

Dr Vincent Horner Principal 1972 - 1980 Rev Alan Green Principal 1981 – 1986 Graham Rixon Principal 1986 – 2011 Mrs Meg Melville Principle from 2011 HISTORIC THEME / Sub-theme CATEGORIES OF SIGNIFICANCE

Community Efforts/Education Aesthetic Historic Social Representative RATING AND ASSESSMENT High Low

Aesthetic value (streetscape, setting) 1 � 2 3 4 5 Architectural merit (design features) 1 � 2 3 4 5 Rarity value 1 2 3.� 4 5 Value as part of a group/precinct 1 2 3 4 � 5 Condition 1 � 2 3 4 5 Integrity 1 2 � 3 4 5



STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Penrhos College has aesthetic, historic, social and representative cultural heritage significance. The campus is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and has a high integrity as there has been a conscious attempt to keep all new buildings in a similar style as its initial building program in 1971. The school has a history that extends far back in the story of private school education in South Perth. Penrhos College is a fine example of a purpose built campus for K-12 education. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Management Category C : Moderate significance Conservation desirable. Any alterations or additions should be sympathetic to the heritage values of the place and original fabric should be retained where feasible. Photographically record the place prior to any significant alteration or demolition.

SUPPORTING INFORMATION / BIBLIOGRAPHY • City of South Perth Municipal Heritage Inventory (No.1) 1994. • Reviews of Municipal Heritage Inventory by Heritage Today in 2000 and 2006. • Clarke, S., (Compiler) Penrhos: Her Heritage, Lamb Printers, WA, 1988. • Apperly,R., Irving, R.,Reynolds, P., A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Australian Architecture,

Angus and Robertson NSW, 1989. • ‘History’ page of the Penrhos College web site at:

http://www.penrhos.wa.edu.au/about-penrhos/history.html HISTORY OF HERITAGE LISTING BY CITY OF SOUTH PERTH

Date Adopted by Council Town Planning Scheme No. 5 – Schedule G Gazetted 25 September 1986 Initial listing in MHI December 1994 Update of MHI February 1996 Update of MHI December 1996 Update of MHI December 1997 Review of MHI by Heritage Today June 2000 Update of MHI June 2002 Update of MHI March 2003 Review of MHI by Heritage Today February 2006 Interim Heritage List – Policy P313 ‘Local Heritage Listing’ April 2013 Updated in renamed LHI November 2015



The front of the original 1971 Classroom Block (since extended). (Heritage Today 1999)

Pine Trees – remnants of the former Collier Pine Plantation. (Heritage Today 1999)



One of the original classroom blocks now used as the Science Department and Staffroom.

(Heritage Today 1999)

Performing Arts Centre. (Heritage Today 1999)



Colwyn Boarding House. (Heritage Today 1999)

Colwyn Boarding House, 1970. (Photograph reproduced with kind permission of Penrhos College)



Menai Boarding House after its 2009 rebuilding. (Photograph reproduced with kind permission of Penrhos College))

Menai Boarding House prior to its 2009 redevelopment. (Heritage Today 1999)



Penrhos College Chapel, 1994. (Picture South Perth Photograph Collection)

One of two very creative stained glass windows in the Penrhos College Chapel.

(Heritage Today 1999)



Chapel Alter. (Heritage Today 1999)

Entry to Chapel. (Heritage Today 1999)



Junior School 1976. (Heritage Today 1999)

Penrhos College as a finalist in the City of South Perth Annual Gardens Competition, 1992. (Picture South Perth Photograph Collection)



Magnolia Tree planted in 1997 as a Memorial to Amanda Young, former pupil of the school. (Heritage Today 1999)

Remnant pine trees on the Penrhos College site, from the former Collier Pine Plantation. (Jenny Dans, City of South Perth, 1994)



Students celebrating the approval of the new College site, with a flag-raising ceremony during the celebratory ‘Picnic in the Pines’ event, 1966.

Mrs Margaret Way at the new College site, 1970.

(Photographs on this page reproduced with kind permission of Penrhos College)

Chapel in the Pines, prior to the construction of the new College Chapel, 1971.

The Cross is now located at the front of the College.

New Senior School classrooms, 1971.

The Margaret Way Courtyard in the centre of the College, completed 1986.



LOCATION MAP

(Digital Cadastral Data supplied by Landgate, WA. P295)

co 1 penrhos college and pine trees (cat c)

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