The following story was written by Fr Ted Doncaster and is an extract from the publication “The Cross in the Field, a history of the Anglican Church in the Eastern and Murchison Goldfields of Western Australia”. It is produced with his permission and I would like to thank him for his assistance and his continued support.
The Community of the Sisters of the Church had its beginnings in England in 1863. The Community was to spread to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Burma and Africa, conducting schools and providing homes for destitute children. The invitation was extended to the Community to come to Australia in 1890 when they were invited to take over the Perth Orphanage but it wasn’t until 1901 that Sisters Vera, Rosalie and Susannah arrived in Fremantle with a group of young girls.
For a few years from 1898, a Church of England High School for girls was held in the Parish Hall at Kalgoorlie. A second Church Day school was started near All Saints Church in Lamington with 40 pupils under Miss Lemon. In 1902 the Sisters of the Church were invited to take over the struggling High School. When they took overt one of the sisters made the comment
The school furniture is only fit for firewood and we need everything, desks, books and maps!
Sr Susannah said “The trip up to Kalgoorlie was pretty rough, but I’m now somewhat recovered. It is the queerest town imaginable. The houses are all iron and hessian and made so they can be moved from place to place. The people have given us the warmest welcome and are all so nice.”
Group of Girls from the Orphanage – Church of England picnic at Binduli – Kalgoorlie Western Argus Tuesday 13 September 1904 page 26 – Photo by A Katz
It was in 1903 when Sr Susannah arrived in Kalgoorlie with Sr Jane and Dolly Walton and nine little English girls. She was described as ‘a clever teacher’. Sr Susannah wrote in her diary; “so it came to pass on 29th January 1903 I found myself sitting in an uncomfortable carriage of the ‘Goldfields Express’ with Sr Jane and Miss Walton. We were making our way to the ‘Golden City’. I had read a book by Calvert about the early days which gave a not-too-attractive description, but since the advent of the new water pipeline, the privations from lack of water are now at an end. The new reservoir was opened just a few days before we departed. Poor Sr Jane had only just arrived from England so was not used to the climate. She urged me to open the window but when I did so, she felt the hot blast of a furnace and quickly closed it again. We were told that at the ceremony for the opening of the pipeline the temperature was 115° and on the day of our arrival it was 112°. One of our fellow travelers was without her own water and she was very thankful to share ours.
Group of Sunday School Teachers – Church of England picnic at Binduli – Western Argus Tuesday 13 September 1904 page 26 – Photo by A Katz
On our arrival, we were greeted by Mrs W Watson who ran a boarding house called ‘Johns Lodge for Working Girls,’ who had agreed to take us in. Sister Jane and I shared a bedroom and the main feature of the first meal was that the jar of cheese on the table was completely liquid. The next days were spent getting the school ready to open on the 4th Feb 1903 and finding accommodation for the nine English girls who were expected shortly.
Sr Jane eventually purchased a wooden building for £25. Permission was given to place it on Crown Land for a nominal rent until 1916. Sr Jane led us to the site she had chosen to place the building. It was on a rough stony ridge about a mile and a half from the town. When the authorities remonstrated with Sr Jane about choosing the best site in the locality she replied, “Well surely you would not have me choose the worst site”. The hill had already previously been occupied by an old mine which had come to nothing and was now strongly boarded over with timbers.
Before long the building was erected on the site, a floor was put in and holes cut in the walls for windows. All was ready for the arrival of Sr Sarah and the nine little girls who were due to arrive on the 12 March. The building was divided in half by a hessian wall. They brought with them a good-sized tent which was erected at one end of the building and used as a kitchen and dining room. Prior to this the cooking had been done outside in an invaluable kerosene tin on an open fire. Our window openings were covered by hessian and our scant furnishings were supplied by kind neighbours.
The Old St Johns Parish Hall next to Council Chambers, Brookman St, Kalgoorlie with St Johns Church in the background – 1910
A month prior to this, the school had been opened in the hall near St Johns Church which was a lofty building. On the first day, there were only 13 pupils. It was my first experience of the objectionable nature of Kalgoorlie dust which lay almost an inch think over everything. We found that the town was not as palatial as it had been described. When you left the main street, which did have a stone Post Office and buildings and superior shops and hotels, the streets tailed off in untidy-looking camps with perhaps a creeper or a goat or two. Our new house, although not free from dust, was a great improvement from the town. We were fortunate to be given a second-hand stove. For water, we relied on rainwater and the rest was delivered by cart as the scheme water was not yet connected.
Before winter arrived the number of pupils attending the school had swelled to 40. However, it was so wet and cold that pupil numbers were reduced so the girls often stayed in their little house and were taught there. Winter storms had a bad effect on the tent kitchen which kept collapsing. If it wasn’t for the kindness of our neighbours we would have gone without a meal.
Students and Staff of the Girls High School standing alongside the Old Church of St John the Baptist, Kalgoorlie – 1905
Back Row: Violet ?, Joy ROLLS, Marjorie LONG, Agnes ?, Violet ?, Annie, Gretchen, Kate, Aggie, Stella.
Second Row: Dulcie CHEFFERS, Katie FIELD, Coral PETERS, Maggie BIBBY, Kathleen FIELD, Katrina LONG, Ada ?, Unknown, May CAMERON Grace CUNNING.
Third Row: Effie ?, Jessie MCDOUGALL, Doris ALLEN, David ATKINSON, Grace ?, Molly SCOTT, Christine MATTHEWS, Nancy SCOTT, Dorothy FISHER, Marjorie MURRAY, Mary CUNNING, Miss Whalton (Teacher).
Fourth Row: Peggy CLARKE, Gwennie BURTON, Winnie ALLEN, Faith MURRAY, Unknown, Unknown, ? OWEN, Kathleen GOREHAM, Nellie ?, Molly GRIEG, ? WASTELL, Buddie ALLEN
Sr Susannah stands to the left and Sr Sarah to the right.
This original photo was given to the Eastern Goldfields Historical Soc in 1983 by Jessie ATTEWELL (nee McDougall) who named the girls and it is believed to be the only photograph of the school in existence. The original photograph was donated to the Sisters of the Church in England and is produced here with their permission.
By 1905 the number of students had risen to 70. In 1907 it was reported that 66 children attended the school in Collins street and also at St Johns Girls High School at 34 Ward Street, Lamington (now number 26) . The site of the original building today is 26 Ward Street due to the renumbering of the lots over the years. It is on the corner of Ward and McKenzie Sts.
The Former Girls High School – St Michael’s at 26 Ward Street Lamington taken in 2019 – Photo Moya Sharp
In 1915 the school was in charge of Sr Francina with the help of a novice, Sr Fanny. It was advertised that they provided sound education for girls to the age of 14-15. Young boys are admitted as day students and there is room for 10 boarders. The school is situated in a very healthy location and the current roll is 31 student. In 1916 Sr Francina was left to run things alone and found it too much so a teacher was appointed.
The fees per term were, Senior Girls 14yrs + £4, Intermediate Girls 9-12yrs, £3.3s, Girls and Boys 7-9yrs £2.10s, Kindergarden 3-7yrs £1.10s.
The schools name was changed over time from ‘Kalgoorlie High School for Girls’ to ‘Kalgoorlie St Mary’s Girls School’ then to St Michael’s School in 1917. (not to be confused with St Michael’s School in Butler Street which was Catholic) The school was given up in 1919 as a new Government school had been built nearby.
Moya Sharp
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