Mercedes College Group, Perth

Parent Place or Precinct

04291 Victoria Square Precinct Extension

Child Places

• 03454 Rostrevor Flats
• 02130 St Johns Pro-Cathedral

Statement of Significance

Mercedes College Group is highly significant for its pivotal role in the establishment and development of the Catholic Church and Catholic education in Western Australia.

Values

• The place is an integral part of a precinct of roughfaced limestone gabled buildings of common materials, forms and use.
• The place is the oldest Catholic School building in WA and has been associated with the Sisters of Mercy since its establishment. Initially a free school, it later amalgamated with the adjacent fee-paying Our Lady’s College to form what is now Mercedes College.
• The place is highly valued by the Catholic community and contributes to the broader community’s sense of place.
• The place was designed by prominent architects, Cavanagh and Cavanagh.

Physical Description

• Located at the corner of Victoria Avenue & Victoria Square.
• Two storey rockface limestone building with brick dressings, corrugated metal roof, with parapet gables to the street elevations and a parapeted gable porch to the north (Victoria Square)

History

• The Sisters of Mercy came to in WA in 1845 and opened their first school in 1846. The population expansion brought about by goldrushes of the 1890s and amendments to the Education Act in 1893, created the need for the establishment of further schooling facilities.
• In 1895 (the Golden Jubilee of the sisters arrival in Australia), the foundation stone was laid for a new school building, St Joseph’s Day School designed by Cavanagh & Cavanagh (Our Lady’s College was constructed at the same time). The building was constructed using Cottesloe freestone with Sydney freestone dressings.
• The building was blessed and opened by Bishop Gibney on 15 August 1896. Bishop Gibney donated the school to the sisters of Mercy as recognition of their years of service to the Church. St Joseph’s was initially a free school, while Our Lady’s College attracted fees.
• In 1909, extensive improvements were carried out. The building added to and renovated frequently over the following years. Between 1916-21, a new building was added to the east of the school, known as the ‘Serisier’. The Sisters held a week-long bazaar in order to finance the construction.
• In 1964, the place was the first Catholic school to receive a grant from the Menzies Government promoting the establishment of science labs.
• In 1967, St Joseph’s and Our Lady’s College were amalgamated to form Mercedes Catholic Girls School, later Mercedes College. In 1984, further classrooms were added. It is the oldest Catholic School in WA. The building continues to function as a school.

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.