80 Years of Extraordinary at St Catherine’s College
In 2026, St Catherine’s College proudly celebrates 80 years of extraordinary community, leadership and learning, marking eight decades since the College welcomed its first residents and residential life began.
While our story reaches back further, 1946 represents the moment St Catherine’s became a lived community: a place where students came together to live, study and form the traditions and connections that continue to define College life today.
From Vision to Community
The vision for St Catherine’s College was first articulated in 1928, when the Women’s College Fund Committee was established with a bold aim to create a residential college where women from Western Australia and beyond could live and study together. That vision was sustained through the challenges of the Great Depression and the Second World War, supported by determined advocates who believed deeply in the power of education and community.
In 1946, that vision became a reality. The College welcomed its first residents, marking the beginning of residential life and the formation of a shared community. These early years laid the foundations for the traditions, values and sense of belonging that generations of students and alumni recognise as central to the St Catherine’s experience.
The College continued to grow and formalise in the years that followed, incorporating in 1948, adopting the banksia as its common seal and opening its permanent buildings on the Crawley campus in 1960 on land originally allocated to the College in 1933. Across the decades, the College has evolved and expanded while remaining rooted in the same place and guided by the same core purpose.
80 Years of Extraordinary People
At its heart, St Catherine’s College is defined by its people.
Over the past 80 years, residents, staff, alumni, Fellows and supporters have shaped a community known for its generosity, curiosity and leadership. From academic excellence and professional achievement to service, creativity and contribution, the impact of St Catherine’s people has extended far beyond the College walls.
This anniversary is an opportunity to honour those individuals, past and present, whose commitment and character have made St Catherine’s what it is today.
A Community That Endures
St Catherine’s is more than a place to live while studying. It is a lifelong community built on shared experience, mutual support and enduring connection.
For 80 years, residents have formed friendships, challenged one another intellectually, celebrated successes and supported one another through change. Alumni return not only to a campus but to a community that continues to welcome them home.
Looking Forward
While this anniversary celebrates the past, it is equally about the future.
The values that shaped the College in 1946, opportunity, inclusion, leadership and community, remain as relevant today as they were eight decades ago. As higher education continues to evolve, St Catherine’s College remains committed to providing an environment where students can thrive academically, grow personally and develop the confidence to shape what comes next.
Celebrating 80 Years of Extraordinary
Throughout 2026, we will mark 80 Years of Extraordinary at St Catherine’s College, celebrating our history, recognising our people, and reflecting on the moments that have shaped our community.
We invite alumni, students, staff and friends of the College to join us in celebrating this milestone year, honouring the legacy we share and looking forward with confidence to the future.