Walls That Speak: Architecture, Legacy and Tradition at St Catherine’s College
The walls of St. Catherine’s College carry more than bricks and mortar; they hold memories. This was the theme that came to life during a special history evening at the College, where alumni, staff and students gathered to share stories and reflect on how far the community has come.
The evening opened with Michelle Campbell and Eddie Marcus, two local historians whose passion immediately set the tone and made the event engaging for everyone. From the beginning, they made it clear that the College was always about more than buildings. “Foundation can mean a building or it can mean an idea”, Michelle remarked, reminding the audience that the vision for St Catherine’s began as a belief in women’s right to education, long before the first stone was laid.
Michelle Campbell is a local historian and archivist at Methodist Ladies’ College, Claremont.
Architecture, however, became a vivid lens for telling the College’s story. The earliest plans from the 1930s imagined cloister-like quadrangles where long corridors and sightlines were deliberately designed to monitor students. “One of the ways you try to stop people breaking the rules is through architecture”, Eddie explained. By the 1960s, the mood had shifted: modernist, pragmatic designs reflected post-war values of efficiency and expansion. And today, through initiatives like Dandjoo Darbalung, the architecture actively embraces inclusion and cultural recognition, moving from surveillance to connection.
Eddie Marcus, Architectural Historian and Heritage Consultant at History Now, is also the face behind Dodgy Perth.
Personal stories brought these shifts to life. Alumni recalled Arthur, the beloved night guard of the 1970s, who locked the only exit door at curfew. Mary Argese (1981) also remembered the shock of seeing a male student inside the College in an era when it was strictly women-only: “I was traumatised for a week,” she admitted, sparking knowing nods and chuckles. These moments captured the mix of safety, restriction and liberation that defined daily life for generations of students.
The evening also paid tribute to the individuals whose passion and persistence built St Catherine’s from the ground up. Dr. Roberta Jull, remembered as a pioneering doctor and women’s rights advocate, was among the earliest champions. Lady Mitchell and the Furphy family, through tireless fundraising and even gifts of paintings and writing desks, kept the College afloat during its fragile early years. Their legacy lives on not just in names carved into plaques but in the opportunities afforded to each new generation.
Resident Farnam Namvar
Another key theme of the evening was the way St Catherine’s history has always been entangled with wider social changes or political instances in Western Australia. The speakers pointed out that moments of expansion at the College often coincided with periods of economic growth, world wars and shifting attitudes toward higher education. For instance, in the 1940s, the residents were housed in the former bachelor officers’ quarters, once used by the American Navy and Army during the Second World War. However, the space came with restrictions: half was designated for men and the other half reserved for women.
Alumni voices added warmth and colour. Julie Rollins, who came from Carnarvon in the 1970s, described St Catherine’s as offering independence “but in a protected environment,” a place where young women could test new ideas and debate equality, often for the first time. Others spoke of friendships forged in study halls and Sunday visits when rules allowed “a gentleman in our rooms only on a Sunday afternoon, as long as we left the door open.” There were also moments of tragedy, such as the remembrance of Shirley McLeod, a student tragically killed in 1963, whose name is honoured through the continued connection of her family to the College and a life-changing scholarship that is awarded each year.
By the end of the night, it was clear that St Catherine’s story is as much about people as it is about place. The College has adapted to social change while its spirit of community and resilience has remained constant. As one attendee observed, history at St Catherine’s is not a relic of the past but a living conversation. The evening proved that the College’s legacy continues to inspire, not just in its architecture, but in the laughter, memories and bonds that have always defined life within its walls.
About the Author
Farnam Namvar is a resident at St Catherine’s College. Originally from Iran, Farnam is studying a Master of Renewable and Future Energy at UWA. He has a keen interest in sustainability, green architecture, and energy policy.
Expand Your World. Book a tour of the College.