Introduction
John Marden Memorial Gates
The John Marden Memorial Gates act as the main entrance to the College grounds.The gates were originally erected in 1927 and were unveiled by Mr J H Beatson (a member of the College Council) on 2 August that year. The original gates once formed the entrance to Sydney Town Hall however, they were removed during the widening of George Street.Due to the inevitable growth of Pymble, the gates required widening. This allowed the College to cope with increased traffic entering the grounds and separate entry and exit roadways were created in 1982. The original gates are now used as side panels. The original badging, Presbyterian Ladies' College, is now on display in the Heritage Centre. The College name changed in 1977.Who is Dr John Marden?John Marden was the founding principal of Pymble Ladies' College, he served the College from 1916 to 1920. He had a clear vision of empowering young women and based much of his knowledge from his experiences as principal of Presbyterian Ladies' College Croydon where he had acted as principal from 1888. He believed in the importance of an all-round education in order to allow young women to reach their own potential. Dr Marden passed away in 1924 and the gates were given his name in order to recognise his contribution.
James Kelso Sports Field and Pavilion
Kelso Field is located on the right-hand side as you enter the College through Marden Gates, it is often used in conjunction with the Main Oval or as an alternative venue for sports and events.The field was opened on 20 September 1990 by Liane Tooth (professional Hockey player and former pupil of the College). It was named after James Kelso who joined the College Council in 1974, he supervised building projects in his role as Convenor of the Works Committee.Throughout the year, the field is used for training sessions and sporting fixtures.
Main Oval
Since 1916, the main oval has been a distinctive feature of the College and a focal point of activity on the campus. As you drive through the College gates the Oval is centrally placed and compliments the infrastructural backdrop that is the College.The oval is used for a wide array of events, activities, and sports. Early mornings and afternoons at Pymble are filled with girls training on the oval in their respective disciplines. Recently, Rugby Sevens and AFL have been added to the College's wide variety of sporting opportunities. Consequently, this saw the addition of AFL goal posts to the lawn for the first time in 2019. The field is maintained beautifully by the grounds staff and a running track is often marked out. Other sports played on Main Oval include soccer, athletics, cross country, touch football and softball.The Oval is also the venue for the College's infamous Cancer Council Biggest Morning tea and a focal point for the annual Garden Party. The Oval is an integral part of the campus.
Colonnade
The Colonnade is one of the original buildings of the College, it acted as the main classroom facility when the College first opened in 1916.The Colonnade initially housed the dining room, classrooms and administrative office. In February 1930, a small library was transferred to the Colonnade from Marden House and it remained there until the opening of the McIlrath Library in 1953. During World War Two, underground sections of the Colonnade were developed for use as an air raid shelter. In 1976, the building was refurbished using Garden Party funds to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the College.The Colonnade houses several memorials and reminders, including a Plaque in memory of Barbara Mortimer Thomas (1924), who lost her life in 1940 whilst on duty at St. Thomas’ Hospital, London. Barbara was Dux of the College in 1923 and 1924 and a Prefect in 1924.The iconic arches of The Colonnade have seen over 100 years of Pymble girls pass through. Beautifully located parallel to Gloucester Lawn and the picturesque Jacaranda Tree, the Colonnade underwent restoration at the beginning of the 21st Century to ensure it would last well into the future.Today, the Colonnade building has 16 classrooms as well as locker rooms and bathroom facilities. It is part of the Middle School.
Gloucester Lawn
Jacaranda TreeThe Gloucester Lawn is a central part of the College and is seen as the heart of the Middle School (Year 7 and 8). It is located directly in front of the College Chapel where events such as the ANZAC ceremony and Jacaranda Day are held. The Lawn was named after the Duchess of Gloucester who visited the College in November 1946. Following her visit, a jacaranda tree was planted in 1947 to commemorate the event.The idea of Jacaranda Day was initiated by a Science teacher, Mrs Raj Ram, who suggested that the College community should gather around the jacaranda tree during spring to distribute gifts and money to various charities. The very first Jacaranda Day occurred in 1983, where more than $10,000 dollars was raised and donated to 43 charitable organisations. Jacaranda Day has since become a tradition of the College, and it is an occasion for sharing and thanksgiving. Currently, Jacaranda Day provides an opportunity for the College community to donate food and gift hampers to the Exodus Foundation.In 2018, a garden was built on the Lawn in memory of a former student of the College. It is known as the 'Gathering Space' and is intended to be a contemplative place for students of the College.
Hall
The Hall is one of the original buildings of the College adjoining the Colonnade building. The Hall also houses the Boarders dining room and kitchen where they eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Dining Hall was fully completed and furnished in 1917 and was officially opened by Dr Marden on 1 March 1917. It originally had stain-glass windows that represented the seasons of the year and night and day. These windows however were sadly lost in a storm in 1931.Currently the site hosts events such as art exhibitions, house meetings, examinations and dance classes.
War Memorial Chapel
The War Memorial Chapel The War Memorial Chapel was dedicated in April 1956 by the Moderator General, Right Reverend R.W. Rolland. This was a little over a year after its foundation stone was laid in March 1955 by His Excellency the State Governor, Lieutenant General Sir John Northcott. The Chapel was designed by architects J. A. Kerr, and it was built above the McIlrath Library which had opened 3 years earlier in June 1953. The Chapel is a memorial to past students and staff who served in the national forces during World War Two.Fundraising for a Chapel began in 1929, however its construction process could not begin due to the Great Depression and World War II. The £38,325 required for the Chapel was raised through contributions of students, ex-students and parents to PLC Pymble War Memorial Fund, as well as government funding.The Stained Class WindowsOver time, stained glass windows have replaced the original Cathedral glass with leaded diamond patterns (which can still be seen in the Heritage Centre below). Each stained glass panel is a tribute, memorial or depiction of College events or life. The “Rose Window” above the entrance porch was presented by the Ex-students' Union (ESU) to commemorate the College’s 50th anniversary in 1966. Others include the "Getting of Wisdom" and the "Jacaranda Window".The Lewis Pipe OrganThe Lewis Pipe Organ was built in London by T. C. Lewis and was initially installed in the Petersham Congregational Church in 1886. When the Church closed, the organ was purchased by the College and restored before its installation in July 1971. The cost for the the Lewis Pipe Organ was paid for using offsets from two Garden Parties and donations from ex-students and friends of the College. The organ contains 1068 pipes and it is believed that only three organs of this kind exist in Australia.
Heritage Centre
The Heritage Centre is located beneath the War Memorial Chapel. It was once the site of the McIlrath Library which opened in 1956. The library was converted into the Sixth Form Common Room in 1974 and then later the McIlrath Staff Room.Currently, the Heritage Centre showcases the Heritage Archive collection of photos, trophies, past uniforms, medals, diaries and other items of historical significance to the College. Resources are also available for research, including digitised school magazines and class year photos.The space is used for college events including Alumni reunions, student visits, meetings and other curriculum related activities.
Gillian Moore Centre of Performing Arts and David Blackwell Music Centre
The Music Centre was opened on the 4 April 1992. The building was named after David Blackwell to recognise his contribution to the College as the Chairman of the College Council from 1987 to 1994. The building includes a gallery space for small performances, classrooms and music practice rooms.The Gillian Moore Centre of Performing Art (GMCPA) was completed in 2005 after years of planning. It is connected to the existing Music Centre and consists of four levels, equipped with a fly tower and back stage area where performers can dress and warm up. Productions of all size use this Centre from ensemble concerts, drama productions, PAC and dance performances.
The Amphitheatre
The Amphitheatre is bordered by the Dorothy Knox House, Robert Vicars building and Jack Vicars building, with the Science Centre, Technology and Applied Studies Centre and Ferguson Buildings close by.Dorothy Knox House was opened on 4 July 1963 and named after Miss Dorothy Knox (Principal 1937 - 1967). The building was originally used for senior students, but now, it is used by Middle and Upper school students. The Dorothy Knox House is located adjacent to the Colonnade and is commonly referred by students today as the DK Building.The Ferguson building is a 3-storey building named after Mr George Ferguson, a former member of the College Council. The Ferguson Building offers visual art students the opportunity to fully explore their potential and creativity. With a specialised and fully equipped ceramic classroom, the students are able to experiment with art making materials and techniques.The Science Centre was opened on 30 April 1994 to meet growing needs for more advanced science facilities. It has 3 stories and includes a Lecture theatre and modern laboratories. The Science Centre also holds an extensive collection of geological samples and fossils which is located within a specialist geology laboratory. Science at Pymble is taught in an interactive and engaging manner with classroom lessons complemented by an extensive range of excursions which provide students with the opportunity to engage with scientific content using real-world examples.
Conde Library
The Conde Library was opened in 2001 and named after John Conde, a former Chairman and member of the College Council. Prior to 2001, the building was known as the Gillespie-McIlrath House which opened in 1938. The building itself was a gift from Sir Martin McIlrath and Robert Gillespie, both of whom were well-known businessmen and members of the College Council. The upstairs section of the Gillespie-McIlrath House provided classroom spaces for junior students and business studies classrooms below. The end section closest to the Kate Mason Building was used as accommodation for the Principal and the downstairs sitting rooms can still be seen.The building was gutted in a fire in January 1976, and as a result, portable classrooms had to be installed on Marden lawn for more than a year. After the fire, the Principal's residence was relocated to beyond the Roland Love Gates. The upstairs section of the building remained as classrooms until 2001, and the downstairs section was converted to a staffroom until the building was re-purposed to become the Conde Library.The second floor of Conde Library is primarily used by senior students, offering a quiet and silent study environment. Both floors of the library contain small studios for student group activities.
Kate Mason Building (Senior Centre)
The Kate Mason Building (KM Building) was opened in 2011 and named after the former Chairperson of the College Council, Mrs Kate Mason. The building is referred to as 'The Senior School Building' by the students of the College. The building is designed to address and cater to the requirements of the senior students in flexible open plan spaces.
Boarding
BoardingBoarding is a unique and individualised experience for more than 120 girls at Pymble. It allows them to live in a supportive environment and thrive in all pursued endeavours. The College has a long and proud tradition of boarding, with 20 of the College’s first 60 students enrolled as Boarders in 1916. Today, boarding still plays a key role in College life, developing students’ leadership capacity and facilitating their growth towards becoming capable, caring and confident young women. At the centre of this experience is the nurturing process so vital to the well-being of the girls.1. Marden House Marden House was one of the original buildings of the College. It was initially known as First House but was renamed after the death of Dr Marden on 19 October 1924.2. Lang House Previously named Second House. Renamed to commemorate/recognise the work of Rev. John Dunmore Lang (considered to be the father of Presbyterianism in NSW). 3. Goodlet House Goodlet House is the third boarding house of the College and it was opened in July 1926 to facilitate the growing number of Boarders.4. Joan Hammond House. Initially built as a Kindergarten classroom (had previously occupied Lang common room) In 1981, renamed to recognise Joan Hammond DBE CMB (1928) → ex-student, international golfer and a world-renowned opera star. The Hammond House was initially built for junior classes, however, it was converted into a boarding house in 1981. It is located between Lang and Marden and is now used for Boarding administration.
Centenary Sports Precinct - Braith Williams Aquatic and Fitness Centre
The first pool at the College was opened on the 19 March 1926. The pool was built to the existing Olympic standards at the time. It measured 33 1/3 metres long by 36 feet (approx. 11 metres) wide. A fête was held in September 1915 to help raise funds towards the £1702 needed to build the pool. This pool was used for 57 years until a new one was built on the same site.The Jeanette Buckham Centre for Physical Education was officially opened on the 6 December 1983. It was named after Principal, Miss Jeanette Buckham (1968 - 1989), in recognition of her ‘untiring efforts in the promotion of healthy minds and healthy bodies at PLC.' The pool itself measured 50 metres in length and included a diving complex at one end of it.In June 2014, plans for a Centenary Precinct project were announced. The Braith William Aquatic and Fitness centre was opened on 8 April 2016. It includes a 50 metre indoor pool with diving boards and platform, a learn-to-swim pool and new tennis and hockey fields above the underground car park. In September 2018, the College announced a new partnership with NSW Institute of Sport and was selected as the new Northern Metro high-performance swimming hub.
Agriculture Plot
The Agriculture Plot is located on the back boundary of the College and borders with the Pymble Golf Club. It is home to a variety of animals including chickens, ducks, sheep, goats and steers.This facility provides students with practical experiences and opportunities and it acts as an instrumental part of studying Agriculture at the College. Agriculture is an elective subject at the College and can be studied by students from Year 9 and continued through to the HSC. In 2018, Pymble placed 1st in Agriculture in NSW.Pymble has a Cattle Team who prepare and showcase steers throughout the year. They showcase across the State and have had many successes over the past few years with the Sydney Royal Easter Show as one of the main competitions that the girls participate in.
College Reception (Isabel McKinney Harrison Centre)
The Isabel McKinney Harrison Centre (IH Building) is named after ex-student Isabel McKinney Harrison (1928). Originally a purpose-built Library, it now serves as the reception for the College, Dr Kate Hadwen's (Principal) office and where most of the administrative offices are.
Junior School
The Junior School (John Reid Building) was opened on 15 April 1981. Students from Years 3 to Year 6 are educated here. The school includes a multi-purpose hall, library and music rooms. The building was extended in 1994 to add new rooms for computer use. The site continues to evolve with internal changes which have created a variety of open plan areas, nooks and other features for flexible and creative learning.
Prep School
On 19 May 2000, Miss Rosalie Ramsay, Mistress-in-Charge of Junior School, opened the new purpose-built Preparatory School. Students from Kindergarten to Year 2 are educated here. It was dedicated by the Reverend Dr David Manton. Described as an imaginative and exciting building providing the very best of learning environments.Adjacent to the Prep school is an exploration area known as the River Bed, a play area popular with students during break times.
The End
Thank you for taking the time to complete this tour of our campus. We hope you have learnt something new about the history of the College, the buildings and facilities encompassed within the grounds.Thank you to Duke of Edinburgh Archive volunteers; Beatrice Guo ( 2020) and Fiona Wang (2019) who researched and built this tour.
