A long history in brief

Today, we stand proud as Australia’s oldest Anglican girls’ school, thanks to the vision of Mrs Jane Barker, wife of the second Bishop of Sydney, who wanted to provide an education for the daughters of clergy that was equal to that given to boys. And in 1856 she did just that. Three girls were enrolled, as boarders, and the school was named St Catherine’s after the patron saint of scholars.

Assisting Jane Barker in her management of the school in its early days was Miss Mary Loftus, the Lady Superintendent whose role was similar to a governess.

Key moments on our journey

Occupation at our present site started in 1859, after the completion of the Old Stone House, now our administration offices.
Sir William Denison advised on the plans, estimating the cost would be three thousand pounds. Purpose-built as a boarding school, it was substantially expanded during the 19th century as attendance grew.
St Catherine’s remained solely as a boarding school until the 1890s. By 1906 we had 48 students attending, now including day students.
Enrolment surged, along with the country, post World War II and under our longest serving headmistress, Miss Faith Patterson AM, we grew from 200 to just under 900 girls.
Mrs Barker’s legacy was carried so strongly forward we are now a school of 1,095 girls.

Headmistresses to date:

1858 – 1884: Miss Agnes Law.
1884 – 1890: Miss Helen Phillips. Graduate Bedford College, London.
1891 – 1895: Miss Rebecca Darling. LLA
1895 – 1903: Miss Charlotte Fox.
1903 – 1934: Miss Ellen Lenthall. BA (Hons) MA
1935 – 1947: Miss Isabel James (Mrs Hall). BSSp, ThL, DipSocStud, MACE
1948 – 1949: Miss Ella Mitchell. BA (Hons)
1950 – 1954: Miss Una Fitzhardinge. BA, MA, BLitt (Oxon)
1955 – 1987: Miss Faith Patterson. AM, BSc, FACE
1988 – 2000: Mrs Jolyn Karaolis. AM BA(Hons) DipEd, MEd (Hons), BPsych(Hons), MACE, MACEA
2001 – 2009: Ms Lynne Stone. BA, DipEd, MEd, MACE, MACEA
2010 – 2022: Dr Julie Townsend. BA (Hons), CertEd, MBA (Ed Leadership), PhD, MACE, MACEL
2023 – present: Mrs Judith Poole. BA (Hons), MEd

Our school archives

The school archives contain a wealth of information and memorabilia dating from the foundation of the school in 1856.

They promote the richness of the school’s history through displays of archival material and help students understand the importance of preservation and conservation of material and artefacts.

St Catherine's Museum

From art studio to archives

The museum began as an arts studio, a gift from Headmistress Miss Helen Phillips, who served as headmistress from 1884 to 1890. It was originally attached to the main building and later transformed into a Chapel.

It has had many lives: during the 1930s the hut was used as a science laboratory, a kindergarten and infants’ classroom in the 1950s, and later music and arts rooms. In 1992 it was relocated by crane and placed adjacent to the Stone House. It was opened and dedicated by School Chaplain Rev Kimberley Sawyer and Headmistress Mrs Jo Karaolis on 2 March 1994.

The first St Catherine’s School Archivist, Mrs Averil Condren was appointed in 1988. Mrs Evangeline Galettis OAM (OG1969) commenced as School Archivist in 1995.

Holdings

The archival collection includes a rich array of material and artefacts, collected from official records of the school and from donations.

Some notable items held in our archive collection include:

Dame Joan Sutherland (OG1943) collection, including costumes, recordings, programs and photographs donated by Dame Joan Sutherland.
Oral histories collected from Old Girls and staff. Recordings and video of school assemblies and events.
Rare books including those presented at Prize Giving events and donated by Old Girls.
School Registers, School Council Minutes, Headmistress’s Annual Reports, Prize Lists, Old Girls’ Union Reports, School Publications and School Newsletters.
School photographs dating from late 1890s through to present, including photos taken by Max Dupain, Allan Hedges and Ian Lever.
“The Catherineian” – a full set of the school magazine first published in 1915.
Eirene Mort (OG1897) collection including book plates, artworks and published books donated by Eirene Mort.
Uniform items, from the first uniform worn in 1920s to the current uniform designed by Robert Burton.
Patricia Skinner (OG1977) collection, including her novels and photographs, donated by Dr Michael Abrahams-Sprod.