Past pupils of Old Perth Girls School Margaret Le Fevre and Joan King.
Camera IconPast pupils of Old Perth Girls School Margaret Le Fevre and Joan King. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Throwing open the doors of Old Perth Girls School for Open House Perth

Jessica WarrinerEastern Reporter

THE Old Perth Girls School is opening its doors this weekend for Open House Perth.

Previous student Joan King attended the school from 1945 to 1947, making the journey from Gosnells to the city each day.

“The steam train took the best part of an hour; we’d go to Perth and follow all the girls in the same uniforms, and we were met by this great big school,” she said.

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Mrs King’s favourite memories of the school revolve around its traditions, with headmistress Miss Wright keen to keep the girls knowledgeable about its history.

“The original school began in 1847 and every year we celebrated the anniversary with great service and pageantry, with girls re-enacting parts and singing songs,” she said.

Mrs King also recalled travelling to swimming lessons in Crawley Baths by tram, the impossibility of finding a proper school tie after war rationing, the views from the school’s position on the hill and the pastel colours adorning each wall of the building in contrast to the fawn hues of primary schools.

She said she was looking forward to walking up the school front steps for Open House Perth.

“When we were there, you just didn’t do that; the only person who did was someone from the education department, the governor or school visitors,” she said.

The free event will see 102 locations opened across Perth and surrounds.

For more information, visit www.openhouseperth.net.