Wesley College, South Perth, was founded under the auspices of the Methodist Church in 1923 as a boarding school for boys. It was named after John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church.
The members of the College planning committee showed great foresight when, in rejecting possible sites in the more populous Perth suburbs, chose instead the South Perth site bounded by Angelo Street, Coode Street and the sand ridge above Swan Street, now incorporated within the present site.
The foundation stone of the new school was laid by Sir James Mitchell, Premier of Western Australia, on 11 November, 1922. Classes for the 38 foundation students, many of them boarders and sons of settlers from the agricultural districts east of Perth, began on February 13, 1923.
The choice of John Frederick Ward as first headmaster was quickly justified as he realised the importance of laying firm foundations and traditions for the future. The foundations of the House system can be attributed to him, the first three Houses (Walton, Hardey and Mofflin) were created in 1924. The growth in the number of Houses, to eight in 1990, reflect the steady increase in the number of students attending Wesley.
The buildings were, by current standards, cramped and the fittings frugal. The original E-shaped, single storey building served as the residence of the headmaster, his wife and four children; dormitories for more than 20 boarders; accommodation for matron and a master; the classrooms and an office for the headmaster.
By 1926 it had become so crowded, particularly in the boarding dormitories, that a second storey was progressively added to give the building we know today as the main administration building its recognisable Coode Street facade.
Mr Ward was succeeded as headmaster by J L Rossiter in 1930. Dr Rossiter consolidated Wesley's academic standing. J H Wheatley became Wesley's first university graduate. Dr Rossiter’s own sons, Roger and Geoffrey, each became Rhodes Scholars.
World War Two extracted a heavy toll on the new school - 55 Old Boys of the College, the majority of whom served in the Air Force, lost their lives. Two perished in 1941 when HMAS Sydney was lost off the Western Australian coast. The rose garden and Memorial Chapel (completed in 1961) commemorate their sacrifice, and that of Roderick Sprigg who died during the Vietnam War.
After protracted negotiation, Wesley entered into the Public Schools' Association in 1952. College teams participate in interschool competition in a range of sports including cricket, rugby, football, soccer, athletics, rowing, basketball, swimming and hockey. In 2001 Wesley won the coveted Head of the River event for the first time in its 50 years of participation.
Mr N R Collins succeeded Dr Rossiter as headmaster in 1953 and oversaw the post-war expansion of buildings and facilities - a boat shed, science block, classrooms, chapel and swimming pool were added between 1954-1963.
Expansion continued throughout Mr C A Hamer's time as headmaster (1965-1983), most notably the purpose-designed buildings for the boarding houses in Swan Street (1969-70), the H R Trenaman Library (1971), the Joseph Green Centre assembly hall and arts facility (1974), and the preparatory school complex to house a co-educational preparatory program introduced in 1978. Wesley under Mr Hamer adopted a leading role in the introduction of the Achievement Certificate (1969-71) and the academic program was broadened and strengthened, the teaching of music given a particular boost.
An era ended in 1976 with the retirement of Mrs Mildred Manning (née Le Souef) after 54 years of teaching biology and physiology to three generations of boys. The following year, 1977, Wesley came under the auspices of the newly formed Uniting Church as a result of the union of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches.
R E Kefford, headmaster from 1984 until 1996, continued curriculum changes associated with the broadening of the upper secondary programs beyond university entry and the development of Wesley's own lower secondary structure. The completion of the R E Blanckensee Physical Education Centre in 1986 allowed the school's former gymnasium to be refurbished as classrooms, The Hamer Wing.
Integral to Dr Kefford’s improvements to the pastoral care system of the school was the overhaul of the House system and the recognition in 1990 of Tranby, Cygnet, Grove and Jenkins as Houses, making with the original three and Dickson house (1968), a total of eight.
The site development plan initiated by the sixth headmaster, Mr J M B Bednall (1996-2002), saw the refurbishment of the Senior School science, classroom and administration buildings but more fundamental changes were at hand. Investigations and deliberations led to the establishment of the Middle and Junior Schools as sub-schools, and the building of appropriate facilities - Junior School, incorporating early learning, in 1999; and the Middle School, in 2000.
Mr David Gee commenced as Wesley's seventh headmaster in the final term of 2003. The College continues to expand with enrolments approaching 1300 in 2008. A new Visual Arts and Design and Technology building is now complete, as is a major refurbishment of the Boarding House. A major refurbishment of the Joseph Green Centre, commenced in late 2006, will be completed in May 2008.
The definitive Wesley College history, “Honest and Unsullied Days” by Peter Boyce (48-52), is available for purchase from the Headmaster’s Reception or Old Wesley Collegians’ Association.
Wesley College has recently produced a Heritage Trail for its buildings. View the Heritage Trail ( 208Kb) brochure, or visit the Archives section of the website.