St Brigid’s College, Lesmurdie, was established by the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy West Perth Congregation in 1929 to provide for a superior boarding school to that which had been a part of St Brigid’s School West Perth since its inception in 1888.
The property was originally owned by Archibald and Maude Sanderson. The building was commenced in 1913 when Archibald Sanderson established a private day and boarding school. Herbert Perry, Architect, prepared the plans, which were based on the style of the home of Cecil Rhodes on the slopes of Table Mountain, Groote Schuur.
In 1919, after WWI, the property sold to the Red Cross and rented to the Repatriation Dept to house sick and wounded soldiers. During this period the building was completed and oak trees from Windsor Castle were planted in the grounds. In 1929, the building was let to the Perth Hospital as a convalescent home and later the same year, was sold to the Sisters of Mercy for 9000 pounds. It was purchased by the Congregational Superior, Reverend Mother Brigid Watson and brought to fruition a dream of finding a healthier and more open environment for the students of St Brigid’s School, West Perth. On 21 April 1929, Mother Teresa Reilly and seven Sisters took up residence with their first pupils – 35 boarders and 3 day students.
In 1938 a new two-storey building consisting of classrooms and music rooms was added on the north side. In 1965, the Sisters’ Convent and Chapel, now part of the Secondary Section, were built at the rear of the original building. These images pre-date this. The school continues to flourish today as a day school.
