The Cloisters, Perth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Cloisters |
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The Cloisters frontage onto St Georges Terrace
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| General information | |
| Type | Heritage listed building |
| Location | Perth, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°57′12″S 115°51′11″E / 31.9534°S 115.8531°E |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 20 October 1995 |
| Reference no. | 2119 |
The Cloisters is a very old building in Perth, Western Australia. It is located at 200 St Georges Terrace. This two-storey building is made of dark brick. It is a well-known landmark in the city. It sits at the top of Mill Street. The Cloisters is special because it is one of the few buildings left in central Perth that was built by convicts in the mid-1800s.
Contents
History of The Cloisters Building
- Further information: Hale School
The Cloisters was designed by Richard Roach Jewell. It was built in 1858 for Bishop Mathew Blagden Hale. It started as a secondary school for boys. The school was called the "Perth Church of England Collegiate School." People often called it "Bishop Hale's School." This was the first secondary school in the Swan River Colony (which is now Western Australia).
The school got money from a group called the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. Bishop Hale also gave his own money to help build it. The building's style was inspired by famous English places. These included St James's Palace, Hampton Court Palace, and Eton College. This style showed the history of the English monarchy. It also showed the power of England.
Famous Students at Bishop Hale's School
Many important people went to this school. One famous student was John Forrest. He became the first Premier of Western Australia. A Premier is like a state leader. John Forrest later became the Federal Treasurer for Australia. This role manages the country's money.
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Another student was Alexander Forrest. He became the Lord Mayor of Perth. Other notable students included Stephen Henry Parker and Sir Edward Wittenoom. These students helped shape Western Australia.
Changes Over the Years
In 1865, the Anglican Church took over the school. The boys' school moved to a new building in 1872. After that, The Cloisters became a school for girls. More rooms and dormitories were added to the building around 1879-1880.
By the late 1890s, the school closed down. This was because fewer students were attending. Also, new government schools were being built. The building was then divided into two parts. These parts were rented out as private homes. The eastern side became a boarding house. It was first called The Cloisters in 1904.
The western side became a college for church leaders. It was known as St. John's College by 1909. This part was used as a college until 1918. After that, the whole building became a hostel. It provided housing for students of the new University of Western Australia.
Saving The Cloisters Building
In the late 1960s, the owners planned to knock down The Cloisters. They wanted to build something new. But a special business deal saved the building. Developers agreed to restore The Cloisters. In return, they could build a bigger building behind it.
In 1971, The Cloisters was restored. It was changed to be used for shops and offices. This cost $100,000. A special Port Jackson Fig tree was also kept. This tree was planted in 1887. The outside of the building was kept and fixed up. New glass windows were put in. The inside was changed to make office space.
The Cloisters was recognized as important in 1973. It was added to the state heritage register on October 20, 1995. This means it is a protected historic place. The area around it is now called Cloisters Square. This name came about when the Mount Newman Mining Company offices were built nearby in 1971.
Current Uses
As of April 2020, The Cloisters building is empty.
Images for kids
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The Cloisters frontage onto St Georges Terrace
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The Cloisters, c.1900, from an almost identical position as present-day image above.
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Bishop Hale's crest
