History Club Display - 100th Anniversary of our CAPA Building
The History Club recently completed its display on the glass outside H13 on the 100th anniversary of the Benedict Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Building. The members have created a visual history of the building including an array of primary source material such as newspaper articles, photographs, letters and advertisements.
St Patrick’s College did not move to the current site until 1970. Prior to that, the current site known as ‘Westview’ (after the original homestead purchased by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan in 1888) was a primary boarding school for boys known as St John’s Preparatory School. The Sisters conducted the school until 1969 when enrolments declined.
The CAPA building is the oldest existing building on site and was opened on 3 August 1922. It originally contained the dormitories for the boys, ablutions block, the school chapel (now the drama room), a parlour and a piano room. An extension to the building opened in 1954, which is now the administration area and the H Block.
The History Club members spent the last two months gathering material from the School Archives and selected items which they felt would tell the story of the boys’ school. They laminated all items and chose the display order. They also reenacted some old photos to show what the area in the photo looks like today.
Recently an ex-St John’s student visited the College who graduated in 1951 and he was very interested in the display and passed on his appreciation to the History Club members.
The History Club will be involved in unveiling a plaque to commemorate the 100th anniversary in the near future.
Well done History Club members on another fine display.
Fran Musico-Rullo - HSIE Teacher
