Students at the University of Sydney

Residential colleges - the early days

ST JOHN'S COLLEGE

St John’s College is the oldest Catholic University College in Australia and was also the first Catholic university college in the former British Empire.

The Act to Incorporate St John's College as a College within the University of Sydney was assented to by the Governor-General on 15 December 1857, and the College of Saint John the Evangelist was founded on 1 July 1858 with the proclamation of the St John's College Act in the Parliament of New South Wales. Its founder, Archbishop Polding, named it after the author of the fourth Gospel.

Its first two students, in 1861, were:

Patrick Joseph Healey (1843-1895) who graduated BA in 1863 and MA in 1877 from the University of Sydney. He was a barrister and became the Senior Crown Prosecutor NSW, and served on the Council as a Fellow from 1868-81.
William Charles Browne (1942-1916), who became a pastoralist and grazier after University, with large holdings in the Singleton district. He was member of the NSW Legislative Assembly, representing Patrick’s Plains.

The College was officially opened on 7 April 1875.

Women residents were first admitted to the College in 2000.

Today the College provides accommodation for 268 male and female students.

Gallery

Click on most images for enlargement.

The founder of St John's College

The Most Rev Archbishop John Bede Polding in 1867

The Most Rev Archbishop John Bede Polding, image from the 'Illustrated Sydney News', 16 November 1867, National Library of Australia.

The St John's Register

The St John's Register, dating from 1861, which the first students signed, photo, The St John’s College Weekly Newsletter, 3 March 2011.

In the 1880s

An early photo of St John's College and dam, photo G3_224_1874, University of Sydney Archives.

St John's College and cows in 1880, photo G3_224_0285 by Professor John Smith, University of Sydney Archives

A photo of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, St John's College, Missenden Road and environs in 1880, photo G3_224_0470, University of Sydney Archives.

St John's College in 1885, photo from the 'Australian Town and Country Journal', 16 May 1885, National Library of Australia.

In the early 1900s

St John's College in 1900, photo G3_224_MF374_0161, University of Sydney Archives.

St John's College in 1902, photo from 'Hermes' Jubilee edition 1902, University of Sydney Archives.

Staff and students at St John's College in 1902, photo nla4767482, National Library of Australia.

Portrait of Edward Thynne Real with Robert Johnstone Douglas, St John's College ca 1903, photo nla4765181, National Library of Australia.

Thought to be Robert Johnstone Douglas at St John's College ca 1904, photo nla4767657, National Library of Australia.

St John's College 1900 - 1910, photo from Mitchell Pictures, State Library of NSW, digital order no. a116210.

St John's College in the 1930s

The Entrance to St John's College ca 1935, photo nla4655501 by Edward William Searl, National Library of Australia.

1936 image of the proposed additions to the College in 1938

On 21 November 1936, a State-wide appeal was launched by Archbishop Kelly to raise £50,000 to complete the southern wing and tower of the St John's College building. The image above is a 1936 image of the proposed additions to the College - as it would appear in 1838, image from the Sydney Morning Herald, 21 November 1936, NLA Newspapers.

The gathering of over 5,000 people included the Australian Roman Catholic hierarchy and leading Catholic professional men. Archbishop Duhig (Brisbane) delivered a special address. The Rector was the Very Rev Father J C Thompson, CM. (From The Sydney Morning Herald, 21 and 23 November 1936, National Library of Australia, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17289364 & http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17284734)

The building was completed in 1939.

Archbishop Michael Kelly arriving at the launch of the State-wide appeal to complete the southern wing and tower of the College, on 21 November 1936, photo by Sam Hood from Mitchell Pictures, State Library of NSW, digital order no. hood_13474.

At the launch of the State-wide appeal to complete the southern wing and tower of the College, on 21 November 1936,photo by Sam Hood from Mitchell Pictures, State Library of NSW, digital order no. hood_13477.

At the launch of the appeal to complete the College, on 21 November 1936, photo by Sam Hood from Mitchell Pictures, State Library of NSW, digital order no. hood_134746.

At the launch of the appeal to complete the College, on 21 November 1936, photo by Sam Hood from Mitchell Pictures, State Library of NSW, digital order no. hood_13478.

At the launch of the appeal to complete the College, on 21 November 1936, photo by Sam Hood from Mitchell Pictures, State Library of NSW, digital order no. hood_13475.

At the launch of the appeal to complete the College, on 21 November 1936, photo by Sam Hood from Mitchell Pictures, State Library of NSW, digital order no. hood_13473.