The Women’s College has a long history of raising funds, dating back to the first meeting at Government House on 17 April 1913, when the establishment of a college for women was considered.
We invite you to walk through time on our Philanthropy Trail to discover how the generosity of many donors has shaped The Women’s College into a supportive living and learning community for young women who relocate to Brisbane to undertake tertiary studies at their chosen university.
Printed copies of the Philanthropy Trail map are available from our Reception Office.
to zoom in.
to download a copy of the calendar."On 1 October 1949, The Women’s College became the first of the colleges to lay its foundation stone at St Lucia. The Premier, EM Hanlon, laid the stone and Freda Bage provided the dedication."
The official opening of the new College at St Lucia took place on Sunday 14 March 1959. Council President Russell Cuppaidge paid tribute to the devoted women of the Standing Committee who worked hard to raise funds for the new building. He also acknowledged the Bourne and Philp families for their generosity to the College, naming the wings within Old Wing (the building now known as the Sallyanne Atkinson Building) after these families.
During the 1960s, the College underwent expansion to increase the number of student places and to improve facilities.
Construction projects during this time included the Freda Bage Common Room, the second dormitory wing (which was named New Wing), enlargement of the kitchen, and the extension of the dining room, which provided space underneath for a library, reading room and tutorial room.
At least half of the revenue for these projects was raised by activities of the Standing Committee, Old Collegians and Building Appeal.
The provision of music rooms and an extra tutorial room became the next building project to be undertaken when funds were available.
"The new college wing was opened in July 1961. It contained quarters for domestic staff, flats for two tutors, 33 study bedrooms, a small utility room and a small common room."
"More revenue was raised by hiring out the college as a conference venue. Eighty delegates to conferences associated with the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science stayed in college during the first-term vacation in 1961. The housing of conferences during vacations became a regular practice and assisted not only the college finances, but also the situation of the domestic staff."
The official opening of Piddington Wing and the Playhouse was performed by the Governor, Major General Peter Arnison, on 17 October 1997.
The naming of the wing recognised Margaret Piddington (Principal 1947 – 1958) for her outstanding contribution towards raising funds for the College. The Playhouse was named in honour of generous benefactor May Hancock.
The following quote is from Dr Rhyl Hinwood’s book, A sculptor’s vision – creating a legacy in stone. The quote discusses the bronze sculpture that sits in the foyer of the May Hancock Auditorium (Playhouse).
"After construction, a generous gift from a college alumnus allowed for a meaningful artwork to be commissioned. I gained an understanding of the proposed uses of this new facility, and created an artwork entitled ‘Response’. Within weeks my design concept was approved, the pattern was made and moulded, and then it was cast in bronze. The morning the patination was completed, my husband collected the artwork from the foundry. The bronze was still so hot that Rob had to wear leather gloves for the installation – just in time for the arrival minutes later of Major General Peter Arnison AC CVO, Governor of Queensland, to officiate at the opening ceremony."
The stained-glass windows were installed in the Harriet Marks Dining Hall to mark the history of the College from its foundation in 1914 to the year 2000. The windows were made and installed by a Toowoomba stained-glass studio called Classic Stained Glass.
The following quote discusses the imagery in the series of stained-glass windows.
"Reflecting the winding Brisbane River with all the colours of jacaranda, poinciana, acacia and other flora along the river banks, the windows depict the history of the college at its two river sites, from the first at Kangaroo Point where Chislehurst, Oskarsholme and other college houses were located, to the second at the St Lucia campus site. One window was donated by Molly Budtz-Olsen, a devoted member of the college community; one by loyal former collegian and distinguished medical scientist, Dr Lurleen Perrett; two by the ever generous benefactor to the college, May Hancock; and the last by the College Council."
The Maureen Aitken Garden was completed in 2013 and changed the look of the inner landscaped area between New Wing and the Sallyanne Atkinson Building (formerly known as Old Wing).
The project honoured Dr Maureen Aitken (Principal 1991 – 2008), who fostered academic excellence, and had a profound influence on the development of hundreds of young women throughout her 18 years of service to the College.
Many donors provided support during the end-of-financial-year campaign to raise funds.
Dr Rhyl Hinwood AM created several artworks for the Maureen Aitken Garden.
"… in 2007, a small group of [Women’s] College friends commissioned me to create a memorial that now graces the front entrance to the College. It features three carved Helidon freestone pedestals embellished with elements of the armorial bearings of the College: the Lamp, the Tudor rose and the Maltese cross. Then in 2013, the beautiful Maureen Aitken Garden was opened and it included several of my carved Helidon freestone bench seats, again embellished with quotations, huge Tudor roses and several life-size bronze songbirds."
The Maureen Aitken Garden was officially opened on 16 March 2013 – coinciding with the College’s 99th birthday – by Graham Quirk, who was the Lord Mayor of Brisbane at the time.
The Centenary Wing project was part of the College’s 100th Anniversary celebrations. With the completion of Centenary Wing on 14 March 2015 (the anniversary of the College’s opening at St Lucia), Women’s was able to provide accommodation in our living and learning community for an additional 50 students, bringing the total capacity to 253.
Donors contributed to plaques, windows and bricks to place their name in history as part of the project.
In response to the need for more study spaces for students, a project to redevelop the existing library into dedicated study or tutorial rooms commenced in early 2020.
The Women’s College gratefully acknowledges the support of donors who contributed to the Study Hub project and, in particular, to name the study spaces and common area. The project was supported by the 2019 and 2020 Student Clubs, each of which contributed $10,000 to create a lasting legacy for future students.
The Study Hub now has the following named rooms:
The Playhouse, also known as the May Hancock Auditorium, is a 150-seat tiered lecture theatre used for drama and music productions, lectures and seminars, and a range of other events.
The refurbishment of this space in 2022 included new state-of-the-art audio-visual technology, comfortable auditorium chairs and new floor coverings, including the exposure of the original parquetry floor in the stage area.
The new chairs were installed with named plaques to showcase the philanthropic efforts of our alumnae, students, families, staff and friends. Every named plaque was secured by mid-2023, showcasing the essence of the community’s generosity.
In 2024, we unveiled the first stage of our master plan to transform the tennis/basketball court area into the vibrant Joan & Denise Robinson Wellbeing Precinct.
Thanks to the generous support of our alumnae, friends, students and staff, the Find Your Place in the Wellbeing Precinct capital campaign raised over $540,000. This incredible philanthropic effort underscored our community’s commitment to enhancing student life and wellbeing.
The 2023 and 2024 Student Clubs also played a pivotal role, contributing $10,000 each towards our vision. Their support was crucial in creating a hub of health and connection that will benefit the entire College community.
Construction for the Wellbeing Precinct commenced in May 2025, marking a significant milestone in our journey towards fostering physical and mental wellbeing on campus.
“The Student Club is excited about the Wellbeing Precinct and is pleased to financially support the creation of such a positive environment for young women and the benefits it will bring to our College community. The 2023 and 2024 Student Club has contributed $20,000 towards this capital campaign.”
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