The foundation stone was laid on the grounds by the then NSW Governor, Sir William Denison, on the Feast Day of St Paul, 25 January 1856.
1857-9
St Paul’s College was built
Edmund Blacket, architect of the original building of the University, designs and oversees the construction of the first buildings; well for water, candles and lamps for light; Wardens: 1856-62 Rev’d Henry Hose, 1862-65 Rev’d William Savigny
1870s and 1880s
College full
University expansion; St Paul’s fills, and leads the University in organised sport and debating; water closets, horses and cattle grazing; Wardens: 1965-78 Rev’d William Scott, 1878-1908 Rev’d William Sharp
1890s to 1910s
Student leadership
13 men went to the Boer War serving in Australian and other units; elected student leadership begins; World War One deeply affects Paulines, of the 170 enlisted, 20 die in battle; Wardens: 1909-15 Rev’d Lewis Radford, 1916-44 Rev’d Arthur Garnsey
1921-48
New wings
New wings, Garnsey and Dennison, built; electric light, 288 more Paulines went off to War, 25 died; a number of students’ ideas were forged and they became political leaders;
1950s and 1960s
Expansion of the College
Vastly bigger University; building of Chapel Court and Arnott Wing (1959-62), Tower Block and Mansfield (1964-68); expansion of College numbers; Warden: 1946-63 Rev’d Dr Felix Arnott
1970s
Two Paulines
Two Paulines emerge as Australian Prime Ministers (Sir William McMahon, PM 1971-72, Liberal, followed by Gough Whitlam, PM 1972-75 ALP); St Paul’s College Foundation established in 1977 for the benefit of future students; Warden: 1963-85 Rev’d Peter Bennie
1980s to 2010s
Albert Wing
University critical of colleges, reforming spirit of Paul’s leadership; Albert Wing built 1999 and College now provides 208 rooms; music emerges incubating popular bands; Wardens: 1985-1994 Rev’d Dr Max Thomas, 1995-2017 Rev’d Dr Ivan Head
2018
The Ivan Head and McMillan Building
The Ivan Head and McMillan Buildings were completed in 2018, College grows to over 430 rooms; the new St Paul’s College Act is given Royal Assent
2019-present
Women Paulines
The first women Paulines enter College as members of Graduate House. First Undergraduate Women admitted in 2023.
St Paul’s College is the oldest residential college in Australia within Australia’s first university, The University of Sydney. The College was founded as a separate Anglican institution on land secured from the University and the church by a committee chaired by Sir Alfred Stephen, Chief Justice of NSW. He drew up the legislation that was to become the 1854 Act of NSW Parliament which was only succeeded by a new Act in 2018. The foundation stone was laid on the grounds by the then NSW Governor, Sir William Denison, on the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, 25 January 1856.
The Warden and the Union Committee warmly invite Old Paulines, their partners and friends to join us for an unforgettable evening of festivities and live entertainment in the Quad and Salisbury.
