1950s

1955Fundraising for the new building

This image shows Margaret Piddington (seated in front) during the caravan tour of 1955 to raise funds for the new College building at St Lucia. Margaret Piddington was the College Principal from 1947 – 1958.

1957College Crest

The Armorial Bearings of the College Crest were assigned by Royal Warrant in 1957. The crest comprises three key elements:

• a red rose, which in heraldry represents grace and beauty;

• the Lamp of Learning, a universal symbol of scholarship; and

• the Cross Pattee, symbolising the chivalric virtues including loyalty, piety, frankness, bravery, honour and helpfulness towards the poor and sick; it is also the state emblem of Queensland.

The crest also features the College’s motto, Capimus ut dividamus, which translates to “We take that we may share”.

1958Construction at new College site

Photos of Old Wing (now named Sallyanne Atkinson Building) under construction in February 1958. These photos are stuck on to the letterhead for The Women’s College Building Appeal.

1958The new College at UQ

An aerial view of the new Women’s College at The University of Queensland, taken in 1958.

1958A "Dream Home"

This article is a clipping from our archives. While we do not know what newspaper it comes from, the article was published on 20 July 1958 and describes how the College was going to be a “dream home” for its residents.

1958Moving in

Meg Cameron (1955 – 1958), Jean Shepherd (1956 – 1958), Pat Haggard (1957 – 1959), Kaye Stafford (1956 – 1959) and Lorraine Tribbeck (1957 – 1959) move into the St Lucia building in August 1958.

1959Opening of The Women's College at St Lucia

This video (no audio) shows footage from the Official Opening of The Women's College at St Lucia, which took place on Saturday 14 March 1959. The new College building at St Lucia was opened by Lady Aileen Slim, wife of the then Governor-General, alongside R. C. Cuppaidge, then President of the College Council, and several other dignitaries and representatives from the College, UQ and the State Government.

This footage was found on a projection reel in our archives and was digitised in celebration of the College's 110th Anniversary in 2024.

1959Women's in the news

This article is from the The Sunday Mail published on Sunday 15 March 1959. The article is about the official opening of The Women’s College at St Lucia, on The University of Queensland’s campus, which had taken place on Saturday 14 March 1959.

1959Rowing

Pictured is the Women’s Rowing team, circa 1959, on the pontoon at St Lucia.

1959Life at Women's

Three residents at the phone booths in the College.