History

The Manjimup-Pemberton Parish was established in 1922 by Doctor Francis Kearnan who was appointed as Parish Priest. He was responsible for the purchase of six blocks of bush land for the establishment of a church school. Early in 1925 Mr Dennehy, a Perth architect, was asked to prepare plans for a two-storey brick boarding school – with four classrooms on the bottom floor and separate dormitories above for boys and girls. Wide balconies and verandahs were included with an eye to future expansion.

Tenders were called for the construction of two of the classrooms and the dormitories, with another small room as a presbytery. The successful tender was submitted by George Ausden a builder from Bridgetown with a cost of 1,650 pounds. Delays in construction were created by building material shortages, but the school was completed and blessed by Archbishop Clune towards the end of 1925.

The original church building, which had been used for services but never appeared to have been consecrated, was purchased by George Ausden when he could not find accommodation for his family whilst in Manjimup. This left the Catholic Community without a church; a problem solved by celebrating Mass in one of the larger classrooms at the school. This solution sufficed until the congregation outgrew the classrooms. An alternative was to enclose the verandas and move the boarders there, leaving room to set up their old sleeping quarters for church services. The Catholic community persisted with this situation until St Joseph’s Church was built in 1955.

In 1961, renovations and extensions of the school were carried out, including new classrooms, roofs being tiled, balconies removed and the hall refurbished. Under Parish Priest Father Stephen Kelly, who was appointed in 1970, the school was upgraded to become a five-year high school and was renamed Kearnan High School. This became WA’s first co-educational Catholic School.