An Anglican Archdeacon born on 28 March 1791 in London, John Wollaston, enjoyed the more significant part of his life as a village priest in England. He was schooled at Charterhouse, where his father, Edward Wollaston, was a Master and his maternal grandfather, Headmaster, and at Christ's College, Cambridge (B.A., 1812 M.A., 1815). Having taken holy orders, he married Mary Amelia May in 1819, the youngest daughter of Colonel George Gladstones. They had five sons and two daughters.
Finding the income from his time at West Wickham, Cambridgeshire, insufficient for his growing family, he applied in 1840 for Chaplain's position to the Western Australian Land Company's proposed settlement at Australind.
In 1841, aged 50, he left the known comforts of parish life to begin a ministry in the colony of Western Australia. He arrived in settlement of Australind in that year as a free settler, only to find that he was unable to receive an appointment or salary as a colonial chaplain until he had constructed a church building. Struggling for survival against the harsh and strange conditions, he completed the little church at Picton, with his family's help, in less than 18 months. His energy and efficiency became widely known, and he was asked to minister to Albany's people. In 1848, he completed St John's Church and was appointed the first Archdeacon of WA. In this capacity, he rode on horseback all over the South West, caring for the church. He was much loved by laypeople and earned a reputation for bringing the colony's very different clergy together. He died, chiefly as a result of exhaustion, after his second main archidiaconal tour in 1856. In 1984, he was proclaimed as a local saint and hero of the Anglican Church.
An excellent, welcoming school where every student is accepted." These words from one of our parents encapsulate for me the essence of John Wollaston Anglican Community School. We are a school with a heart and a soul.
As a school of the Anglican Schools Commission in WA and a World School of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, our appeal and success lie in our strong sense of community, the standards and values we celebrate, and our innovative and progressive approach to learning.
It is essential that all students feel valued, happy, safe, and secure and are encouraged to participate actively in all aspects of school life – from their academic studies to sporting events, cultural pursuits, and community service. Such a foundation enhances their development as confident, resourceful, and compassionate young men and women who are well-equipped to face adulthood's challenges.
At John Wollaston, we focus on helping students reach their potential and take advantage of the opportunities that come their way. Our academic performance has been characterized by excellent graduation rates and strong ATAR and VET results in recent years.
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