St Mary's Anglican Girls' School

The Church of England Girls' School, St Mary's West Perth, was founded on 14 September 1921 at 40 Colin Street, West Perth, when Miss Gouly's Girls' Grammar School and Miss Hilfirty's Alexandra High School merged. Ninety-eight students were present on that first day. The Rector of St Mary's, West Perth, Reverend Charles Lawrence (Tom) Riley OBE, was St Mary's first Principal and Chairman of the Board of Governors. In 1930, he was appointed Archdeacon of Northam and, in 1938, his exceptional qualities as a priest were recognised when he was appointed Bishop of Bendigo in Victoria.Ten-year-old student, Isabel Greig, won a competition to design the School badge - a shield with royal blue bar and three gold fleur-de-lis - and choose the School colours - chocolate and royal blue - and School motto - Fideliter, meaning faithfully.

Miss Ethel H Dannatt was St Mary's first Headmistress. She greatly influenced the early development of the School and is remembered in the naming of Dannatt Hall and the Dannatt Bursary. St Mary's annual magazine, Almerta, was written by students and was published for the first time in 1925. The name Almerta was taken from an Aboriginal word meaning 'very good'. Sadly, Almerta was not produced in some years (1932, 1937) and ceased production altogether between 1939 and 1967, save for a one year year revival in 1954. Almerta was reintroduced in 1968 and has been printed annually ever since. The Old Girls' League, now known as the Old Girls' Association, was formed to "keep alive the friendship formed in our school days and to retain the interest of past students in the school." The original school uniform was navy blue but, in 1934, the uniform was changed to maroon to ensure that St Mary's girls were distinguishable from students at other schools.