To Stand on its Own Two Feet: 1913-2025

From the 1913 will of Sir John Winthrop Hackett, the College’s story has been one of aspirational vision (for College, buildings, scholarships, Foundation), and subsequent accretion of funds to realise the bold plans that have been advanced over the past century or so.

From 1931 (the opening of the College) there has been, as to be expected, substantial change: from Wardens selected by Archbishops and accounts maintained at Church House to becoming the independently administered and financed contemporary incorporation that it is today.

Hackett – The Founder

The beginnings of the College are to be found in Sir John Winthrop Hackett’s will of 16th December 1913.

The will provided for his residuary estate to be divided as to three quarters to The University of Western Australia to construct a University Hall [being Winthrop Hall] and to fund scholarships for deserving students [past Hackett scholarships] and as to one quarter ‘to be expended by [the Anglican Diocesan Trustees] in the erection or maintenance of a Church College in connection with the said University part if possible to be used in the erection and maintenance of a chapel in connection therewith’. For various reasons, the relevant clause was revoked in a codicil of 23rd February 1914 and replaced with a new clause that repeated the words regarding the Church College and Chapel.

In a second codicil dated 19th January 1915 Hackett appointed Alfred Langler, his successor as chairman and editor of The West Australian Newspaper Company Limited, as an executor of his will. Hackett’s will also set out that the sale of assets could be postponed by his executors.

Langler’s Success

Hackett, the College’s Founder, died in 1916; George Wickham, the other executor in 1917. Administration of the will fell totally to Sir Alfred Langler.

In September 1917, during the First World War, the West Australian Newspaper Company, owned by Hackett, was valued at £93,230 (in consequence, the residuary estate had no substance); in 1926 Langler arranged the Company’s sale for £625,000. The University share of the Hackett estate totalled £425,000; the Diocesan Trustees received £140,000 for the Church College.

The West Australian Newspaper Company was sold before the significant impact of the agricultural depression, the Wall Street Crash of 1929, and the Great Depression. The College owes a great debt to Langler, as does The University.

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