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Graylands Teachers College
Long before it became just another quiet part of Mount Claremont, the area once known as Graylands was home to Graylands Teachers College, one of Western Australia’s most important post-war education institutions.
Opening in 1955, the State Government set up the college to help meet the growing demand for trained teachers at a time when the population was growing rapidly, following the aftermath of World War II.
WW2 Army Site
The Graylands site was once part of a 42-hectare parcel of University Endowment Land, which included McGillivray Oval, now known as UWA Sports Park. During World War II, most of this land was taken over by the Department of the Army under the National Security Regulations. Thirteen huts and other structures were built to house the 4 Motor Vehicle Trades Training Centre, operating under the 4th Military District.
It was a technical training depot, where soldiers who already had basic military training, were given specialist instruction in mechanical trades. Officers, mechanics and instructors worked side by side, learning everything from rebuilding gearboxes to troubleshooting faults on damaged army vehicles.
The buildings themselves were typical of wartime construction. Simple, functional and meant to be temporary. They included tents, corrugated-iron huts and timber-framed shelters. While the exact date the training centre relocated isn’t clear, the Western Command Leave and Transit Depot moved onto the site in October 1944 after its previous depot closed, remaining there until May 1946. Once the war ended, the army withdrew entirely and the site became surplus to defence needs.
Establishing the Teachers College
The government purchased the group of World War II army huts for around £10,000, converting the makeshift military camp into a basic but functional teacher training facility. These corrugated iron and asbestos buildings were only intended to last five years but the college operated on the site for nearly 25.
Despite its temporary setup, Graylands became known for its strong sense of community, hands-on training and the creativity of its students and staff. One standout feature was a small outdoor amphitheatre, built by the students themselves.
Located alongside Graylands Primary School (now Mount Claremont Primary School) and not far from the Graylands Migrant Hostel, the college was surrounded by government facilities. It played an important role in preparing teachers for classrooms across the state, especially as enrolments had surged during the post-war baby boom period, particularly due to an increase in immigration.
In its early years, the college was fully controlled by the Education Department, with little independence. In 1973, it became autonomous under the newly formed Western Australian Teacher Education Authority. This meant the college could now run its own programs, manage its staff and make decisions without relying on government administrators. It was a big step forward.
Unfortunately, autonomy didn’t guarantee survival. Two years later, the State Government commissioned a review of all post-secondary education in WA, known as the Partridge Report. It found that teacher colleges were becoming too fragmented and recommended consolidating them into one large multi-campus institution.
As a result, the Graylands Teachers College was selected for closure. Officially closing in 1979, its staff, students and resources absorbed into other teacher colleges in Mount Lawley, Churchlands and Claremont, all of which would later form part of Edith Cowan University.
Today, there’s little physical trace of the college. The buildings were eventually removed and the site has been redeveloped for housing as part of Mount Claremont but the legacy of Graylands Teachers College lives on. Edith Cowan University now holds its historical archives and its contribution was remembered through the Graylands Teachers College Memorial Scholarships for quite some time, supporting outstanding education students.
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