100 hundred years ago – 23 March 1923

Premier on Church Matters

One hundred years ago, the St Giles Sunday School hall was officially opened by the Premier Sir James Mitchell (after whom the Mitchell Freeway was named). Herewith are snippets from his speech as reported in The West Australian of Wednesday 21 March 1923.

The headline read:
Premier on Church Matters
Need for Cheerfulness – Speech at Mt Lawley

“I understand the growth in this district has been so rapid and so fast that you cannot even get enough water.”

These were the Premier's opening words, which is in the context of the water problems at that time in Mount Lawley as mentioned in the MLS January 2023 newsletter.

The Rev HSR Innes, the Minister in charge of the church (St Giles Presbyterian Church, formerly at 65 Lawley Crescent), in welcoming the Premier, said “it was their desire that he should declare open their hall, which was destined for the welfare and the training of youth.”

Declaring the hall open, the Premier said, … he thought nothing could be better than to dedicate the hall to the welfare of youth. If they could do more for the youth of the world what a wonderful world it would be in a few years. Apparently, much applause followed.

The Premier went on to say … he hoped that dancing would be permitted in the hall. If it was, it would be the means of preventing youths attending places which they should not.

Amid applause, he declared the hall open.

St Giles was the first church built in Mt Lawley in 1915. It, and the associated hall, were on the half acre site on the elevated corner of Glenroyd Street and Lawley Crescent.

Roger Elmitt
March 2023