Our Story
Hard to imagine isn’t it? But the SPLC was started by a group of young mums 40 years ago, aided by a $1,500 grant from the City of South Perth. The Centre officially opened in February 1985 in the Uniting Church Hall, Broome Street, South Perth.
After an inaugural AGM in 1987, the Centre was incorporated in 1988. In the following year, we moved to temporary premises in the Ernest Johnson Hall, and then in 1990 to premises owned by the City of South Perth at 12 Labouchere Road.
In late 1998, there was a suggestion that SPLC Inc. relocate and merge with the Lady Gowrie Centre in Karawara. However, this idea did not receive full support of the members, leading to several fruitless stop-gap measures. Membership dropped perilously low–to fewer than 90 member. Following an emergency meeting, a new Committee was formed, and from 1999 SPLC Inc. experienced a re-birth and rapid growth, thanks to the enthusiasm, dedication, and hard work of members and volunteers.
By 2007, the Centre was thriving. It received the 2007 Premier’s Australia Day Active Citizenship Award for its outstanding contribution to the community. Our Constitution was updated in March 2009 and again in 2013 to conform to DOCEP’s requirements for incorporated bodies.
Our relocation from Labouchere Road to wonderful new premises at the lower level of the South Perth Civic Centre in South Terrace, South Perth, in January 2011, ensured that 6 years on we continued to be a successful and thriving organisation, with hundreds of members.
We have more than doubled our membership and increased the number of courses offered each term from 30 to over 60–more than 240 courses each year. We continue to welcome new and returning members to a wide variety of lifelong learning courses and activities in languages, arts, clubs, information technology, kitchen demonstrations, talks, and lifestyles.
Our experienced teachers, dedicated volunteers, and staff continue to welcome, educate and assist members with enthusiasm and support as we look forward to continuing successfully into our 40th year.
The views and opinions expressed by various facilitators, teachers and instructors are not necessarily those held by the South Perth Learning Centre Inc. The Centre is a non partisan, non political, and non religious organisation.