History
Meerilinga has been promoting positive childhoods for Western Australians for over 100 years. Since inception, our focus has been on the importance of children, family and the community. This remains at the centre of Meerilinga’s work at our Early Childhood Education centres, during our weekly community and family services, and through the Meerilinga Training College.
Meerilinga began as the Kindergarten Union of WA in 1911, establishing the Kindergarten Training College in 1913 and the Meerilinga Kindergarten and Sub-Primary School in 1922. This early kindergarten operated out of Meerilinga House, 1186 Hay Street, and so took its name from the building. While the meaning of the word Meerilinga is not defined, it is believed to be derived from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island language: Meeri = distant, Linga = thunder.
The latter part of the century brought significant changes to Meerilinga’s scope, with Western Australia becoming a member of the Children’s Week Council of Australia in 1985 and the newly established Meerilinga Council Inc. was named as the official convener of this important week. 1989 then saw the establishment of the Meerilinga Young Children’s Foundation Inc., which holds the Meerilinga Council and WA Children’s Week under its charter.
The organisation has evolved over the years and, after selling Meerilinga House in 2003, we now serve the local WA community in over a dozen Early Childhood Education centres and the Meerilinga Training College.
100 Years of Excellence in Training
From its early roots as the Kindergarten Union of WA in 1911, Meerilinga officially opened its Kindergarten Training College in 1922. This marks the birth of Meerilinga Training College.
The inauguration of the Kindergarten Training College was led by Bessie Mabel Rischbieth, who was a founding member of the Children’s Protection Society in 1906. As a women’s rights activist and one of the pioneers of the kindergarten movement, Mrs Rischbieth was a staunch advocate for children’s interests in Western Australia. Mrs Rischbieth believed the education of early childhood educators would a have long lasting positive impact on the community and its members, especially throught the promotion of excellence, integrity, respect and social responsibility.
Meerilinga and our trainees still follow this lead, and these values guide our ethos today as we empower and support the next generation of educators at the Meerilinga Training College.
