Wollaston Theological College

History

Wollaston was founded in 1957 as a residential college for people wanting to train for ordained ministry in the Anglican Diocese of Perth. From 1929 until the establishment of Wollaston Theological College (then John Wollaston Theological College), candidates for ordination in the Diocese of Perth were sent to the eastern states for their theological education. The establishment of Wollaston Theological College occurred as the result of a resolution of the Perth Diocesan Synod in 1950, and the land was purchased from the City of Perth in 1956. The college was built on this land in Mount Claremont and borders Bold Park, providing a beautiful bushland environment for students and staff.

From 1957 until 1970, Wollaston Theological College trained people for lay and ordained ministry. The College was then used as a retreat centre, and for post-ordination training, as during the 1970s, candidates were again sent to the Eastern states for study. In 1983 Wollaston went through another change as those wanting to study theology enrolled through Murdoch University, and Wollaston Theological College continued to be a retreat centre as well as a centre for formation and post-ordination training.

In 2020 Wollaston Theological College began partnering with Trinity College Theological School to teach degrees through the University of Divinity, and in 2022 Wollaston Theological College was accepted to be a college of the University of Divinity.

Wollaston Theological College is a place for all people to engage in theological education and ministry training.

Campus facilities

• Chapel
• Dining Room with tea/coffee facilities.
• WiFi
• Gardens (and close proximity to walks in Bold Park)
• Parking

Wollaston Library

The Wollaston Library collection includes over 35,000 physical items, covering key theological disciplines such as Christian Leadership, Biblical Studies, Church History, Pastoral Care, Systematic Theology, Christian Spirituality, Ministry Practice, Missiology, and Philosophy. The collection continues to grow through new acquisitions and donations, ensuring it remains a valuable resource for contemporary theological scholarship and ministry training.

A significant addition to the library is the Peter Carnley Collection, the personal library of the former Archbishop of Perth, Peter Carnley. This collection comprises approximately 3,000 volumes, reflecting his extensive scholarship and contributions to Anglican theology.