The Boarding House stood (it still stands) on the side of a hill overlooking the bazaar. On the roof, above the porch of the house, a six foot cross was constructed. It could be seen from the bazaar and the river. Directly in front of the house was a courtyard which was surrounded by a low wall inset with jade green openwork tiles. The entrance to the courtyard was a typical Chinese horned archway or gateway.

Former boarders would reminisce with fondness on how they knew their former headmistress or matrons were coming just by the sound of the footsteps on the wooden belian floors of the Boarding House. Miss Chong Kim Joon, Matron of the Boarding House from 1914 to 1967, could recognise each and every boarder from their footsteps, voices, screams and giggles!

1967 was the last year of the Old Boarding House. The Diocesan Centre took over in 1968.

(insert photo of boarding house seen from Fort Margherita, and boarders )