Snapshot In Time

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME

1833 – 2021 A FOCUS ON SCHOOLS IN THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE

Our regions CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

All

Manning

North

Current Schools

Current Schools

Current Schools

Central Region Current Schools

Lakes Region Current Schools

Contents

DEDICATION

Late one afternoon in 2019 on the verandah outside Bishop Bill’s office, a casual conversation arose. A conversation I have now come to recognise as when the very early framework was laid to produce this snapshot into the stories of our Catholic schools. I was there to discuss the upcoming Bicentenary of Catholic Schools in Australia 2021, and what was possible for our involvement in the planned year of celebrations across Australia to mark this historic occasion.

(I was yet to know that most of our plans were to be subsequently derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.)

Bishop Bill, as was his style, just sat and listened and then with a grin replied, ‘Well, Liz, this is a subject of interest – I would think that the first school in the Diocese was at East Maitland.’

‘Well, that is a point of contention, Bishop Bill,’ I countered. ‘Initial research into the opening of our earliest school indicates certainly Maitland, but not in the “Government Town” of East Maitland but the “Peoples Town” of West Maitland. And so was kindled my inspiration and Bishop Bill’s ongoing support.’

Snapshots in Time is dedicated to our late Bishop William Wright, an avid historian who enjoyed glimpses into the stories of those early pioneers striking out across the abundant pastures of this Hunter Valley district, settling, struggling and even thriving, with the establishment of a Catholic church and school often the centrepiece of newly established communities.

Bishop Bill was indeed looking forward to this publication, which seeks to identify and bring clear focus on each and every school in what we know today as the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, while celebrating an historic 200-year in the history of Australian Catholic education.

LIz Latham

Introduction

WITH A WIDE-ANGLE LENS

The unfolding educational landscape of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle over the last 200 years is one of broad parameters, not only in terms of miles and kilometres but of an ever-widening vista settlements scattering along navigable waterways, fledgling communities forging a life in rural isolated areas, luring prospects of land ownership, coal and ships and wool, rail lines confidently snaking further afield build corridors for trade and communication, post-war expansion following two world wars, economic depression and large scale migration from Europe. All this unfolding within the wider context of a changing social and political climate, a colony grappling with that critical, insistent and ultimately divisive of issues, education for all children. Added within that frame was a potent mix of church, state, power and funding.

Education had its foundations in the mostly poor, rough and ill-equipped schools set up in the early 1800s in Sydney Cove and Parramatta, and for the Catholic community these were ‘The Priestless Years’. Up until 1820, prayer services were organised, lay people ministered to each other, and Catholic schools were started’, Maurice Ryan writes.

Much has been made of sectarianism, and there certainly were some nasty combatants. However, Ryan contends that distance from home muted rivalries, forgotten or rather submerged, and there was much ecumenical cooperation and harmony. Cooperation becomes a good idea when necessity is the goad.

‘Significantly, the first Catholic school teacher was a lay person, with lay staffing continuing to pass on the Church’s faith and traditions prior to 1880s when religious congregations outnumbered them.’

Fr Brian Maher in his book Planting the Celtic Cross estimated the number of lay teachers in New South Wales between 1848 and 1880 to be 800.

But the writing was clearly upon the wall and when the foreshadowed Public Instruction Act formulated to establish an education system that was ‘free, compulsory and secular’ became effective in 1883, lay teachers had no option but to leave their employment. Funds were not available to provide a salary consistent with a reasonable standard of living for them and their families. Many left to teach in the public sector where renumeration was secure.

In the eyes of the Catholic bishops, strongly focused by Bishop Murray of the Maitland Diocese, the way forward for the maintenance of the Catholic faith was for the church to have its own schools, in which its faith, traditions and customs could be taught and caught. Government-run secular schools as ‘seedplots of future immorality, infidelity and lawlessness’ were not an option. The bishops took up this challenge and over the next eighty years, ways and means were found. Pivotal to this was an increasingly insistent call to overseas religious orders of both men and women, and in all, ten orders were to make their mark within the Diocese, beginning 1864 in Maitland with the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, known as the Good Samaritans. Religious were welcomed by the clergy: Vaughan suggested they ‘would give a tone and a thoroughness to the rising generations’, while Fogarty comments that Therry from his early experience in the colony saw the influence of religious teachers ‘as a powerful antidote to the virus of immorality and indifference that spread unchecked under the appalling conditions of his day’.

And importantly, religious were welcomed by the people. ‘For them [parents] schooling was the key. It was a means of expressing their identity, their long term hope, their sense of community and their sense of belonging.’ Over the ensuing years, the struggle to establish and to continue schools meant many privations for the clergy and religious brothers and sisters, often sharing in the poverty of the families they had come to serve, and in doing so gaining their respect. Those stories have become legendary, and many such instances have been quoted within the school page entries.

Equally legendary are the stories of Catholic lay support and co-operation. Anne Benjamin comments that ‘momentous contribution of laity … emphasises one of the enduring yet unrealised principles of Vatican 11: participation’. There is a wealth of instances paying tribute to such participation: covering payments for coach and train travel for the sisters, clearing debts, donating land, construction time and equipment, provisioning convent larders, sewing, paying wages, enabling free accommodation, manning school tuck shops, raising funds, holding bazaars and fetes, joining mothers clubs, initiating the Parents and Friends Association, establishing an Old Boys Union, supporting congregations, arranging bequests … the list is endless. For many of these individuals and families, the making of such a considerable investment in

the present and the future was a means of building community, of belonging and of gaining respectability. And in making outstanding efforts, men and women often came to be recognised in local newspaper reports, so taking their rightful place as agents of change.

Zimmerman so clearly sums up, ‘Priests and religious men and women depended totally on the determination and the generous support of the laity for the growth and survival of Catholic schools.’

Surely, upon the shoulders of these heroic giants, later giants stood.

Our early schools were established with unfolding terminology, emanating from a shifting umbrella of colonial regulations and funding: terminology even perpetuating class divisions – private, denominational, national, provisional, church, convent, select, and boarding. Later came provision for secondary education. School names were changed somewhere around 1984/5, often from a name given by the order of teaching religious to a name in line with parish title.

Administrative structures developed in recognition of the reality; the need for more centralised policy making and efficient management of Catholic parishes and schools. Boundaries needed to be changed, and pivotally the implementation of the Wyndham Scheme brought about much needed rationalisation around secondary education, with richer curriculum content and accessibility for feeder parish primary schools.

‘By the middle of the twentieth century the climate of the 1870s and 80s was replaced by one more inclined to offer assistance to non-government schools. Concurrent with this development was the growing awareness by parliamentarians of the political advantage to be had in granting aid to nongovernment schools’.

The rapidly increasing enrolments during the 1960s made it apparent that the religious congregations of sisters and brothers who staffed the schools had insufficient numbers. Now with government funding relatively assured, and with the Catholic Schools Office in place to manage accountability, governance and child safeguarding, the laicisation of both leadership and staff of Catholic schools unfolded and is now an accepted and integral part of today’s school landscape.

Spiritual formation for lay teachers has become a vital component for the building of Catholic school identity, and in seeking to make the Gospel central, real and inspirational, has often been the recognition of a founding charism, that spiritual capital imbued into the very fabric of each school by their particular religious order. Used as a rich resource, charism can underpin shared ownership and co-responsibility of leadership, contributing to goals while building and renewing the whole church and standing as witness to Gospel values.

SNAPSHOTS WITH COLOUR – TEAM OF THREE

While each school is recorded in snapshot format and may read rather clinically of facts, dates, timelines and names, the reality has a far more human trace – one of community, parents, lay men and women, religious orders, families, clergy and parish all guided, supported and encouraged within newly forming parishes and changing diocesan boundaries.

Quotations have been included to ‘colour’ each entry, chosen not solely from academic pages but from the refreshing perspective of those at the coal face, predominately from a surprising source of four storage boxes with files relating to every school. This collection point had been initiated some years previously by Marie Hughes rsj, educator and historian, and had gradually expanded to contain reminiscences, histories, architectural plans, newspaper clippings, jubilee booklets, year books and photos.

Identified by Liz Latham at the Catholic Schools Office in the context of 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia as a valuable source of historical detail and anecdotal evidence, a Team of Three came together: leader with drive and purpose, overseeing educational guru and an enthusiastic data recorder. The way forward gradually took shape: to compile an accurate publication containing entries for each and every school opened between 1833 and 2021, all within the changing boundaries of what we know as today’s Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

Frances Dunn

BETWEEN 1833 AND 2021

135 SCHOOLS WERE OPENED

58 SCHOOLS OPEN TODAY

For each and every school we have sought to:

f realign the school story

f capture snapshots of the past and present

f acknowledge the struggles f record gently the human experience

f value the pioneering communities f honour the legacy with fresh expressions f identify the core Gospel values within the warp and weave of 200 years of school history

Let us now sing the praises of famous men [and women], our ancestors in their generations … There were … those who led the people by their counsels and by their knowledge of the people’s lore; they were wise in their words of instruction … Some of them have left behind a name, so that others declare their praise. But of others there is no memory; they have perished as though they had never existed.

Sirach [Ecclesiasticus] 44:1,4,8-9 (NRSV)

Footnotes

1 Ryan, M

2 ibid

3 Maher, B

4 Vaughan, R

Acknowledgement of Country and Traditional Owners

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the traditional custodians, past and present, of this land who, long before us, lived, loved and raised their children on this land.

We also acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in our community and their deep physical and spiritual connections to their land.

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS

The Traditional Custodians of the lands written about within this publication are of many Aboriginal tribes. Widely surrounding the lake, its lands and waters are the Awabakal; from the ranges and over vast and lordly river catchment areas to ocean entrances, the Biripi and Guringai and Worimi; north of the mighty river valley on land bounded by four rivers, the Worimi people; and the upper river area and surrounding regions peopled by the Wonnarua, Kamilaroi, Tulong and Murrain.

Many attempts have been made to establish traditional Aboriginal boundaries and most of these studies have been in the contemporary setting. However, the exact boundaries in many instances will never be known.

These Aboriginal inhabitants and custodians are critical to the rivers and valleys of this imposing and remote wilderness, enabling the exploration of its vast and difficult terrain by playing an often-pivotal role in locating essential human needs of fresh water and food, in the discovery of the natural resources of coal and wide grasslands, and also by giving daily assistance as trackers, interpreters, diplomats, and pathfinders.

A FOCUS ON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

1820 – 2021

A FOCUS ON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

1820 –1865

Newcastle penal settlement closes in 1824 enabling settlement of the region, and with ports on the Hunter River, established first at Morpeth followed soon after at Maitland some 40 kms upstream, river trade flourishes. Accessible coal seams already in operation, lush red cedar stands to hand and promising alluvial soils all combined to attract early pioneers to take up land grants. With settlements bringing plentiful convict labour prosperity is on the increase. Further exploration along ancient Aboriginal trade routes to the north and west continues apace.

Now operating within the Archdiocese of Sydney, Catholic pioneers arrive in Maitland. Fr Roger Therry establishes a chapel on land opposite Stockade Hill and work commences on a stone church. With official east/west boundary clearly defined, parochial districts are declared; East Maitland followed by Newcastle then West Maitland. East Maitland is the main springboard for the apostolic endeavours of the Hunter region.

Educational opportunities begin with the opening of private or church schools dependent on government funding –limited to land, funds to build and salaries (predominately Irish born lay teachers) all managed by the parish priest. The first denominational schools open in 1833 in Hunter Street, Maitland, and in 1838 in St Joseph’s Church East Maitland. Visioned to spread funds equitably between four denominations, the 1836 Church Act enables school openings to gather pace across the wider Hunter region and as far north as Singleton.

Controversy grows around how to bring schools into one system. In 1848, the Board of National Education is established to further control national and denominational schools under two Boards, operating until 1866. Fr John McEncroe represents Catholic schools in dealing with the Denominational Board.

‘A poor thing it was, but an achievement in the circumstances, filling for the nonce the double role of a church on Sunday and a school during the week. The roof was of bark and the walls of slabs so loosely put together that the openings between had to be plugged with mortar fortified with chunks of wood.’

C 1833 Plaistowe Street, Horseshoe Bend, Maitland

1820

Fr John Therry

Founds 1st Catholic school in Hunter Street, Parramatta, later transferred to grounds of present St Mary’s Cathedral

1831

NSW Legislative Council

Richard Bourke, appointed Governor of New South Wales

1832

Australian Catholic Church

Fr John McEncroe arrives in Sydney from Ireland, appointed official chaplain

1833

NSW Legislative Council

Governor Bourke, Catholic schools began changes towards equity in denominational funding

West Maitland

Denominational school in Hunter

Street established. Continues as St John the Baptist

1835

Australian Church

Bishop Polding arrives in Hobart, then Sydney, Vicarate includes all Australia

NSW Legislative Council

Governor Bourke requests that the boundary defining East Maitland and West Maitland be clarified

East Maitland

Parochial District established within the Archdiocese of Sydney

1836

NSW Legislative Council

Governor Bourke sets in motion The Church Act established equitable funding for Catholic and Protestant denominations, and removed many of the privileges that the Church of England had enjoyed in the colony

1838

Newcastle

Parochial District established, Archdiocese of Sydney

East Maitland

Denominational school opens in St Joseph’s Church will continue as St Joseph’s

Maitland

St John’s Boys School opens, will continue as All Saints College – St Peter’s Campus

1840

Document signed in London

Order-in-Council to formalise cessation of convict transportation to colonies

1841c

Newcastle

Denominational School will continue as St Mary’s to 1873

1841

Newcastle

Denominational School opens, will continue as St Mary’s Star of the Sea

West Maitland

Parochial district established within the Archdiocese of Sydney 1842

Lochinvar

Denominational school opens, will continue as St Patrick’s

Morpeth

Denominational school opens, will continue as St Francis Xavier’s 1843

Singleton

Denominational school opens, will continue as St Francis Xavier’s School 1844

Millers Forest

Denominational school opens, will continue as St Patrick’s School 1847

Rome Maitland Diocese established as Titular See within the Archdiocese of Sydney 1848

NSW Legislative Council

Governor Fitzroy establishes two Boards – Board of National Education (BNE) and Denominational Schools Board (DSB) 1849

Singleton

Denominational school will continue as St Patrick’s 1850

NSW

Convict transportation to NSW ends

Raymond Terrace

Denominational school opens, will continue as St Brigid’s 1851

Raymond Terrace

Denominational school will continue as St Brigid’s

1852

Black Creek

Denominational School opens, will continue as St Brigid’s (Branxton)

1856

West Maitland

St John the Baptist Victoria Street, continuing 1833 Denominational school

Sydney Australian Catholic Teachers Association First meeting 1857

Maitland

Denominational schools all operating under the Denominational Schools Board (DSB)

Maitland Denominational Schools Board

Local Board Members –

Fr Dean Lynch, Rev John Kenny, Dr McCartney, Mr W Lawn, Mr P O’Keefe

1860

Murrurundi

Denominational school, will continue as St Joseph’s

1861

NSW Legislative Council Robertson Land Acts open up large tracts of Crown Land for purchase and occupation

Cooranbong

National school, will continue as Catholic school

Muswellbrook

Denominational school, will continue as St James

1862

NSW Legislative Council 1836 Church Act repealed. State Aid to religious institutions abolished, aid continues to Catholic schools through Denominational Schools Board

Gunnedah

Denominational school, will continue as St Mary’s College

1864

Maitland

St John’s Boys School / All Saints College

St Peter’s Campus, continuing 1838 Denominational school

Clarence Town

Denominational school, will continue as St Joseph’s at Dungog

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

1866 –1880 A FOCUS ON

Beginning as a pivotal year, 1866 sees the Board of National Education with the dual system of administration proving inadequate and expensive resulting in tighter controls around inspection and certification. This move heightens tensions with the closure of many church schools often in poor condition, while an increase in number of National schools becomes evident.

Newly arrived from Ireland, Rev. James Murray is appointed Bishop of the established Diocese of Maitland and takes up the challenge around this looming funding uncertainty, influenced by strong statements from Rome and by bad reports of National schools in Ireland.

When end of state aid, proposed in 1872 to take effect in 1883, the Archbishop of Sydney together with the bishops of Maitland, Bathurst and Goulburn assume an increasingly harder stand visioning a separate school system. A call is sent out to religious communities in Europe to provide staff to educate the children of the workers in ‘the one true faith’. The call becoming increasingly insistent and gaining momentum based not merely on economic necessity, but on an almost moral necessity.

And the call is answered.

Four orders/congregations arrive and make their mark in the field of education, some with short tenure others with much longer tenure; the Good Samaritans, Dominicans, Mercies and the Congregational Josephites. In all, another seven are to arrive. Called by their bishop, warmly welcomed and generously supported by the people, all came to serve with zeal and commitment, changing the face of Catholic schooling and indeed, confounding the authorities as had been foreshadowed.

Lay teachers whose salaries the Catholic community cannot afford, read the writing on the wall and gradually leave, transferring to the state system or choosing to remain and work alongside the religious as they begin to staff and manage the established schools.

1866

Maitland

Rev James Murray installed as Bishop in Diocese of Maitland

Bathurst

Rev Matthew Quinn installed as Bishop in Diocese of Bathurst (Cousin of Bishop J Murray)

NSW Legislative Council

NSW Legislative Council Public Schools Act

– Council of Education established, Boards abolished, grants relied on inspection. Staff appointments and salaries now under Government control

Newcastle

St Mary’s Star of the Sea, continuing c1841 Denominational school

Blandford

Denominational school, will continue as Holy Rosary School

1867

Maitland

Dominican Order arrives from Ireland at request of Bishop Murray, establishes First Foundation continues St John’s Boy’s School / St Joseph’s / St Mary’s

Maitland

St Mary’s High/Boarding continues as St Mary’s Campus All Saints’ College

Archdiocese of Sydney Catholic Association for the Promotion of Religion and Education established by Bishop J Murray and Bishop M Quinn –ceased 1872

1868

Singleton

St Patrick’s, continuing as St Xavier’s

Largs

Denominational school, will continue as St Joseph’s

1871

Lambton

Denominational school, will continue as St John’s

Glendonbrook

Provisional school, will continue as Catholic School

Wallsend

Denominational school, will continue as St Patrick’s

1872

NSW Legislative Council End of state aid to all church schools

1873

Newcastle

St Mary’s Star of the Sea, St Thomas College

Newcastle St Convent School

Newcastle

St Mary’s Primary School

1874

Newcastle

St Mary’s Dominican Convent School

1875

Newcastle

Institution for Deaf and Dumb, will continue at Waratah 1889, Mayfield 1993

Singleton

Mercy Order arrives from Ennis Community Ireland establishes Foundation

Singleton

St Catherine’s Catholic College

Scone

Denominational school, will continue as St Mary’s

1876

Hamilton

Denominational school, will continue as Sacred Heart

Hamilton

Denominational school, will continue as St Aloysius High

Merewether

Denominational school, will continue as St Joseph’s

1877

Singleton Mercy Orphanage

1878

Campbells Hill

Sacred Heart College

1879

NSW Catholic Bishops

Pastoral Letter - Bishop Vaughan reiterates that Catholic children must attend Catholic schools

Murrurundi

St Joseph’s, continuing 1860 Denominational school

Blandford Holy Rosary School, continuing 1866 Denominational school

Gunnedah

St Mary’s College, continuing 1862 Denominational school 1880

NSW Legislative Council

Public Instruction Act – ends financial aid to Catholic schools, effective end of 1882 Teachers employed under previous Act now Civil Servants of the Crown and classified according to attainments. Statistics – 83 Catholic schools, 190 teachers, and over 16,000 students.

Cooranbong

Sisters of St Joseph arrive in Cooranbong to take up school later to be known as Congregational Josephites

Catholic School, continuing 1861 National school

To get there, the Sisters travelled by train to Muswellbrook where they were met by Fr Kearns - Merriwa’s Parish Priest – and driven in a special coach to Denman. There they had a late dinner, hosted by a Catholic parishioner, Mrs Doyle. Finally they continued onto Merriwa and arrived at 6 o’clock, met by welcoming Catholics. Not pausing to rest or settle in, they opened the school on Wednesday.

1881–1961 A FOCUS ON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

Amid heightened tensions, the 1880 Public Instruction Act is passed making education ‘free, compulsory and secular’. Denominational schools continue with government registration but without funding. With Bishops now banning Catholic attendance at State schools, (their stand given strong impetus with beliefs around confession and hell), the arrival of another five orders/ congregations coming to make their mark is a critical factor, originally in the survival of existing schools, but increasingly in the establishment of new Catholic schools in every district and in every country town. The first three orders/congregations arrive in 1883 – the Patricians, the Brigidines and the Diocesan Josephites, soon after the Marists, while later the Daughters of Charity, the St John of God Brothers.

Schools are now staffed and managed by these orders, renamed in line with each religious order bringing their distinctive tradition and spirit. Many convents also open ‘select schools’ and provide music tuition to supplement the meagre income of the sisters while schools in country areas open as primary then extend to cater for secondary students.

Following the Bishops policy of ‘build the school first, then the church’, scarcity and privation become part of the landscape for the priests, religious and also the communities they have come to serve as tremendous efforts and sacrifices around provision of schools and churches, and support for the clergy and religious.

Diocesan boundaries are re drawn in the light of population growth and there is a restructuring of secondary education. World Wars, a disastrous mine lock out followed by years of a Depression, then 1955 Maitland floods all make their impact upon the establishment and growth of schools.

The ‘Green’ Catechism becomes central to religious instruction, while Catholic inspectors are appointed to improve standards, bringing uniformity and ensuring curriculum and syllabuses are followed equipping students for public examinations. Some indirect aid is provided by the government

– school supplies, free milk, free school travel, and a Bursary Endowment Act available for poor students, however with increased student numbers following a post war baby boom, a decline in the number of religious vocations, and a growing need to staff schools with lay teachers, pressures begin to build.

All coming to a head around the much needed and wide-reaching recommendations emanating from the 1961 Wyndham Report … the 1961 Goulburn Strike catapults ‘State Aid’ into the political limelight.

And the call is answered. Four orders arrive and make their mark in the field of education, some with short others with much longer tenure, the Good Samaritans, Dominicans, Mercies and the Congregational Josephites.

1881

Raymond Terrace

St Patrick’s, continuing 1851

Denominational school

Millers Forest

St Patrick’s, continuing 1851 Denominational school

1883

NSW Legislative Council

Government aid withdrawn from church schools; majority of teachers transferred to State System

CATHOLIC BOARD OF EDUCATION ESTABLISHED

Morpeth

St Francis Xavier’s, continuing 1842 Denominational school

Coonamble

Brigidine Order arrives from Ireland establishes Foundation

Coonamble

St Brigid’s, will continue within the Diocese of Bathurst

Lochinvar

Sisters of St Joseph arrive from Perthville Bathurst establish First Foundation

Lochinvar

St Patrick’s, continuing 1862 Denominational school

Campbells Hill

Patrician Brothers arrive from Ireland, establish Foundation

Lambton

St John’s, continuing 1871 Denominational school

Wallsend

St Patrick’s, continuing 1871 Denominational school

Muswellbrook

St James, continuing 1861 Denominational school

Merriwa

St Joseph’s Primary

1884

Campbells Hill

Patrician Brothers staff Sacred Heart College

Hamilton

St Aloysius Select continues as St Aloysius High School 1915

Hamilton

Sacred Heart Primary

Merewether

St Joseph’s High School

Maitland

St John’s School staffed by Patrician Brothers will continue as Marist Brothers

1885

Sydney

First Plenary Council of the Australian Catholic Church held- strong statement ‘building of school comes before building of parish church’

East Maitland

St Joseph’s

Quirindi

St Joseph’s Primary, will continue within the Diocese of Armidale

1886

Knockfin

St Joseph’s Primary School

Greta

St Mary’s School

Branxton

St Brigid’s, continuing 1852 Denominational school

1887

Armidale

Armidale Diocese established

Gunnedah

Included in Diocese of Armidale, e xcluded from Diocese of Maitland

Quirindi

Included in Diocese of Armidale, excluded from Diocese of Maitland

Coonamble

Included in Diocese of Bathurst, excluded from Diocese of Maitland

Nulkaba

St Patrick’s

Stockton

St Peter’s

Scone

St Mary’s, continuing 1875 Denominational school

1888

Newcastle

St Mary’s School for Boys

Carrington

St Francis Xavier’s

Dungog

St Joseph’s, continuing 1864 Denominational school Clarence Town

1889

Waratah Institution for the Deaf and Dumb

Largs

St Joseph’s, continuing 1868 Denominational school

Waratah Institute for the Deaf and Dumb

Brookfield

St Joseph’s

1890

Adamstown

St Columba’s

1893

Krambach

St Joseph’s

1895

Tighes Hill

Catholic School, continuing as St Patrick’s

1896

Aberdeen

St Joseph’s Primary

Wingen

St Patrick’s

1898

Campbells Hill

Marist Brothers arrive from Sydney Foundation to staff existing schools

Newcastle

St Mary’s Marist Brother’s Moobi

Catholic School

1899

Cundletown

Catholic school, will continue as St Joseph’s

1900

Glendonbrook

Catholic Primary School, continuing from 1871 Provisional school

1901

Wybong

St Bernard’s

Upper Wybong Catholic School

1903

Newcastle

Newcastle St Thomas Boarding Schools for Boys

1905

Broadmeadow

St Laurence O’Toole Primary

Infants Bellbird

St Patrick’s Primary Nulkaba relocated to Cessnock

A FOCUS ON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS 1962 –1989

Acting upon the Wyndham Report recommendations puts immense pressure on the provision of buildings and the broadening of curriculum, while looming over the very survival of the Catholic school system is the decline in availability of religious as staff. The much-welcomed breakthrough in ‘State Aid’ becomes a reality following campaigns and petitions from parents, Bishops’ press statements and political lobbying of parties and individual politicians. The debate now more an economic issue rather than a sectarian one.

Vatican II is held in Rome, following which is a sizable shift in the known Catholic ground heralding much welcome change, but as well, much that is unsettling, controversial and of far-reaching educational impact. Also experienced are turbulent times within the wider society: – questioning and realigning of past and rigid values, controversy reigning around civil rights and feminist movements, while anti-war protests, university demonstrations, political assassinations, and the very first NSW teachers strike in Bondi 1968 all serve to dominate headlines and stir unrest.

Enrolments continue to flourish, and with religious orders in decline, lay teacher training becomes the paramount issue. Lay teachers begin to be admitted into established religious teacher training colleges, with the first qualified and recognised teachers taking their place within Catholic schools in the early 1960s. The Bonded Scholarship Scheme, initiated by Monsignor J Slowey, Director of the Catholic Education Office, Sydney was expanded, enabling lay students from the Maitland Diocese to attend the established Catholic Training Colleges at North Sydney and Castle Hill. On the completion of their study to be placed where the need called. (By the 1980s following rationalisation of teacher training colleges and hospitals, substantial government funding will be forthcoming in this sector).

Funding is accompanied by profound changes in management of Catholic schools in all Australian dioceses. Catholic Education Offices are established to centralise, coordinate and financially manage Diocesan schools leading to the rationalisation of systemic schools and shifting the educational management and responsibility away from religious orders and parish priests – a painful time.

Increased funding to Catholic Schools lead to the establishment of State and National Catholic Education Commissions providing coordination and representation of school authorities thus opening doors to programs attracting government funding: Disadvantaged Schools, Special Education and Multicultural Education.

Two similarly seismic events change the known landscape.

The first a Commonwealth referendum. Held in 1967, overwhelming support brings change to the 1901 Constitution extending recognition to our first peoples of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island descent.

The second being an earthquake in 1989. Measuring 5.6 on the Richter Scale with its epicentre 15km SW of Newcastle around Boolaroo, 13 lives are tragically lost, and damage is widespread with many churches and school buildings affected.

1962

Government Wyndham Scheme introduced

Goulburn

Goulburn School Strike draws attention to critical resourcing needs of Catholic schools

– proves to be a nationally significant catalyst for change

Morisset

St John Vianney Primary

Edgeworth

St Benedict’s Primary

Nelson Bay

St Michael’s Primary

1963

Rome

Second Vatican Council

1964

Commonwealth Government Grants for science laboratories and technical training

States Grants Act

Per capita grants made available

Tenambit

St Mary’s Primary

Gateshead

St Paul’s Primary

Gateshead

St Mary’s Catholic College

1966

Belmont, Boolaroo, Booragul, Morisset, Swansea, Toronto

Included in the Diocese of Maitland

Excluded from Archdiocese of Sydney

Kendall, Camden Heads (Laurieton),

Included in the Diocese of Lismore

Excluded from Diocese of Maitland

Adamstown

St Anne’s Girls High

Commonwealth Referendum Recognition to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Singleton Catholic Junior School

Aberdeen

St Joseph’s Regional High

Government

Legislation formalising funding arrangements for ‘systemic’ and ‘non-systemic’ schools

All States

Catholic Education Commission established in all state to liaise with government agencies

Kotara South St James Primary

Waratah Rosary Convent School for Deaf Girls, ceased in this form

Diocese Maitland Further reorganisation of secondary education

Booragul

St Paul’s Catholic College

Kilaben Bay

St Joseph’s Primary

Maitland

St Peter’s High

Mayfield Catholic Centre for Education of Deaf opens

Newcastle Earthquake

5.6 on the Richter Scale, many church and school buildings affected

A FOCUS ON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS 1990 – 2021

The Education Reform Act NSW (1990) leads to 11 Catholic Education Offices across the state taking over the quality assurance, registration and certification processes for all primary and secondary diocesan schools. Federal Government funding for schools is now centralised to the State and Territory Catholic Education Commissions managing the distribution of funding across the dioceses which is still the case today. By the mid1990s there are 216,625 students enrolled across some 564 diocesan and congregation schools.

In their 2007 Pastoral Letter ‘Catholic Schools at a Cross roads’ the Bishops of NSW and ACT call upon ‘all Catholic educational, staff, parents as well as the broader Catholic community to join them in recommitting to Catholic schooling for the 21st century.’ (1)

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop is canonized in Rome on 17 October 2010 by Pope Benedict as Australia’s first saint. Mary had pioneered a new form of religious life in Australia, founding a system of Josephite schools that would provide education, especially for the children of the poor. Across the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle there remains today a remarkable legacy left by the Sisters of St Joseph who established their schools in the remote and regional areas, continuing the inspirational work of Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods.

During 2020 COVID-19, an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus impacts, brings uncertainty into every facet of social fabric, with implications for health, business, tourism and schooling dominating media outlets. By June there are Australia wide 30,000 COVID-19 cases, while states respond differently with social lockdowns following waves of infection all educational authorities shift their focus to Covid safe management of their schools. Closures, and the implementation of online and remote learning have enormous impacts on children, school staff and parents. These patterns are to continue throughout 2021 and will continue into 2022. While vaccinations and boosters are high, uncertainty remains.

Since the opening of our very first Catholic school in 1833, Catholic schools have been established encompassing the length and breadth of the Diocese, with schools at Chisholm and Medowie the latest in a vision to provide a continuum of school experience on a single campus.

The snapshot of 2021 has 58 schools within the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle educating just over 20,000 students with 2,500 staff comprising teaching, support administration and general employees.

Another two orders arrive to serve within parish and school communities. Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary making in total, twelve orders to have served the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

1992

Maitland

All Saints College – St Peter’s Campus continues 1864 St John’s Boys School

Maitland

All Saints College – St Mary’s Campus continues 1867 St Joseph’s / St Mary’s School

1993

Mayfield

St Dominic’s Centre opens, purpose built, continuing education of the deaf

1995

Sydney

Mary MacKillop beatified by Pope Paul VI as Blessed Mary MacKillop

1997

Hamilton

Catholic Schools Offices amalgamated and relocated to Hunter Street. Former offices in Newcastle and The Junction closed.

2007

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference

Catholic Schools at the Crossroads’ document – signals changes needed to make schools genuinely Catholic in their identify and life.

2010

Rome

Mary MacKillop canonised as St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

2011

Branxton

Rosary Park Catholic School, combines 1886

St Brigid’s Branxton and St Mary’s Infant School Greta 1886

2015

Chisholm

St Aloysius Catholic Primary

Cooranbong

Plaques mounted outside St Patrick’s & St

Brigid’s Church marking Pilgrimage Site for

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

2018

Chisholm

St Bede’s Catholic College

2019

Broadmeadow

St Laurence Flexible Learning Centre

Edmund Rice Education Australia

2020-21

Worldwide COVID-19 pandemic

2021

Medowie

Catherine McAuley Catholic College

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE All Saints region

On Country:

Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua and Worimi peoples

The penal settlement at Newcastle came to represent the inherent contradiction in the founding of the early colony – its role as a place of penal servitude. This was constantly challenged and made difficult by the needs and activities of the militia and free settlers attracted by opportunity presented in the new colony. Governor Macquarie had been aware for some time that the growing demand for land, accompanied by the need for road access and services for the swelling ranks of free immigrants would make the opening of the Hunter Valley inevitable. He had written to Earl Bathurst in 1819, ‘Extensive plains of rich and fertile land being found at no great distance along the three principal sources of the River Hunter (have) now become an object of valuable consideration in the necessary increase in population.’ 1

Following the relocation of Newcastle’s penal colony to Port Macquarie, settlement gathered pace as expected upstream, with the Diocese’s first Catholic school opened in Maitland 1833 in the lower reaches of the Hunter Valley in the school region referred to today as All Saints. Settlers were drawn to the rich resources and abundant land of the Maitland district and with this migration education for the children of these settlers. ‘Catholic schools need to be understood as a major lay movement within the church, perhaps the most significant lay movement within Australian Catholicism.’ 2 Bishop Polding’s stated in 1839, ‘that the great goal of education in the colony was the improvement of the moral state of the community and to achieve this end no means with more strict attention to the younger generation.’3 Fr John Lynch, had travelled from Ireland, invited to the Hunter region by Dr Ullathorne to make Polding’s goal of a Benedictine clergy, a reality. Lynch was a dynamo, driven in his pastoral work of ministering to the needs of these early Catholic settlers, tireless in his work travelling from Maitland to the Queensland border establishing schools at Maitland, Black Creek (Branxton), Paterson and Lochinvar. The first teachers in these schools were lay teachers the first being freed convicts, Peter Cook at West Maitland and Bartholomew Hoare at East Maitland.

When Maitland’s first resident bishop, Rev James Murray arrived in 1866, the area had the second largest population outside of Sydney with a high proportion of these early settlers identifying as Catholic. 4 Murray, before leaving for Australia, had requested support from religious congregations across Ireland. In 1867, eight Dominican Sisters from Dun Laoghaire, Ireland responded willingly to this request to bring Catholic education to the newly created Diocese of Maitland, establishing their first foundation in West Maitland. On the 16th September 1867 they commenced teaching at St John’s Denominational School and for eight years these Dominican sisters remained the only religious congregation of women in the diocese, also establishing in 1926 a Teacher Training College for their sisters in Maitland. In 1955 following the devastating Hunter Valley flood of that year, the College was relocated to Sydney and then later to Canberra, open today as Signadou, the Canberra Campus of the Australian Catholic University.

Across the All Saints region settlements continued to be established around the rich agricultural and mineral resources of the lower valley. ‘Each new coal mining operation was soon surrounded by little mining hamlets and villages. The NSW State Government in its planning saw to it that the towns of Kurri Kurri, Abermain and Aberdaire were set up to accommodate the new mining populace in properly laid out areas.’ 5

By the middle of the 20th century Catholic schools were established, radiating out from Maitland, south to Tarro, east to Cessnock, north to Dungog and west to Branxton. Many of these schools are now closed reflecting both the ebb and flow of the movement of families away from hamlets into the larger towns and the amalgamation of landholdings into large national and multinational concerns, both agricultural and mining. Along with changes in land usage this era witnessed the impact from improvements in mechanisation and technology leading to reduced workforces and the consolidation of smaller schools into the schools of the larger towns with the availability of transportation.

Infants School

Joseph’s Sacred Heart College Sacred Heart Primary School Bishop Murray Memorial Home for Girls OLMC Home Science High School St Patrick’s Primary School Migrant Camp School

School, Primary School

Denominational School St Joseph’s Primary School

Mary’s

Vincent’s Primary School

School St Mary’s Campus

St Peter’s Campus

Catholic Denominational School

St John’s Boys School (Parochial) St Peter’s High School

Mary’s Boarding School

Mary’s High School

Many of the schools in the lower Hunter Valley commenced under the tutelage of lay teachers in receipt of Government funds, ‘St Francis Xavier at Morpeth was established in this manner in 1841.’ 6 With the proposed withdrawal of funding for denominational schools legislated by the Public Instruction Act NSW 1880, effective in 1883, there arose an urgency for additional religious to replace lay teachers, many of whom had moved to salaried positions in the Public Schools. With funding now cut, Bishop James Murray invited the Josephite sisters at Perthville (Bathurst) to become our Diocesan order of teaching sisters and these ‘Black Josephites’ came establishing their foundation at Lochinvar in 1883 from where they branched out to teach across the diocese particularly in regional and remote locations. Joining them were the Irish orders of the Sisters of Mercy, the Dominican Sisters and the Marist Brothers, an order originally from France.

In the aftermath of World War II the Greta Army base located 3 kilometres outside the town of Greta was turned into the Reception and Processing Camp for Displaced Persons and Migrants leaving a devasted Europe. Australia entered into an agreement with the International Refugee organization (IRO) to bring Displaced Persons and the existing Nissen style buildings were altered to accommodate these migrants arriving from the end of 1959. Between then and until its closure in 1960 (due to changes in the Australia’s immigration policy) it is estimated that 100 000 migrants passed through the camp changing the face of Australian society. It was the Josephite sisters who travelled out daily by bus from Lochinvar Convent to staff the Greta camp school for the families of these migrants.

A strategy to provide a Secondary School system in the Lower Hunter to cater for the growing population of the Maitland Region led to the move to three co-educational campuses forming All Saints College. St Joseph’s High School at Lochinvar and St Peter’s at Maitland providing education for Years 7–10 and St Mary’s College at Maitland providing Years 11 & 12 for the region. This was designed to ensure that the boys of the region had the same opportunities as the girls. Since its establishment in 1990 the Maitland

region has seen even greater growth with farmlands disappearing to make way for residential estates leading to a new phase for Catholic schooling within the Diocese, a time of construction of new schools to meet this growing demand for Catholic education. The consolidation of St Mary’s Infants Greta and St Brigid’s Primary at Branxton led to a new campus catering for Kinder to Year 6 at Rosary Park, Branxton. Two new schools at Chisholm, St Aloysius Primary the first new school opened in the Diocese in 37 years to be soon followed by the opening of St Bede’s Secondary College. The swelling population of the Lower Hunter led to another restructure of secondary education with St Joseph’s High School moving from the All Saints Cluster to become St Joseph’s College Lochinvar.

CHARISM

It is well to note that each of the religious orders engaged with education in the Diocese brought with them a distinctive charism or ‘deep story of their order which helped to shape the culture of the school.’ 7

Invited by Bishop Murray, four particular religious orders were to play an early and a major role in imbuing in all their schools their own particular and distinctive ‘charism’.

The Dominicans arriving 1867 from Kingstown Ireland, establishing their First Foundation in Maitland, now identified as the Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia and the Solomon Islands.

The Sisters of Mercy from the Ennis Community Ireland, arriving 1875 to set up their First Foundation at Singleton, known from 2011 as The Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The Josephite sisters arriving 1883 from Perthville Bathurst to become a Diocesan order of teaching sisters, known as the ‘Black Josephites’, establishing their Foundation at Lochinvar.

The Marist Brothers, originally an Order from France arriving from their Sydney Foundation in 1898 establishing their Foundation at Campbells Hill, Maitland.

Footnotes

1. Macquarie. L. (1819) H.R.A. Letter Macquarie to Bathurst, 8 March Vol. X, pp.43–44,

2. Ryan. M. (2002) Religious Education in Australian Catholic Schools: Three Historic Snapshots Journal of Religious Education 50 (3) p.2

3. Fogarty. R. (1959) Catholic Education in Australia 1806ç1950. MUP Melbourne P.52

4. MacGinley, M.R. (2009) Ancient Traditions New World Dominican Sisters in Eastern Australian 1867–1958 p.39

5. Delaney. J. (1988) City of Cessnock 1788–1988 Cessnock Historical Society

6. Pilgrim. J. (1998) Tomorrow Belongs to You Morpeth Parish Publication

7. Kavanagh. A. & Pallisier. L. (2015) Will Catholic Schools be Catholic in 2030 Patrician Brothers Publication

Maitland

ST JOHN THE BAPTIST PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Maitland

Named after Sir George Maitland, Under Secretary for the Colonies

Opened 1856

Preceded by

1833 Denominational School in Hunter Street

1839 in Plaistowe Street

1856 in Victoria Street

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Dominican

Motto: Truth and Forgiveness

Location: 12 Victoria Street Maitland NSW 2320

Parish: East Maitland

Originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney, administered from East Maitland

1833

Denominational school conducted in ‘a small cottage in Hunter Street’ teacher Peter Cook ‘In 1834 Maitland was the only Catholic school in the country area, having been opened in 1833 by Peter Cook. … His school in Maitland was conducted in a small cottage in Hunter Street. Thomas and Mary Lynch took over the school in 1834 and remained there until the end of 1838.’ 1

1834

Denominational school continued, lay teachers Thomas and Mary Lynch, Cornelius Shannon, John Stapleton, Timothy Mahoney ‘1834 1 June – 30 Sept 1835 Gov paid rent of 31 pounds 6 shillings 1 ½ pence for a Catholic School House at Maitland until a School House could be built. Estimated rent for the year 1836, 23 pounds 8 shillings. A school house was to be built at Maitland according to an approved plan, at an estimated cost of 300 pounds. An allowance of 1 halfpenny a day was made to the teacher for each child attending.’ 2 ‘The sum actually paid by the Govt. to Thomas Lynch in 1836 for teaching 32 boys and 30 girls at the Maitland Catholic School, was 20 pounds. His assistant, Mary Ann Lynch received 10 pounds. The rent of the school house actually paid by the Govt. for part of the year 1836 was 17 pounds 11 shillings (Returns of the Colony of NSW, 1836).’ 2 Maitland originally referred to as West Maitland

1835

Governor Bourke requested that boundaries be marked to clarify Maitland, East and West

Parochial district of East Maitland established, within Archdiocese of Sydney

1838

Fr Edmund Mahoney and Fr John Lynch arrive in East Maitland

1839

Parish established in West Maitland

Wooden slab church / school in Plaistowe Street Horseshoe Bend, possibly Lot 11 5 ‘A poor thing it was, but an achievement in the circumstances, filling for the nonce the double role of a church on Sunday and a school during the week. The roof was of bark and the walls of slabs so loosely put together that the openings between had to be plugged with mortar fortified with chunks of wood.’ 7

1856

Land purchased in Victoria Street, foundation stone laid by Fr John Lynch (Dean)

Vision to build two storey brick building boys lower floor, girls upper floor

Primary education boys and girls began at St John the Baptist in Victoria Street, vision of Dean Lynch

1862

Land purchased by Archbishop Polding and Dean Lynch ‘for church and school purposes’ 2

1864 –1866

Sisters of Good Shepherd (Good Samaritan) took charge of the girls’ and infants’ sections, first Superior M. Gertrude Byrne

1866 –1867

Certification issued to West Maitland Roman Catholic Denominational School

Lay staff for interim time, Mrs B Healy and Miss A Healy 4

Dominicans arrived from Ireland invited by Bishop James Murray, eight sisters with Superior Agnes Bourke, establishing First Dominican Foundation in Australia

1867–1984

Dominican sisters, M Scholastica, M Donnellan, initially teaching alongside lay staff M Molloy in girls’ section, M Donnellan in infants’ 6

1869

September St John's Boys school land purchased, backed onto the land in Cathedral Street.

Lot 20 Land purchased adjacent to Boys school – Bishop Murray

1884

Lot 18 Land and cottage purchased –Bishop Murray

1885

First Plenary Council of Australia, principle established ‘If the choice for a local Catholic community was between building a school or a parish church, they should opt for the school – the parish could make do until later.’ 3

1887

Lot 22 Land and cottage purchased adjacent to boys school – Bishop Murray

1892

Enrolment girls 113 infants 115

1908

Enrolment girls 100, infants 105

1910

Further large additions, and reuse of existing areas

1936

Old St John’s school demolished, new eight room block built and opened

1946

Adjoining land purchased from Commercial Banking Company for playing fields, with an army hut relocated from Rutherford Military Camp installed as a school hall ‘Scholastica Hall’

1955

Renovations made following Maitland Floods

1956

Extensions to building, with the former Dominican commercial kitchen, now usable classrooms

1960s

Rigney building demolished, replaced with two storey brick building – assembly hall on ground floor, classrooms on upper 1970s

A number of ‘demountables’ were built to cater for increased enrolments, 9 classrooms now in use

1971

St John's became Kindergarten to Year 6 for both boys and girls

1983

Dominicans resigned from principalship of school

1984

First lay Principal, Mr Max McGinty

1985

Opening of major refurbishments, extensions and car park

1990

Recycled church became school library

2009

Refurbishment of facilities, removal of classrooms

Construction of library, multi-purpose hall, canteen and associated works

Replacement of administration facilities and classrooms, Special Education Centre built

2012

Extensive landscaping, drop off and pick up drive through established

2016

Refurbishment of internal spaces, creating a kindergarten block and addition of disabled facilities

References

1 McGee, C. (2012) The Forgotten Ones: Teachers in the Catholic Schools of NSW before 1880. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

2 Colonial Secretary – letters, RC clergy Mitchell Library Archives box No 4/2270.1 quoted by W.A Wood in article written on 26/5/1964

3 Ryan, M. J. (2006). Religious Education in Catholic Schools: An Introduction to Australian Students. David Lovell Publishing.

4 McGee, C. (2017). People of Faith and Generosity: The Catholic Teachers of New South Wales before 1883. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

5 Port Maitland Allotments The Property of James King 10/1840 National Library of Australia

6 Secretary of Council of Education Correspondence – / Inspector/ Murray/Donnellan 1876 – 1883

7 O’Brien, J. (1975). Men of ’38 and Other Pioneer Priests Lowden Publishing. Wood, W. (26/5/1964) St Joseph’s East Maitland article

Marist Brothers 1898–1984 Commemorative Booklet

The Newcastle and Hunter Valley Historical Society Journal

1985 Vol I No 1

Guildford, E. (2006) ‘Celebrating 150 Years’ St John’s Special Edition Journal 1856–2006

MacGinley, R. (2009). Ancient tradition – new world: Dominican Sisters in eastern Australia 1867–1958. St Pauls Publications.

Maitland Mercury

The Australian 14/12/1832

Maitland ST MARY’S HIGH SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Maitland

Named after Sir George Maitland, Under Secretary for the Colonies Opened

1866

Bishop Murray purchased Albert Street property from protestant clergyman, Rev Colyer for 2,000 pounds

1867

Dominicans arrived from Kingstown, Ireland invited by Bishop James Murray. Eight sisters with Superior Agnes Bourke as Superior, established the First Dominican Foundation in Australia

Dominican convent and chapel built Dominican sisters, M Scholastica, M Donnellan, initially teaching alongside lay staff St John’s Day School M Molloy in girls’ section, M Donnellan in infants’

Dominicans opened in convent, a day school for young ladies

Dominican Convent of St Mary and St Laurence O’Toole, Maitland. The Sisters of this Convent, lately arrived from Ireland have opened, on moderate terms, a Day School for Young ladies, whom they undertake to instruct in the English, French, Italian, and German Languages; History, Geography, and the use of Globes; Writing, Arithmetic, Needlework (plain and ornamental), Music (vocal and instrumental), Drawing, &c., &c. They will also be prepared to take a limited number of Boarders. 1

1868

St Mary’s Boarding School, for secondary students opened in the convent, primary students welcomed in 1871

1869

Two cottages were purchased from the Bishop, in Victoria Street

1870

Long connecting building constructed linking cottages to convent

1871

Two cottages in Victoria Street demolished, new convent built, architect Edward Gell of Bathurst

Enrolments increased, extensive additions completed

1872

Opening of Dominican Church of St Mary and St Laurence O’Toole

1877

Additional storey for original building in Albert Street, high and grand establishment ‘It now had three floors and was high and visible for miles, giving a grand appearance to the establishment and making it one of the finest institutions of its kind in the colonies. This new storey was now available for use as a dormitory for "young lady boarders", who would presumably be delighted by ‘magnificent views of surrounding countryside afforded.’ 2

1878

Three acres of adjoining land purchased, high enclosing wall built

1883

New wing for boarding school built and one year later a school hall

1894

University Class established marking the first breach in segregation of day / scholar classes

1900s

Implementation of three tiered system –primary, secondary and tertiary

1932

Large adjoining building purchased for Novitiate, extending from Victoria to Albert Street

1934

Commercial school opened

1963

Our Lady of Mercy Home Science School at Campbells Hill amalgamated with St Mary’s Maitland

Two Mercy Sisters on staff, along with students following closure of Campbells Hill Mercy Home Science School

1975

St Mary’s Boarding School closed

1989

Newcastle Earthquake resulted in major damage to buildings which took some time for reconstruction

1990

Decision to amalgamate the three Catholic High Schools in the Maitland region

1991

St Mary’s High School closed in its current form

1992

All Saints College formed to include

All Saints College St Mary’s Campus, Maitland, co-educational Years 11 and 12

All Saints College St Peter’s Campus, Maitland, co-educational Years 7 to 10

All Saints College St Joseph’s Campus, Lochinvar, co-educational Years 7 to 10

Maitland ST PETER’S HIGH SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people

Maitland

Named after Sir George Maitland, Under Secretary for the Colonies

Opened 1884

as St John’s Boy School

Preceded by

1838 St John’s Boys School (Parochial)

Known as

1917 St John’s High School

1920 Marist Brothers Maitland

1985 St Peter’s High School

Closed 1991

St John’s Boys School

St John’s Parochial School

Marist Brothers Maitland St Peter’s High School

1838

St John’s Boys School established, lay staff

1839

Parish established in West Maitland

1844

Land purchased in Free Church Street for church

1874

Whole school relocated to Free Church Street called St John’s Parochial school

1884 –1888

Patrician Brothers came to staff the school, residing at Campbells Hill

1898

By invitation of Bishop Murray, 11 Marist Brothers arrived from Sydney – 4 resided at Stockton travelling to staff St Mary’s School Newcastle with remaining 7 brothers residing at Campbells Hill, 3 of whom travelled to staff St John’s Parochial School Maitland. Principal Brother Anthony Rogers

1905

Marist Brothers came to reside in two storey wooden building in Charles, now Cathedral Street

1915

St John’s Boys School registered as Secondary School, fully registered 1917 ‘In 1917, threats to the success of the school occurred from two sources – there was a danger that the brothers may be conscripted for War Service and that the Batchelor Tax would be introduced. Either of these would have prevented the school from continuing because of financial considerations.’ 1

1917–1920

Becoming St John’s High School, Rector Brother William Molloy

1918

Marist Brothers’ High School, new building for the secondary students built and opened

1919

First Leaving Certificate class

Enrolment 166 in primary, 64 secondary students

1920

Gradually became known as Marist Brothers Maitland

1924

Marist Brothers Monastery built in Free Church Street

1936

St John’s school buildings demolished, stage 1 of current building completed

1945

Officially now, Marist Brothers High School Maitland

1952

Old Cathedral remodelled to accommodate four new classrooms for primary

1955

Following Maitland floods, the Old Boys Union became active supporters, enabling the construction of two technical drawing rooms built opposite Bishop’s House (site of original Brothers’ House)

1960

Enrolment 500 students, extra property purchased to ease overcrowding on the playground

1961

Wyndham Scheme introduced, and first lay teachers appointed

1963

Formation of Parents and Friends Association

1964

Extension and new classroom block parallel to Free Church Street, two wings built into main yard

1965

Purchase enabled by Parents and Friends Assoc. of 18 acres of land at Lorn for sporting facilities, Marcellin Park

1970

Last sixth class in St John’s Primary School, thus finishing primary education

The 12 stars above the ‘Ave Maria’or ‘M’ (Hail Mary) represent the 12 tribes of Israel or the 12 apostles.

1970 or 1975

Four cottages purchased in Free Church Street, used for remedial teaching and staff accommodation

1970s

Library and science wings built linking school with old cathedral. Area underneath becoming 5 new classrooms and 3 rooms used for study, art and sport

1971

Senior co-education began when St Mary’s High School girls came to complete years 11 and 12

1971–1984

Dominican sisters joined the staff, M Diana Mary Maher, M Lucy Davey

1984

Marist Brothers administration ended

1985

School renamed St Peter’s High School, staffed by lay teachers

First lay Principal, Mr Mark Bailey

1986

Conversion of former Monastery, new staff and administration facilities, allowing the demolition of four houses in Free Church Street

1990

Decision to amalgamate the three Catholic High Schools in the Maitland region

1992

All Saints College formed to include:

All Saints College St Mary’s Campus, Maitland, co-educational Years 11 and 12

All Saints College St Peter’s Campus, Maitland, co-educational Years 7 to 10

All Saints College St Joseph’s Campus, Lochinvar, co-educational Years 7 to 10

Maitland ALL SAINTS' COLLEGE

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Maitland

Named after Sir George Maitland, Under Secretary for the Colonies

Opened 1992

School today St Mary’s Campus years 11 to 12 co-educational

Charism: Dominican

Preceded By: St Mary’s High School (1867–1991)

Location: 16 Grant Street Maitland NSW 2320

School today St Peter’s Campus years 7 to 10 co-educational

Charism: Marist

Preceded by: St John’s Boys School, St Peter’s High School (1838–1991)

Location: 9 Free Church Street Maitland NSW 2320

Motto: You Are Christ

School Opened Staff Years

All Saints’ College

St Mary’s MCampus

St Peter’s Maitland

1990

Decision to amalgamate the three Catholic High Schools in the Maitland region

1992

All Saints College formed to include

All Saints College St Mary’s Campus, Maitland, co-educational Years 11 and 12

All Saints College St Peter’s Campus, Maitland, co-educational Years 7 to 10

All Saints College St Joseph’s Campus, Lochinvar, co-educational Years 7 to 10

MARY’S CAMPUS

2003

Technical & Applied Science block, art room, general classrooms, student facilities with linking walkways

2005

Several ‘demountable’ classrooms replaced with new buildings

2007

Lift installed

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, shade structure, external and internal works

Construction of trade training centre

2013

Hospitality teaching facility completed

ST PETER’S CAMPUS

2008

Stage 1– Construction of library and refurbishment of science laboratories

2009

Construction and furnishing of Trade Training Centre

2011

Stage 2 – Construction and refurbishment of music, technological facilities, administration, staff facilities and classrooms

2018

St Joseph’s Lochinvar left All Saints College structure to become St Joseph’s College Years 7 to 12

5

2

East Maitland

ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people

Maitland

Named after Sir George Maitland, Under Secretary for the Colonies

Opened 1885

Preceded by 1834 School in Chapel

1838 School in Church

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Mercy

Motto: Together with Christ

Location: 55 King Street East Maitland NSW 2323

Parish: East Maitland

Office Sydney.

1829

Surveyor General Mitchell’s original plan marks site for Roman Catholic chapel, opposite gallows erected on Stockade Hill

1832

Confusion in terminology noted for Maitland

1834

Chapel constructed on the site, original stone building completed 1896, demolished 1933

Foundation stone laid for St Joseph’s Church by Fr Therry

1835

Governor Bourke requested that boundaries be marked, East and West determined

Parochial district of East Maitland established, within Archdiocese of Sydney

1838

Fr Edmund Mahoney and Fr John Lynch arrive in East Maitland

Title deeds for four acres issued to Trustees of the Catholic chapel, presbytery and School by Governor Richard Bourke 1

‘Bartholomew Hoare began a school in St Joseph’s Church East Maitland with the backing of Fr Christopher Dowling.’ –Catholic Denominational School 2

1840

‘Patrick Reilly bequeathed 4 acres of land for a Catholic school in East Maitland.’ 3 Land not used

1882

East Maitland parishioners held a meeting to raise funds for sisters’ residence, collected 308 pounds

1885

Sisters of Mercy, first sisters M Evangelist O’Connell, M Josephine McCormack, M Baptist McDonnell

East Maitland Mercy convent established, ‘Select School’ opened

St Joseph’s school opened in brick church building as a primary school

1896

St Joseph’s School completed, blessed and opened Bishop Dwyer, cost 200 pounds 4

1905

New school opened in rooms attached to convent

1925

Extensions to the school opened

1934

New church St Joseph’s opened, ‘grand brick structure to cope with the increasing population’, architect Mr Peter Gannon, stonemason J.J. Edstein

1957

New primary school built and opened

1967

Mercy ‘Villa Maria’ caring for unwed mothers established opposite convent, incorporating a pre-kinder school

1969

Upon closure of St Francis Xavier’s Morpeth, students accommodated here

1970

St Joseph’s now primary school for the district Years 3–6

1979

Therry Centre opened ‘Great activity preceded the opening day. Working bees every Saturday morning saw large numbers of men hard at the landscaping and gardens.’ 5

1982

Library housed in a ‘demountable’ building

1986

Further ‘demountable’ classroom added

1991

First lay Principal, Mrs Maureen May Taylor

1999

Convent building refurbished, now used by the school for a variety of purposes

St Joseph’s had become a primary school only, Years 3–6

Decision made to bring three schools together on one site

2002

East Maitland – St Joseph’s Primary School as central school opened 29 April, Kindergarten to Year 6

Upon closure of St Vincent’s Eastville students accommodated here (opened 1961, becoming Infants 1970 )

Upon closure of St Mary’s Tenambit students accommodated here (opened 1965, becoming Infants 1970)

Extensive building program, library, classrooms and canteen

Refurbishment of historic old convent

building for staff and administration facilities, library

Lift installed, library extended, classroom refurbishment and playground improvements

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities external and internal, security fence, Information technology equipment and infrastructure

Refurbishment of school buildings and library

On Sunday afternoon the ceremony of opening and blessing St Joseph’s new Convent of East Maitland was performed by the right Rev Dr Murray in the presence of a large congregation. The new building which was designed by Mr J W Pender architect is situate in King street [sic] in close proximity to St Joseph’s church and school room.

Maitland Mercury, 14 April 1885

Morpeth ST FRANCIS XAVIER'S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Morpeth

Named after a town in Northumberland, near Newcastle on Tyne, England. Also known as Greenhills, early estate of Edward Close

Opened 1883

Preceded by

1842 Denominational School Morpeth 1880s Denominational School Boxtree

Known as 1861 St Bede’s, 1883 St Francis Xavier Primary School

Closed 1869

Location

Princess Street Morpeth NSW 2321

Within the Archdiocese of Sydney, administered from East Maitland parish

1836

James Street wooden chapel erected

1841

Land purchased for church and school in Hunter Street Hinton, sold in 1973

1800s –1885

Boxtree Catholic Denominational School operated with lay staff, teacher Miss Joanna Carey

1842

Catholic Denominational School, wooden chapel in James Street with lay staff, first lay teacher John Dwyer ‘Government aid was a key factor in establishing a Catholic Denominational School in Morpeth in 1841, with John Dwyer as Master. It was also the withdrawal of Government aid that was responsible for its demise.’ 1

1847

Parish of East Maitland transferred to Diocese of Maitland

1854

Enrolment 129 students

1861

Land given by Edward Close, Lot 2 bounded by George, James, Duke and Princess streets

Foundation stone laid for St Bede’s ‘temporary church and school house’ 1

St Bede’s School opened

1875

Parochial district of Morpeth established

1882

‘Work Mistress at Morpeth RC Denominational school resigns to enter the married state. Honora Hawley applies for the position vacated by her sister, Julia. Appointment recommended till 31/12/1882 when school will cease to receive state support.’ 2

1883

Morpeth Mercy convent established

Sisters of Mercy arrived to staff school, first sister M Aloysius O’Driscoll

1883 –1898

St Bede’s church and school, continuing as St Francis Xavier Primary School c1890 Weatherboard building in school grounds, known as the ‘Guild Hall’ used as ‘select’ school, closed c1905

1898

Parish church Immaculate Conception opened, allowing school exclusive use of St Bede’s church buildings

1923

Enrolment 110 students

1969

St Francis Xavier Primary classes closed, children then travelled on the bus to St Joseph’s East Maitland

St Bede’s used as church hall

1970

St Francis Xavier Infants classes closed, children travelled on the bus to St Mary’s Tenambit

1980

Mercy Convent closed

1994

St Bede’s church property sold for private residence

Eastville ST VINCENT’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Eastville

Named being located east of the village of East Maitland

Opened 1961

School

Kindergarten to Year 6

Closed 2002

Location

Fieldsend Street East Maitland NSW 2323

1835

Parochial district of East Maitland established

1885

St Joseph’s school East Maitland opened as a full primary school

1960

New church / school built at Eastville, St Vincent de Paul

1961

St Vincent’s School opened Kindergarten to Year 6

First Mercy sister arrived to staff the school, Gemma Riley travelling from East Maitland convent

1970

Became infants school, with primary students accommodated at St Joseph’s East Maitland

1979

Mercy administration ended

1980

First lay Principal, Miss Kathy Gracz

1999

Decision made to bring three schools together onto one site

2002

Tenambit and Eastville schools closed, students accommodated at St Joseph’s East Maitland now K–6

References

Tenambit ST

MARY’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Tenambit

Aboriginal name for ‘ the eastern point of a sharp bend in the river’

Opened 1964

School

Opened as Kindergarten to Year 3, 1970 Infants

Closed 2002 Location

Tenambit NSW 2323

1835

Parochial district of East Maitland established

1885

East Maitland – St Joseph’s school opened as a full primary school, becoming Year 3–6

1964

Sisters of Mercy opened St Mary’s school at Tenambit ‘The new school is situated on four acres of land which was formerly known as Bell’s hatchery. Very Rev. Father G.P. Youll purchased the property over 12 months ago as part of St Joseph’s Parish, East Maitland expansion.’ ¹

Large house and sturdy buildings on the property converted into school and mass centre

Opened as Kindergarten to Year 3

1965

Two sisters of Mercy travelled from East Maitland convent

St Mary’s opened Kindergarten to Year 3, becoming Infants in 1970

First Principal, M Laboure Gannon

Enrolment 52 students

1970

New school built and opened for Infants

1982

Mercy administration ended

1983

First lay Principal, Miss Kathryn Russell

1999

Decision made to bring three schools together onto one site at East Maitland

2002

Tenambit and Eastville schools closed, students accommodated in St Joseph’s East Maitland now K–6

Campbells Hill SACRED HEART COLLEGE

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Campbells Hill

Named after a settler Patrick Frederick Campbell

Opened 1875

School

1878

1870 –1875

Residency of the Maitland clergy

1875

Sacred Heart College had its beginnings in small apartment next to St John’s Cathedral Maitland, continued in new school building in Free Church Street

Sacred Heart College re-established at Campbell’s Hill with a vision to become a Diocesan Seminary for Boys

1878

Opening and blessing of College taking in boys, both day students and boarders, vision ‘to prepare boys for higher learning’–university or seminary

Presidency by Diocesan priests, Rector Fr Michael Matthews, staffed by lay teachers including J M Canty

1883

Patrician Brothers arrived from Ireland, established their first Foundation in Australia

1884

Patrician Brothers staffed the St John’s Boys School Maitland, first brothers Dominick O’Neil and Fintan O’Neil

‘towards the end’ Bishop Murray gave College administration to Patricians, enrolment 20 day students, no boarders

1888

Patrician Brothers departed ‘… there is evidence of Bishop Murray’s dissatisfaction with the competence of the Brothers, and the beginnings of clerical interference in the schools’ ¹

1889

Diocesan priests, Rector Fr Patrick Vincent Dwyer

1891

‘Enrolment 54 students, 25 boarders and 29 day-boys’ ²

1897

Classes for University Entrance Examinations conducted by Mr Morgan O’Meara, graduate Melbourne University

1898

By invitation of Bishop Murray, 11 Marist Brothers arrived from Sydney – 4 resided at Stockton travelling to staff St Mary’s School Newcastle with remaining 7 brothers residing at Campbells Hill, 3 of whom travelled to staff St John’s Parochial School Maitland, 2 staffed College at Campbell’s Hill

Marist Director Br Gonzaga Brown

1899

Enrolment – 18 boarders and 37 dayboys

1904

Marist Brothers left Campbell’s Hill, residing in 2 storey wooden building Charles St, now Cathedral St Maitland

1905

Sacred Heart College closed

‘Polding’s “pet educational establishments, Subiaco and Lyndhurst [Sydney], decayed rapidly in the 1860’s [sic]. This was as a result of strenuous and successful efforts to attract Sydney children to boarding schools at Maitland and Bathurst”. … They established schools to draw away Polding’s pupils.’

‘Other writers however have given different reasons for the closure. Bishop Dwyer at the Distribution of Prizes at St John’s in 1916 “blamed the lack of parental interest for the failure of Sacred Heart College.’ ³

1908

Letter written by Brother Victor then Marist Provincial, to Bishop P.V Dwyer then Coadjutor Bishop ¹

‘I am pleased to notice that Your Lordship does not hold me responsible for the closing of the College nor for the discontinuance of the Secondary Classes in the Day School. Your Lordship will remember that our engagement regarding the first had expired while the encouragement accorded to the second did not warrant its continuance.’

1924

Marist Brothers monastery built in Free Church Street, Maitland

1973 –1982

College buildings used for Edmund Gleeson House of Studies

Campbells Hill SACRED HEART PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Campbells Hill

Named after a settler Patrick Frederick Campbell

Opened 1909 School

Primary school for boys and girls (1909–1971)

Sacred Heart Infants School (1972–1980)

Closed 1980

Location

New England Highway Campbells Hill NSW 2320

1909

School opened with 27 students (boys and girls) from the local area

1909

Sisters of Mercy arrived, M Borgia, M Anthony, M Evangelist, M Mechtilde and M Dymphna

Sisters of Mercy travelled each day from East Maitland

Fr. O’Gorman drove the Sisters over in his buggy on the first day of school, which opened with twenty-seven children, both boys and girls; present also were Bishop Dwyer and the Cathedral administrator Monsignor V Peters ¹

Bishop Dwyer said the opening prayer in the school that had no desks, no blackboard, no equipment – just a bare room, the teachers and the taught. 2

1910

May 23 Bishop Dwyer opened and blessed Bishop Murray Memorial Home for Girls

1919

90 orphans and 79 day pupils enrolled at the Sacred Heart School

1940s

Boys in Third to Sixth Classes attended the Marist Brothers Primary School, Maitland

1971

Primary classes closed, pupils transferred to St Paul’s Rutherford

1972

Monte Pio Orphanage in process of closure

1972

School conducted as an Infants School

1977

Mercy administration ended

1978

First Lay Principal Miss Heather Tully

1980

After Easter, the Infants School closed –pupils transferred to St Paul’s

1980s

Buildings converted to provide a Conference Centre

School

Sacred Heart Primary 1909 1980 Mercies 71

References

1 Kelly, C. (1997) A Journey Through Light and Shadow: Sisters of Mercy Singleton 1875–1995. Hamilton NSW.

2 Campbell, H. (1966). The Diocese of Maitland, 1866–1966. Dimmock Press

Campbells Hill OUR LADY OF MERCY HOME SCIENCE SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Campbells Hill

Named after a settler Patrick Frederick Campbell

Opened 1953

1870 –1875

Residency of the Maitland clergy

1898

Arrival and residency of seven Marist Brothers, three travelling to St John’s Parochial School Maitland

1905

Marist Brothers left Campbell’s Hill, residing in Maitland

1909

Campbells Hill Primary School opened, ‘attended by local and orphanage pupils.’

1910 – 1972

Bishop Murray Memorial Home for Girls, birth – 16 years

1910

Sisters of Mercy, staff of Orphanage ‘Although Bishop Dwyer claimed in 1915 that the girls received a good education, most orphanage children were trained only for rural and domestic work. Even as late as 1951, a Government officer commented that most of the Monte Pio girls were considered more suitable for domestic than commercial work. School-age children attended the Campbell’s Hill primary school attached to the orphanage complex. Thereafter, they worked in the laundry or in other areas of the institution. In 1953, Our Lady of Mercy Home Science School was opened in the complex and girls had access to formal secondary education.’ ¹

1953

Our Lady of Mercy Home Science High School for Girls was established with ten students from Sacred Heart Primary School and fifteen girls from Orphanage Sisters of Mercy, Principal Sr M Jude Murray

1962

School closed due to the requirements of the Wyndham Scheme

Upon closure, students were accommodated at St Columba’s Adamstown and St Mary’s Maitland, along with two sisters joining the staff

Campbells Hill BISHOP MURRAY MEMORIAL HOME FOR GIRLS

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Campbells Hill

Named after a settler Patrick Frederick Campbell

Opened 1910

School

Orphanage for girls

Known as

Monte Pio Orphanage Also opened

1909

Fr Victor Peters ‘began planning for the orphanage.’

Campbells Hill Primary School opened ‘attended by both local and orphanage girls.’

1910

Monte Pio Mercy convent established, orphanage opened, 20 girls transferred from Singleton orphanage

Large brick building of two storeys, dormitory with thirty beds, also a chapel

1912

In residence 56 girls, 1917 in residence 92 girls

1924

In residence 64 girls

1926

Government assistance assured from State Child Endowment provisions

1936

Major extensions

End of 1930s Orphanage licensed to admit 94 girls, 20 under the age of 7 years

1942

Government assistance transferred to Commonwealth

Boys from Mayfield orphanage moved here, vacating premises for Army personnel, moved and returned at the end of the war

1945

Major building project commenced

Following the end of WW2, approved to take in twenty British migrant children, none arrived

1949

Sisters billeted flood evacuees from lower areas of Maitland

1950s

Additions and renovations

1956

United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child saw a change in focus for management of orphanages

Orphanage Licence reduced to accommodate 76 girls

1950 – 60

Renewed criticism from child welfare professionals

1960s

Government inspection of NSW children’s institutions became much more detailed

Men’s Committee formed attempting to comply with costly conversion to family type accommodation

Old weatherboard building, eventually renovated for use by the girls

1961

Catholic Family Welfare Bureau established in Hamilton, assumed responsibility for admissions

1967

Policy adopted in favour of scattered cottage homes staffed by married couples

1970s

Financial support available to assist families in crisis

1971

First group homes opened in Adamstown

1972

In residence 22 girls

1973

Remaining girls transferred to cottage home, former convent of Mercy Adamstown

May 7 Orphanage was formally closed, ending almost a century of segregated orphanage provision

1986

Country Comfort – Monte Pio Court and Conference Centre development 2020

‘Although Bishop Dwyer claimed in 1915 that the girls received a good education, most orphanage children were trained only for rural and domestic work. Even as late as 1951, a Government officer commented that most of the Monte Pio girls were considered more suitable for domestic than commercial work. School-age children attended the Campbell’s Hill primary school attached to the orphanage complex. Thereafter, they worked in the laundry or in other areas of the institution. In 1953, Our Lady of Mercy Home Science School was opened in the complex and girls had access to formal secondary education.’

Lochinvar ST PATRICK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Lochinvar

Named after a Loch in Southern Scotland

Opened 1883

Preceded by

1842 Denominational School

Known as

1884 – 1983 St Joseph’s Primary School

1884 St Patrick’s Primary School

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Grow by God’s Gifts

Location: 65 New England Highway Lochinvar NSW 2321

Parish: Lochinvar

School Opened Staff Years

Denominational St Patrick’s 1842 1883 1996 Lay Teachers Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers 41 113 25

References

1 Freemans Journal 08/12/1883

2 Maitland Mercury 29/11/1866

3 Dunlop, R. (2016). Planted in Congenial Soil: The Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar 1883–1917 Lochinvar NSW.

4 Dilley, V. (1984) History of St Patrick’s Primary School, Lochinvar Cavanagh, A. (2013) The Lochinvar Story

McGee, C. (2012) The Forgotten Beginnings of Catholic Education in New South Wales. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

1841

Slab and shingle church / school built by Dean Lynch

1842

Catholic Denominational School opened, first teacher Thomas Ashton, later Miss Murray

1847

Originally within the Parish of West Maitland

1850

Land for church donated by Thomas Winder, currently church and cemetery Gregory Street site ‘In 1851 he gave a block of his land to each of the denominations then in the locality: blocks of four acres to Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian and Wesleyan faiths.’ 3

1858

New Catholic Church opened as gothic style wooden building able to accommodate 300 people

1863

Denominational School in local Catholic church on Winder land

1865

Original church / school completely destroyed by fierce wind storm, teacher T Ashton had just dismissed students

1866

New brick church St Patrick’s erected and opened by Bishop James Murray, his first since arrival in the Diocese

‘A large congregation had assembled outside the church, and the children of the Roman Catholic Denominational School (the girls prettily arrayed in white) were arranged in two lines, through which the clerical party passed.’ 1

1883

Enrolment 80 students

First Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived in Lochinvar, from 1872 Foundation at Perthville, Bathurst

Lochinvar Foundation sisters, M Ambrose Dirkin, M Baptist Dugan, M Imelda Flood, M Aloysius Cahill

Sisters began teaching in a building adjacent to convent, New England Highway site, taking in boarders ‘Lochinvar. The school at this very important little township is being conducted by Miss Murray, an excellent trained teacher, who so far has been very successful. From the spirit shown here during the last few years by the

Catholics in this place, it would not be a surprise if a convent for the Sisters of St Joseph would shortly be an accomplished fact.’ 2

1884

Classes resumed in St Patrick’s church School renamed St Joseph’s

1900

Wooden school built on western boundary of convent grounds, New England Highway site

1905

Parochial district of Lochinvar established

1908

Enrolment 80 students, while St Joseph’s was a parish school, primary boarders were also included

1911

One storey brick school built for primary, later used for expanding secondary school

1971–1972

Extensions for primary section, five classrooms, staffroom and small library

1983

Construction began for a new primary school ‘Its numbers often supplemented by primary boarders, then after the closure of Largs by pupils from Largs and Bolwarra, and for a few years from Rutherford, with the development of Lochinvar in the last few years as a residential area, permission was given to build a new primary school.’ 4

1984

School officially opened as St Patrick’s on St Patrick’s Day 17 March as parish school, now on parish land Gregory Street adjacent to St Patrick’s church

1996

First lay Principal, Mr Chris Quinn

2002

Construction of canteen, withdrawal area and extensions to hall

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal, upgrade of electrical reticulation

Construction of multi-purpose hall and classrooms

2016 –2018

Major building works began and completed – new administration and staff facilities, contemporary learning spaces and modern learning hub

Lochinvar ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Lochinvar

Named after a Loch in Southern Scotland

Opened 1883

as school with boarding facilities

Preceded by

1842 Denominational School

1883 St Joseph’s Primary School

School today years 7 to 12 co-educational

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Strength in Difficulties

Location: New England Highway Lochinvar NSW 2321

Parish: Lochinvar

References

1 History of Land and Buildings Associated with Sisters of St Joseph

2 History of the Sisters of St Joseph of Lochinvar 1883–1965

Dunlop, R. (2016). Planted in Congenial Soil: The Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar 1883–1917. Lochinvar NSW. Cavanagh, A. (2013) The Lochinvar Story

1847

Originally within the Parish of West Maitland

1883

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived in Lochinvar by invitation of Bishop Murray, travelling from Perthville Bathurst

First Sisters, M Ambrose Dirkin, M Baptist Dugan, M Imelda Flood, M Aloysius Cahill opened school with boarding facilities

1893

Convent built, architect Menkens. Old convent vacated and used for increasing number of boarders

1900

Wooden school built ‘The first separate school was built by the parish (Fr McCormack in charge) at western boundary of convent grounds (part of Doyle estate).’ ¹

1905

Parochial district of Lochinvar established

1911

One storey brick school built, secondary storey added 1933, further extensions made

1913

Secondary classes officially commenced, boarding facilities provided

1921

College fully registered under Bursary Endowment Act

‘The last of Mother Mary Aquin’s great works for the Congregation was the modern new Secondary School which was commenced in 1955 and opened and blessed in 1956 and stands today as a memorial of her industry and far sightedness.’ ²

1966

Addition of Year 10–12 wing

1967

Mount St Joseph’s Secondary School Cessnock closed, students accommodated here

1971–1972

Extensions for primary section, staffroom and library

1975

St Joseph’s College became a Systemic school, under Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1980

Original wooden school demolished for home science room, kiosk became industrial arts room

1983 –1984

Boarding school renovations, primary school relocated over the highway to parish school St Patrick’s

1989

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1990

First lay Principal Mrs Helene Hemphill

1991

St Joseph’s College closed as a girl’s school

1992

Boarding school closed.

Inauguration of All Saints College Junior Campus co-educational Years 7–10, amalgamating with St Mary’s Campus and St Peter’s Campus Maitland

1993

Improvements to buildings, car park, road access, fencing and playing fields

2000

Further improvements to renovate and re use rooms for secondary school

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities

Construction of trade training centre, agriculture and construction

2009 –10

Administration and staff facilities, library, technology facilities and classrooms

2013

Fully refurbished science laboratories and educational resource centre

2018

Re-established as a single entity, St Joseph’s College, Co Educational Years 7–12

Knockfin ST JOSEPH’S

SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnaruai people

Knockfin

Named by Vicars Jacob for his estate of 2,000 acres, after townland in parish of Drumreilly, Ireland

School Primary

Opened 1886 Closed 1900

Luskintyre Road Knockfin NSW 2321

1847

‘On Sunday last his Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Murray blessed and opened a new convent at Knockfin. But where is Knockfin you may ask?

The very question is another tribute to the successful efforts of Dr. Murray to establish convents and schools in the remote and unknown portions of his extensive diocese. Well, a short distance from Lochinvar on the left bank of the winding Hunter is situate this classic spot. Mountain and valley, wild bush and fertile plain are here is pleasing contrast. …’

Maitland Mercury 17/11/1891

Originally within the parish of West Maitland

1872

Provisional school established, becoming a public school

1883

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived to set up a Josephite Foundation at Lochinvar

1886

Catholic School established at Knockfin with 16 students, ‘on the left bank of the winding Hunter’, on opposite side of the road to Provisional School

School opened on land owned by Mr Burgess, enrolment 16 students

served at Knockfin. … While staying at Knockfin, Sr Teresa was frightened when tramps occasionally came to sleep on the verandah. She was sheltered and inexperienced, and her reactions would have been shared by many other Sisters who were sent out to work in branch houses.’ ¹

Sisters travelled by buggy from Lochinvar convent, staying Monday to Friday Many school days were lost because of flooding and impassable tracks ‘Pupils paid school fees in money, or, failing that, in produce; the Sisters would bring any excess over to Lochinvar on the weekends.’ ¹

1891

School Opened Closed Staff Years

St Joseph’s 1886 19000 Diocesan Josephites 14

Sisters of St Joseph, M Evangelist Hyde, M Catherine Barry ‘Sr Teresa Kauter was another who

Convent opened at Knockfin ‘Having a small convent there meant that, if the river rose, school would not have to be cancelled. A subscription was held and donations were so generous that it opened free of debt.’

1900

Knockfin school closed, students relocated to St Joseph’s Primary School Lochinvar

Sometime after … the unused building was relocated to Lochinvar by bullock train, becoming known as ‘The Studio’ Used as Boarders Refectory, later as a Music Room, then Men’s Quarters, finally demolished

1902

‘Sisters still travelled weekly to Knockfin to give Religious instruction to the children, but they now went to the Knockfin State School opposite the site where they had taught.’ ²

References

1 Dunlop, R. (2016). Planted in Congenial Soil: The Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar 1883–1917. Lochinvar NSW

2 Maitland Mercury 17/11/1891

Branxton ST BRIGID’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Branxton

Originally known as Farmborough, then Black Creek. Named after a place in Northumberland, England

Opened 1886

Preceded by

1852–1857 Black Creek Denominational School

Also opened

1898 Select school as secondary

School

Kindergarten to Year 6, 1967 Year 3 – Year 6

Closed 2010

Location

Station Street Branxton NSW 2335

1841

Slab church built at Black Creek

‘At Black Creek there is a wooden chapel roofed and will soon be completed; to cost about 120 pounds. Site given by Mr Bowen, a Protestant, will contain more than 200 persons. … There are two schools in Maitland and one at Black Creek conducted by Mr Hyatt.’ 1

1852 –1857

Denominational school at Black Creek

1879

Parish of Branxton established

1886 –1987

Branxton Mercy convent Our Lady of Lourdes established, infants classes taught on verandah

1886

Mercy school opened in newly built brick church.

Sisters of Mercy arrived with Superior M Kosta Kirby. Five sisters travelled daily to Greta in a hooded buggy which was a gift to the sisters from the Greta and Branxton parishioners.

St Brigid’s School opened at Branxton, on the same day as St Mary’s at Greta.

1888

New Branxton church built allowing school to use buildings

Improvements made of two additional classrooms

1898

‘Select school’ opened to provide secondary education for girls

1908

Enrolment 52 students

1915

Former 1886 church building considerably extended

1916

Renovated church section used for infants classes, new section housed primary classes

1967

Following rationalisation of small schools, former school building demolished

New primary school opened ‘The new brick veneer school tones in well with the older church. … A large band of parishioners were present at the ceremony and members of the local church organisations formed a guard of honour for the Bishop’ 2

St Brigid’s became primary, St Mary’s at Greta became infants

1977

Mercy Administration ended

1978

First lay Principal, Mr Walter Pleasant

1987

Branxton convent closed

2011

St Brigid’s Primary and St Mary’s Greta closed, Rosary Park Catholic School replacing them

Greta ST MARY’S SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Greta

Thought to be named after a small river in England. Named when town was surveyed in 1842.

School

Kindergarten to Year 2

Opened

1879

Parish of Branxton established ‘The township of Greta has long been subject to the rule of King Coal. Its population, the wealth or poverty of its inhabitants and even the number of houses have varied markedly as the numerous pits were opened, closed or were shut down by strike, lock-out or fire.’ ¹

1882

St Mary’s Church opened

1886

Five Sisters of Mercy resided in Branxton convent, three travelling daily in buggy to Greta

Hooded buggy was a gift to the sisters from the Greta and Branxton parishioners

Wooden church building used also as school, St Mary’s Kindergarten to Year 6, enrolment 55 students

St Brigid’s School Branxton opened, Kindergarten to Year 6, both schools opened on the same day

1892

‘104 students enrolled, 54 Catholics and 50 non-Catholics’ ¹

1900

School moved from church into a separate and new building, used also as community hall

1900

‘November Greta Colliery disaster – Fire forced the closure of the mine. Five miners were entombed when the colliery was sealed.’ ² East Great Colliery re opened after 23 years.

1950 –1960

Greta Migrant Camp School established and staffed by Sisters of St Joseph travelling daily from Lochinvar convent.

1953

Principal M Evangelist McBride

1955

New building opened 24 April, three classrooms

1960

With closure of Migrant Camp and school, peoples of many nationalities settled in Greta and Branxton

One building was purchased from Greta Migrant Camp for school use

1962

New brick veneer church of St Catherine’s opened

1963

Parochial district of Greta established

1967

New primary school opened at Branxton School parish rationalisation – St Mary’s at Greta became infants, St Brigid’s at Branxton became primary

1980

Old Ford bus painted and installed in playground for shade, supported by teacher Catherine Bridge ‘This was done so as the children had shade to eat their lunch. Cath spent many hours painting the outside with cartoon characters. For anyone who attended St Mary’s during this time, the bus was iconic.’ ³

1982

2000

Amalgamation of infant and primary school discussed

2007–2008

Play equipment installed

2010

2011

1

Glendonbrook ST JOSEPH’S

PRIMARY

SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people

Glendon

Named after ‘Glendon’ home of Scott brothers Robert and Helenus, on 1822 Land Grants, East of Singleton

Preceded by 1871 Provisional School

Opened 1900 School

Kindergarten to Year 6

1870

Parish of Branxton established

1871

Provisional school opened in church school at John Boyce’s Glendonbrook

1883

On 19 Oct John Boyce gave one acre of his 1,000 acres on Webbers Creek to the Catholic church for a church / school

1889

St Paul’s weatherboard church opened

1900

Convent built

School opened 5 February

‘The new buildings were erected either side of the existing Church.’ 1

‘There was a playground for the game of rounders and a cricket pitch for the boys.’ 1

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph ‘The local community had taken donations, and held sports and exhibition days to raise money for the Sisters to come. The Bishop had visited on 30 December 1899, and when he returned to bless the new buildings at the start of February in 1900, the Sisters of St Joseph came too.’ 1

First sisters, M Eugene McInerney, M Vincent Webber, M Paul Bourke ‘… the Glendonbrook people valued and supported them – with food, practical assistance and through fund raising events. Indeed, when they first arrived and were greeted by local ladies ’young and old’, the Sisters were presented with generous gifts: the shelves in the new pantry are literally groaning under the weight of the several presents, reported the Catholic Press.’ 2

School opened in one room, enrolment 42 students

1908

Enrolment 37 students

1920

Enrolment 12 students

School and convent closed, school building moved to Mitchell’s Flat, convent building used by parish

Nulkaba ST PATRICKS PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Nulkaba

Aboriginal word meaning ‘place of iron stone’

School

Primary

Opened 1887

Also opened

1906 Mount St Joseph’s High School Cessnock

1937 St Joseph’s School Bellbird

Closed 1937

Location

Wine Country Drive Nulkaba NSW 2320 (1927 renamed Pokolbin)

1886

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived, M Stanislaus Tobin, M Francis McNamara, M Xavier McInerney

Sisters lived in a rented cottage opposite St Patrick’s Church, prepared for opening of school

1887

Catholic school opened in St Patrick’s church / school with 16 students on Allandale Road

‘St Patrick’s, of pit-sawn slabs, with a shingle roof, was about thirty feet by twenty and rested on long sleepers (12” x 12”) laid on the ground.’ ²

1889

New convent built

1893

School Opened Closed Staff Years

St Patricks 1887 1937 Diocesan Josephites 51

References

1 Maitland Mercury 6/5/1893

2 Bloomfield, W. A.G. (1954) Cessnock 1826–1954 Centenary of 100 Years of Service in Cessnock Sisters of St Joseph 1986

New church built, allowing exclusive school use of church/school building, opening as St Patrick’s School ‘On last Friday afternoon our little township, usually so quiet, was all astir, and buggies and horsemen could be

seen coming from all directions, the centre of attraction being St Patrick’s Schoolroom, where a grand musical and entertainment was to be given by the pupils of St Joseph’s Convent assisted by several local amateurs.’ ¹

‘The number of pupils at this first school was never very large. By 1900, there were only 33 on the roll; in 1915 there were 11.’ ²

1905

Parochial district of Cessnock established

1906

St Joseph’s South Cessnock opened in Millfield Street Cessnock, beginning a flow of population to the area

1908

Enrolment 27 students, numbers at St Patrick’s decreased with the opening of St Joseph’s Cessnock

1909

Additions made to convent to accommodate boy boarders

1924

Enrolment 58 students

1929

The Lock Out from the mines saw dismissal of 8,500 miners, then followed the Depression years

1937

School and convent relocated from Nulkaba to St Patrick’s Wollombi Road, Cessnock

Nulkaba School Sisters of St Joseph, M Patrick and M Raphael transferring to St Patrick’s Cessnock

Cessnock

ST JOSEPH’S SCHOOL | MOUNT ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Cessnock

Named after an 1826 Land Grant, Cessnock Estate, owned by J. Campbell. Attributed to Robert Burns’ poem ‘On Cessnock Plains’

School

1906 – 1958 Kindergarten to Year 6 1959 – 1966 Kindergarten to Year 2

Opened

Millfield Street, Cessnock, NSW 2325

1886

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph opened convent at Nulkaba

1887

Catholic school opened in St Patrick’s church / school with 16 students on Allandale Road, Nulkaba

1905

Parochial district of Cessnock established

1906

15 July – Bishop Murray blessed and opened the Cessnock church/school of St Joseph’s, Church Hill, Cessnock.

‘The Hall was 50ft by 20ft and originally built for £120 in Abermain. Owing to the tide of population flowing towards Cessnock, it was necessary to follow the flock, hence the removal of the church to present site, which commanded a grand panoramic view of the pits, also Ellalong, Wollombi, Mt. View, and the Branxton Ranges. Now the Church was lined, ceiled, and furnished for school purposes. The expense incurred in removal and furnishing would cost about £100. Dr Murray, by consenting to its removal, and sending Sisters to teach therein, had conferred a great favor upon the Cessnock people. The site was given gratis by Mr. O’Hara, of Tighe’s Hill. This generous

donation was an object-lesson for the people present, and he hoped they would come forward and do likewise ’

Sisters of St Joseph, M Magdalen Brimstone, M Aquin Leehy, M Dorothea Kealy ‘Sisters travelled in Joe Doyle’s horse drawn bus from the Nulkaba convent to teach there each day.’ ²

1908

Enrolment 108 students

1921

Parcel of land purchased on Bridge’s Hill for convent, hall, presbytery and St Joseph’s Church

1921

The former Bridge residence, renovated and enlarged, opened as convent for Sisters of St Joseph ³

1924

Enrolment 300 students

1929

Lock Out from the mines saw dismissal of 8,500 miners, then followed years of The Depression

1935

The Department of Education condemned the Old St Joseph’s School in High Street

May – Foundation stone for new school was laid on Convent (Bridges) Hill.

November – Opening and blessing of new brick school with six classrooms, one of which was an enclosed section on the end of a verandah. The school-hall demolished

Name change to Mount St Joseph’s Primary School

1958

Last year of the Primary Final at St Joseph’s. All Primary classes transferred to St Patrick’s in Wollombi Rd

1959

New Infant’s building to accommodate Infants Classes

1966

School closed – Infants classes transferred to St Patrick’s, in Wollombi Road

Cessnock

MOUNT ST JOSEPH’S HIGH SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Cessnock

Named after an 1826 Land Grant, Cessnock Estate, owned by J. Campbell. Attributed to Robert Burns’ poem ‘On Cessnock Plains’

Preceded by

St Joseph’s School, South Cessnock

School

First Year to Leaving Certificate

Opened 1930

Closed 1967

Location

Millfield Street Cessnock NSW 2325

1931

‘Mount St Joseph’s Convent School, Cessnock Students sat for exams in connection with Newton Rapid Business College. Students secured passes in Intermediate Book-keeping, Junior Bookkeeping and Junior Shorthand.’ 2

1936

Land purchased in Wollombi Road

1958

First and second year classes moved to St Patrick’s Primary School, now on Wollombi Road, Cessnock

1959

Junior Secondary School finally established at Mount St Joseph

1967

Enrolment 97 girls

Announcement made to close at end of 1967 school year

June 11, Father Dilley, Director of Catholic Education addressed the people of Cessnock about the Maitland Schools Board recommendation that the school should close at the end of the year.

July, Father Dilley met with Cessnock community to announce the final decision that school would close. Cessnock girls would transfer to St Joseph’s Lochinvar, Kurri Kurri girls would transfer to St Mary’s Maitland. 3

Mount St Joseph’s Secondary School closed.

1968

Convent closed. School buildings moved to St Paul’s Primary School, Gateshead.

Cessnock ST PATRICK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Cessnock

Named after an 1826 Land Grant, Cessnock Estate, owned by J. Campbell. Attributed to Robert Burns’ poem ‘On Cessnock Plains’

Opened 1937

Preceded by

1887 St Patrick’s originally opened at Nulkaba 1906 First church/school St Joseph’s Church Hill Cessnock

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Loyalty and Virtue

Location: 155 Wollombi Road Cessnock NSW 2325

(originally known as West Cessnock)

Parish: Cessnock

1905

Parochial district of Cessnock established

1906

Site on Church Hill given gratis by Mr O’Hara of Tighe’s Hill, building brought from Abermain, furnished as a school

First church/school opened as St Joseph’s Church Hill Cessnock, bounded by High, Cooper and Regent Streets

Nulkaba school moved to Church Hill original site St Joseph’s, following flow of population

1921

Parcel of land purchased on Bridge’s Hill, becoming convent, hall, presbytery and St Joseph’s Church

‘Father McAuliffe purchased from Abermain for 120 pounds, a hall measuring 50ft x 20ft. He moved it to the High Street site and furnished it as a school at the cost of 100 pounds.’ ¹

1929

The Lock Out from the mines saw dismissal of 8,500 miners, then followed years of The Depression

1935

St Joseph’s school buildings in High Street condemned, foundation for new school laid Bridge’s Hill

1936

The old presbytery relocated from High Street, and with additions, became St Patrick’s convent Cessnock

Land purchased in Wollombi Road, timber in new building sourced from Nulkaba presbytery and Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle

1937

St Patrick’s School opened

Nulkaba School Sisters of St Joseph, M Patrick and M Raphael transferred to St Patrick’s, Wollomi Road Cessnock

School relocated from Nulkaba to St Patrick’s Wollombi Road, Cessnock

1937–1957

St Joseph’s School operating at Bellbird

1958

Bellbird school closed, students accommodated here

1959

Primary pupils from Mount St Joseph’s transferred to St Patrick’s

1966

St Joseph’s School closed and Infant classes transferred to St Patrick’s

1970

New brick school built, then ‘demountables’ added

1980

Diocesan Josephite administration ended First lay Principal, Mr George Jackson

1996

Brick school extended for administration facilities, larger library and refurbished staffroom

2004

Construction and refurbishment of classrooms, staff facilities and library

2007

New wing built

2009

Refurbishment and renovations

Adjoining land of former Josephite Convent acquired for school use

Bellbird ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Bellbird

Presumed named after bird species found in the region

School

Kindergarten to Year 6

Opened 1938

Closed 1958 Location

Crn Ruby and Hetton Streets Bellbird NSW 2325

1923

Bellbird church opened in parochial district of Cessnock

1938

Building became church / school. Built close by expanding Bellbird Colliery

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph travelled from Cessnock convent

First Sister M Helen McLaughlin, M Pius Gallagher

‘In addition, this Community [Cessnock convent] also staffed the small Catholic School erected at Bellbird, adjacent to the Bellbird colliery. This catered for over 80 children and the Sisters, with Sisters Helen and Pius as pioneers, travelled out daily by bus from Wollombi Road. This school operated from 1937 to 1958 when availability of free bus services made St Patrick’s available to Bellbird school children.’

Enrolment 80 students

1940

Weather shed and tuckshop built, converted into classrooms – Kindergarten, Years 1 and 2 in weather shed, Years 4, 5, and 6 in church

1958

Principal, M Joseph Bolger School closed at the end of the year, when free bus services transported children into Cessnock

1958 –1959

Students were accommodated in St Patrick’s now in Wollombi Rd West Cessnock,

1978

Church and school buildings sold to J. Rigby, then demolished

Lots 2 and 4 sold to Basil Millington

1981

Lot 26 sold to Brian Kerwin

On Country

Kurri Kurri HOLY SPIRIT PRIMARY SCHOOL

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Kurri Kurri

Aboriginal name for ‘the very first’ or ‘beginning’

Opened 1908 as St Joseph’s Primary School

Known as St Joseph’s until 1991

School today kindergarten to year 2

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Peace and Justice

Location: Barton Street Kurri Kurri NSW 2327

Parish: Kurri Kurri

‘Each new coal mining operation was soon surrounded by little mining Hamlets and Villages. The N.S.W. State Government in its planning saw to it that the towns of Kurri, Abermain and Aberdare were set up to accommodate the new mining populace in properly laid out areas.’ ¹

1903

Monster land sale in Kurri Kurri, Bishop Dwyer purchased seven allotments in Barton Street ‘The church had taken steps to ensure that, as ‘Coal’ was going to make Kurri a large town, then it had dress circle positions for both the Church and the town of Kurri’s future.’ ¹

1904

Church / school built on Lot 7, section 28 fronting Barton Street.

‘Father T Rogers requested Mr M O’Rourke of West Maitland to prepare plans for a church-hall at Kurri in which a Fortnightly Mass Service’ could be held. … ‘The Church-Hall was a rusticated weatherboard structure with a corrugated iron roof.’ ²

1908

Schools opened in churches at Kurri Kurri and Abermain, both St Joseph’s kindergarten to year 6

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, travelled daily from Nulkaba convent to both Kurri Kurri and Abermain

First sisters, M Vincent Webber and M Sebastian Brimstone

Enrolment 140 students

1909

Convent blessed and opened in Kurri Kurri

1919

Parochial district of Kurri Kurri established

1928

Church / school destroyed by fire, local ambulance hall became school premises for eight months

1929

New brick school completed, used as church / school until 1963

1963

New church built Holy Spirit, allowing school to use building for classrooms and hall

1966

Following rationalisation of parish schools, infants classes at Abermain, primary classes at Kurri Kurri

1972

First lay Principal, Mr George Jackson

New convent built, old convent re sited, renovated to form classrooms, ‘demountable’ added behind convent

1981

Convent renovated, demolished 2005

Construction of new toilet block

1982

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

References

1987

School playground developed across the road

1991

Name change from St Joseph’s to Holy Spirit Primary School, in line with parish name

1996

School building of 1929 renovated and extended

2006

Construction of classrooms, administration facilities and amenities

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal

Refurbishment of library, amenities, external and associated works

Replacement of covered outdoor learning area and associated works

On Country

Abermain HOLY SPIRIT INFANTS SCHOOL

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Abermain

Named after coal mining town in Wales, 1902 Coal Mine opened

Opened 1908

as St Joseph’s Primary School

Known as

1908 St Joseph’s, 1940 St Francis Xavier’s, 1966 St Joseph’s, 1991 Holy Spirit Infants School

School today kindergarten to year 2

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Peace and Justice

Location: Church Street Abermain NSW 2326

Parish: Kurri Kurri

Opened Staff Years

References 1 Delaney, J. (1988) City of Cessnock 1788–1988

‘Each new coal mining operation was soon surrounded by little mining Hamlets and Villages. The N.S.W. State Government in its planning saw to it that the towns of Kurri, Abermain and Aberdare were set up to accommodate the new mining populace in properly laid out areas.’ ¹

1902

Crown Land Auction sale, Mr Rigney purchased 83 acres, selling (possibly giving) one acre to the Catholic Church, transfer of deeds 30 September 1904

1904

Wooden church / hall opened, used as a public school until 1906

‘ … the Government Department of Public instruction immediately leased the building at a rental of fifteen shillings ($1.50) per week for use as a temporary school. The Catholic church retained the right to utilise the Abermain Church-Hall at weekends for Church Services, and other Church purposes. ’ ¹

1908

New Timber church/school opened Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived to staff school – M Marcellus Treacey, M Rita Gallagher, travelling daily by horse drawn bus from Cessnock.

St Joseph Primary Schools opened at both Abermain and Kurri Kurri, enrolment at both 50 students.

1920

Abermain convent opened, sisters had been travelling daily from Nulkaba (Cessnock) convent, then from Kurri

1935

Additions made creating two separate classrooms

1940

Abermain school name changed to St Francis Xavier’s Church School

1952

New wooden school built, four classrooms and administrative office

1966

Rationalisation of parish schools, St Joseph’s Primary at Kurri Kurri, St Joseph’s Infants at Abermain

1979

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1980

First lay Principal, Mrs Josephine Gossage

1991

Name change to Holy Spirit Infants School in line with parish name

1998

Upgrade of school facilities

2004

Construction of administration, staff library classrooms and store

2007

Old wooden school demolished, construction of administration and staff facilities, library and classrooms

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal, canteen and fencing

2010

Refurbishment of multi-purpose hall, student hall and shade structure

Dungog ST

JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Worimi people

Dungog

Aboriginal name for ‘clear hills’

Opened 1888

Preceded by

1864 – 1873 Catholic Denominational School at Clarence Town

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: God is Love

Location: 49 Brown Street Dungog NSW 2420

Parish: Dungog

School Opened Closed Staff Years

Denominational (Clarence Town)

Joseph's 1864

Sisters of St Joseph archives

St Mary’s Dungog 1860–1983 (1983) parish publication McGee, C. (2012) The Forgotten Beginnings of Catholic Education in New South Wales. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

1856

Chapel built in Clarence Town

1860

Parochial district of Dungog established

1863

St Patrick’s Church built in Clarence Town

1864

Catholic Denominational School in church at Clarence Town, closed 30 September 1873

Denominational school lay staff, J.M. McConnell

1870

St Mary’s church built and completed in Dowling Street Dungog

1888

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived to staff school , M Stanislaus Tobin, M Aloysius Cahill, M Agnes Tobin ‘… to get there, the Sisters caught a river boat to Clarencetown, then boarded Fr McAuliffe’s buggy to ride into town.’ 1

1889

Classes held in convent, rented cottage in Dowling Street ‘… the building’s shop front was converted into a school room ready for students.’ 1

‘ However, before many weeks had passed, the verandahs, back and front, were crammed, and there was scarcely standing room.’ 2

1891

New convent built in Brown Street 1892

Enrolment 93 students, former convent rooms used for school

1913

New brick school built and opened

1923

Extensions made to old school room

1952

New Infants School opened Dungog and Gloucester parishes closely connected, managed by the same parish priest

1957

St Joseph’s Brookfield School students accommodated in Dungog

1976

Brookfield school buildings relocated to Dungog, providing additional facilities

Library named Brookfield House Library

1985

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1986

First lay Principal, Mrs Colleen Timoshenko

1997

Covent building used for school administration when Josephite sisters finally vacated

2004

Construction and refurbishment of classrooms and canteen

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal, construction of shade structure

Construction of sports storage area, refurbishment of play areas

Brookfield ST JOSEPH’S SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Brookfield

Originally the estate of Charles Smeathman, origin of name unknown

Opened 1889

School

Kindergarten to Year 6

Closed 1957

Location Main Road (1311 Glen William Road ) Brookfield NSW 2420 References

School Opened Closed Staff Years

St Joseph’s 1889 1957 Diocesan Josephites 68

1888

Dungog convent opened, close ties between Brookfield and Dungog Josephite communities

1889

Brookfield, new convent opened in Main Road

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived 2 Nov ‘The party was met at Clarencetown by Fr McAuliffe and driven by parishioner Mrs Dwyer to the new convent, where the local Catholic community had gathered to welcome them.’ ¹

First Sisters, M Brigid Moy, M Rose Philson, M Agatha Bussell

Part of the convent was used as a schoolroom

‘Church school opened on Monday 4 November with 45 pupils.’ ¹

1892

Newly built commodious schoolroom

1908

Enrolment 43 students

1928

New brick school

1957

Last Principal, Sr M Peter Parrott

School and convent closed, pupils accommodated at St Joseph’s Dungog

1976

School buildings moved to St Joseph’s School Dungog, now called Brookfield House

1981

Convent sold

2011

Former Brookfield convent for sale. ‘Clochare’ a Williams Valley property ²

1 Souvenir of the Silver Jubilee

2 The Newcastle Herald 26/02/2011

Largs ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Largs

Named after a place in Ayrshire Scotland

Preceded by 1868 Denominational School

Known as

Until 1884 St Benedict’s Catholic School

Opened 1889

School

Kindergarten to Year 6 Closed

Cnr John and Church Streets Largs NSW 2320

School Opened Closed Staff Years

Denominational St Joseph's 1868 1889 1968 Lay Teachers Diocesan Josephites 20 79

1835

Parish of East Maitland established

1868

Denominational school, first teacher Miss Frost then Miss Ryan, 1884 Miss Ellen Drinan

School stood on corner block

‘A Tea Party and Ball were held in the new roman Catholic School Room at Largs. Proceeds to go to the new school fund.’ 1

‘The school was established on the “Voluntary Principle.” which meant that the people paid for the building and the teacher’s wage.” 2

1873

“Wooden school building reported to have leaned over 20 degrees in the full force of a storm. It was made straight.’ 3

1880

‘The RC schoolhouse was thoroughly repaired and painted also the teacher’s residence.’ 1

1884

School known as St Benedict’s Catholic School, enrolment 57 students

1889

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph came to staff the school, first sisters M Ursula Barry, M Xavier McInerney, M Claver Comerford, M Rose. The Sisters ‘… were taking over an existing Catholic School, itself more than 25 years old. They lived in several rooms attached to the Church.’ 1

1892

Trustees for the Catholic Church purchased blocks 1, 2 and 15

1893

Brick convent built, neat four bedroom cottage and chapel

1899

Convent was a small cottage adjoining the school

Sisters continued to teach in the church

1909

Enrolments, peak year for students 74, lowest 27 in 1924

1910

Church of the Holy Family built

1930

New school built and opened

1968

Last sisters, M Marcella Bambach, M Ursula Barry, M Imelda

1969

Convent closed becoming residence of Fr Gleeson

2005

Convent offered for sale after extensive renovations by Nationwide Hunter Valley

Greta Migrant Camp CATHOLIC SCHOOL

‘Greta Migrant Camp is the only Immigration Centre in Australia to have a Catholic School. It functions, yes, but the difficulties are legion. The most staff that, as yet, can be provided, is four teaching Sisters – the most accommodation that can be provided is one Camp Chapel with partitions that are far from sound-proof, and the most children that can be taken in (and are being taught) are about 200.’

1950 Catholic Migrant Camp School, Greta

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Greta

Thought to be named after a small river in England, named when town surveyed in 1842

School

Kindergarten to Year 6

Parish of Branxton established

1939

First wooden barracks built for Army Camp ‘On 7 November 1939, the Department [of Defence] began surveys to determine the boundaries, valuations and owners of the land in question. The main area that the camp eventually occupied was the large triangle of land bounded on the east by the Great Northern Railway, on the west by Camp Road and on the south by Allandale Road. The camp buildings were to be located at the northern or Greta end of this triangle and it was this decision that saw the name of the camp altered in popular parlance from Allandale to Greta.’ ¹

1950

Greta Army Camp reused as Greta Migrant Camp at end of war by Department of Immigration

Greta Migrant Camp School established, also known as St Anthony’s Church-School

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph travelled daily from Lochinvar convent

First sisters M Barbara O’Neill, M Phillipa Ormonde, M Pascal Brunton, M Stanislaus Curran

‘Greta Migrant Camp is the only Immigration Centre in Australia to have a Catholic School. It functions, yes, but the difficulties are legion. The most staff that, as yet, can be provided, is four teaching Sisters – the most accommodation that can be provided is one Camp Chapel with partitions that are far from sound-proof, and the most children that can be taken in (and are being taught) are about 200.’ ²

‘… the numbers from modest beginning of about a dozen pupils were to swell until there were about one-hundred-and-thirty children in the school, all wrestling and struggling with the intricacies of the English language.’ ³

1958

Sister of St Joseph on staff, M Chanel Garaty 1959 M Thaddeus Coleman

1959

Diocesan Josephite administration withdrew

1960

With closure of Migrant Camp and school many peoples settled in Greta and Branxton bringing into their schools children of many nationalities.

Many of the wooden buildings were relocated to various emerging Catholic schools

1967 St Mary’s at Greta became infants, St Brigid’s at Branxton became primary

Tarro OUR LADY OF LOURDES PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Tarro

Aboriginal name for ‘stone’, area originally known as Upper Hexham

Opened 1944

School today Kindergarten to Year 6

Charism: Mercy

Motto: For the Greater Glory of God

Location: Anderson Drive Tarro NSW 2322

Parish: Beresfield

1922

Our Lady of Lourdes Church built at Tarro within parish of East Maitland

1944

Sisters of Mercy opened school in church, originally travelling daily from East Maitland convent

First sisters, M de Sales O’Gorman, M de Lourdes McClymont, enrolment 32 students

1947

Parochial district of Tarro established, originally called Beresfield

1958

School opened, brick veneer refurbishment, three classrooms and general-purpose rooms

1962

Tarro Mercy convent Our Lady of Lourdes established, reconstructed from Greta Camp old hospital building ‘The new Convent is built out of part of the old Hospital at Greta Migrant Camp. Another part of the same building was used in the erection of the Church-hall built at Beresfield last year. … His Lordship Bishop Toohey [at the opening] congratulated all those who had been associated with its erection especially those voluntary workers who had prepared the grounds and assisted with the painting.’ ¹

1969

Two new classrooms, office and staff rooms

1970s

– 80s

Five ‘demountables’ added and school administration area built

1976

Mercy administration ended

1977

First lay Principal, Mrs Nancy Smythe

1985

Old church fitted out for K–2 Rainbow classroom and school hall, building now Heritage Listed

New administration block built and opened

2005

Construction and refurbishment of classrooms, administration and staff facilities and library

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities

Construction of multi-purpose hall space and student amenities

His Lordship Bishop Toohey [at the school’s opening] congratulated all those associated with its erection, especially those voluntary workers who had prepared the grounds and assisted with the painting.

Rutherford ST PAUL’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Rutherford

Named after an early settler George Shaw Rutherford

Opened 1957

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Mercy

Motto: Stand Firm in Faith

Location: 90A Gillies Street Rutherford NSW 2320

Parish: Rutherford

1955

Maitland floods devastated surrounding areas and many people sought safer housing on higher ground

1957

Infants school in cottage, also contained priest’s living quarters with 64 students in first and second classes

Sisters of Mercy, first sisters M Agnes Riley, M Moya Lantry (Gonzaga) , travelling daily from Campbell’s Hill

Enrolment 64 students

New church / hall opened, St Paul’s in Young Street, where 2 blocks of land had been purchased

1958

Sr M Boniface Bowe appointed Principal Enrolment 102 students

1961

New building opened for primary school, four classrooms, staff room, office, closed in verandah, tuckshop, and basement shelter sheds ‘To celebrate the School Opening the parish of Campbell’s Hill is to have an ‘Opening Ball’ at St Paul’s Hall Rutherford on Friday the 29th September.’ ¹ Enrolment 115 students

1962

Rutherford, now a distinct parish with Fr Flynn first Parish Priest overseeing great development over 20 years

1965

Decision made to make Rutherford a Primary School, Campbell’s Hill an Infants School

1966

Infants classes transferred to Sacred Heart School, Campbell’s Hill

St Paul’s continued operating as a primary school

1978

Mercy Administration ended

1979

First lay Principal, Miss P Hayes

1981

Campbell’s Hill School closed with students transferred to to St Paul's during the Easter break

New infants school built and opened, school administration moved to former presbytery / school building

1999

‘Over 40 years, St Paul’s School has seen many changes. In 1999 on its 25th Anniversary the Parish Church was beautifully refurbished … In 2001 the Parish Hall that the school regularly uses was closed and refurbished by a group of dedicated workers.’ ²

2004

Major redevelopment of the school began Construction and refurbishment of classrooms, administration facilities, staff and library

2008

Opening of new school premises

2009

Construct shade area, refurbishment of schools facilities, Information Technology equipment and infrastructure

Construction of classrooms and library and covered linkways

Chisholm ST ALOYSIUS CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Chisholm

Named after Caroline Chisholm, a 19th Century English humanitarian. Caroline Chisholm Cottage in Mill Street East Maitland has significant links with her support of females and family welfare in the district, and as so, is Heritage Listed. Suburb established in 2004

Opened 2015

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Jesuit and Mercy

Motto: We Are Called

Location: 24 Heritage Drive Thornton NSW 2322

Parish: Morpeth

2013

Catholic Schools Office began a study for the provision of primary and secondary education within the Diocese. A key finding was for a secondary school at Chisholm, with St Aloysius Catholic Primary School colocated to provide a continuum of education in the area.

2015

Opened in February by Bishop William Wright, and named partly to recognise a previous Diocesan School at Hamilton. St Aloysius welcomed an opening enrolment of 223 students, with a projected capacity for 630.

The school has been architecturally designed to incorporate the natural landscape, with the building designed around a central courtyard and playground to provide a sense of community. Classrooms are connected to the outside using flexible walls and furniture thus providing an adaptable and stimulating learning environment. With latest computer technology and unique classroom features, this state-of-the-art school learning environment has been thoughtfully brought to fruition.

A first priority was to create a new school culture as a Catholic school, and second, to build community for parents to engage.

2018

November, the second stage comprising ten additional classrooms, three learning commons, a new administration block, refurbished Learning Hub/Library, new play spaces and equipment, extended car park and landscaping.

2019

Final stage comprises five new classrooms, two learning commons, relocation of two ‘demountables’, covered outdoor area, and soccer field.

On completion, the school will reach its capacity of 630 students.

On Country

Branxton ROSARY PARK CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Branxton

Named after a place in Northumberland, England. Originally known as Farmborough, then Black Creek

Opened 2011

Preceded by

1852 Denominational School

1886 St Brigid’s Primary School

Renamed

2011 Rosary Park Catholic School

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Mercy

Motto: Built on Faith, Knowledge and Respect

Location: Station Street Branxton NSW 2335

Parish: Branxton

1840

William Bowen gave a portion of his land for the erection of a Catholic chapel

1841

Wooden structure built for church / school

1841

Private school ‘There are two schools in Maitland and one at Black Creek conducted by Mr Hyatt.’ ¹

1852 –1857

Denominational school at Black Creek

1870

Parish of Branxton established, St Brigid’s

1886

Branxton Mercy convent Our Lady of Lourdes established, architect Menkens

Five Sisters of Mercy arrived to take charge of Branxton and Greta schools, M Kosta Kirby as Superior

St Brigid’s School opened at Branxton, on the same day St Mary’s at Greta

1960s

With buildings deteriorating, nuns travelled with students from Branxton to Greta awaiting new school build

1967

New school built, St Brigid’s now primary, St Mary’s at Greta infants

1977

First lay Principal, Mr Walter Pleasant

1987

Branxton Mercy convent closed

2009

Construction of security fence, procurement of furniture and equipment

2009

Construction of multi-purpose hall, classrooms, library and administration facilities

2010

New construction on parish land opposite St Brigid’s Primary

2011

Renamed as Rosary Park Catholic school as it was built on parish land known as ‘Rosary Park’

This school replaces St Brigid’s Branxton and St Mary’s Greta

Chisholm ST BEDE’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Chisholm

Named after Caroline Chisholm, a 19th Century English humanitarian. Caroline Chisholm Cottage in Mill Street East Maitland has significant links with her support of females and family welfare in the district the cottage is now Heritage listed. Suburb established in 2004

Opened 2018

School today co-educational high school

Motto: Shine with Christ’s Glory

Location: 24A Heritage Drive Chisholm NSW 2322

Parish: Morpeth

School Opened Staff Years

St Bede’s College 2018 Lay Teachers 3

2013

Catholic Schools Office began a study for the provision of primary and secondary education within the Diocese. A key finding was for a secondary school at Chisholm, with St Aloysius Catholic Primary School colocated to provide a continuum of education in the area.

2018

Set within a new and growing suburb of Chisholm, St Bede’s opened Year 7 with an enrolment of 110 students.

Expansion will continue by one year group per calendar year until becoming a full Year 7 to Year 12 co-educational school in 2023. With some delay in construction, classes opened and operated in a Flexible Learning

Village with staff and students moving into the first building, the Benedict Building in Term 3.

2021

Forward construction program will see the Dominic Building completed

2022

The McAuley Building will be completed

2023

The Marion Building will be completed

Construction expected to be completed with four interconnected contemporary designed buildings, equipped and catering for a student population of about 1,100.

When completed St Bede’s will have a large playing field and a basketball court, and access to local council playing fields.

This and the open design of the College will allow students to enjoy generous outdoor facilities.

St Bede’s two feeder schools are St Aloysius Catholic Primary School located next door, and Our Lady of Lourdes at Tarro. Many other students come from a wide range of primary and secondary schools.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE Central region

On Country:

Traditional custodians of the land the Awabakal people

It was an ancient landscape – a valley occupied by Aboriginal people from the coast to the mountains in the distance known as ‘Muloobinbah’ Newcastle’s original name. The Awabakal and Worimi peoples are the traditional custodians of the land and waters of Newcastle.

First known as Coal River, Newcastle marked the beginning of the Hunter Valley’s European and convict history. Accessible coal seams, ancient Aboriginal middens of oyster shells, lush stands of red cedar forests and a deep-water port providing safe anchorage for shipping made it an attractive location to the emerging colonial government. Today Newcastle is the world’s largest coal export port, exporting around 160 million tonnes per year to export markets across Asia ¹.

The Coal River penal settlement first opened in 1801 but quickly closed. After the Castle Hill Rebellion in 1804 the penal settlement was reestablished where it became the destination for exile and severe punishment of political prisoners and other convicts found guilty of additional crimes in the colony. The Colonial Government restricted access to the penal settlement which remained a small and isolated outpost causing settlers and freed convicts to bypass Newcastle and strike west to explore the vast pasture lands of the Hunter Valley along the Williams, Hunter and Paterson Rivers or moving overland following the ancient Aboriginal trade routes towards Singleton and beyond.

With the closure of the penal settlement in 1824 and the relocation of most of its convicts to Port Macquarie Government restrictions upon the village of Newcastle were lifted creating some opportunities for settlers. However coal extraction at the port of Newcastle was taken over by the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo). The AACo was a company incorporated by Charter and is today the oldest continuously operating company in Australia.

The AACo held a monopoly over the extraction of coal in the Newcastle region for thirty-one years. Their grant of coal land in the centre of Newcastle hampered the expansion of the early township. In 1831 the Company opened Australia’s first rail line in Newcastle running from the intersection of Brown and Church Streets to transport coal from Pit A to the port.

The AACo was granted one million acres . This land grant comprised three parcels of land stretching from Port Stephens to the Manning River and west to the Liverpool plains encompassing Tamworth.

Due to the restriction of the penal settlement in Newcastle the Diocese’s first Catholic schools established to the west in the district of Maitland. Our early schools were simple one roomed dwellings under the tutelage of ex-convicts and later emigrants from the United Kingdom and Ireland. Newcastle’s first school was established on the Hill above the harbour. The Catholic Denominational school opened in 1841 in the Long Room by the chaplain Fr Dowling. 4

‘It was a large brick building built over 4 dwelling-houses, these long rooms or sail-rooms were common on the waterfront. The sailors would go there and take their sails and stretch them out. There were no pillars and they could be stretched out the full length and the full breadth of a sail, and it was there that Father Dowling from 1838 to 1845 said Mass. It was furnished; it is on record that the Catholic soldiers in the regiment in Newcastle in 1838 gave a day’s pay to furnish the “Long Room”. It became a schoolroom, and thus also the site of the first Catholic school in Newcastle.’

As settlement in the village of Newcastle was slow to establish, the early pioneers to the Central Region followed the contours of the natural landscape and settled into villages the private towns of the regions coal mining companies. These coal mines centred around the rich resources across the region, the deep-water harbour, the coal seams of Carrington, Merewether, Stockton, Tighes Hill, Wallsend and Lambton. These villages were later destined to become the suburbs of Newcastle. Catholic denominational schools were established in the small villages along these transportation routes linking the districts coal mines, the Newcastle –Wallsend Mine at Wallsend, the Scottish – Australian Mining Company at Lambton, Newcastle Coal Company at Glebe, Newcastle Coal and Copper Company at Burwood, Waratah Coal Mining Company at Waratah and the New Lambton Colliery at New Lambton and Adamstown to Newcastle Harbour. 5

These early mining villages were populated by skilled emigrants – coal miners from Ireland, England and Wales coming to extract the rich resources on offer along with agricultural workers and adventurers in search of a new life in the emerging colony. Many of these early pioneers brought with them a desire to continue their faith practices centred around a parish community. At this time, the role of the early colony was shifting from a penal settlement to an emerging commercial enterprise with a need to ensure that the children of the colony had access to education to raise the cultural, social and economic prospects of society. The Catholic community also saw the need for provision of education for their children to assure their place in the society, but in a school which had at its heart the mission of the Catholic church to preach the good news – and evangelise. Governor Burke had recognised this major shift in the philosophical purpose of the colony and enabled faith communities and other religious organisation, throug legislation of the Church Act 1836 (NSW), to access funds, establishing schools thus ministering to the children of their faith communities.

Over the intervening years these numerous scattered coal-mining villages surrounding the township of Newcastle expanded with demand for coal to supply the newly established Broken Hill Proprietary Limited (BHP) steel works at Mayfield opening in 1915. At the commencement of World War I BHP was to become the region's largest employer. The need for workers and associated industries lead to the expansion of these central villages. In 1938 an Act of the New South Wales Parliament created the City of Greater Newcastle, incorporating 11 municipalities including Merewether, Lambton, Adamstown, Hamilton, New Lambton and Wallsend into one local government area to form the greater City of Newcastle. 6

The present-day central region of schools encompasses in order of establishment St John’s Primary Lambton, St Patrick’s Primary Wallsend, St Joseph’s Merewether, St Columba’s Adamstown, St Laurence Flexible Learning Centre Broadmeadow, St Therese’s New Lambton, St Francis Xavier College Hamilton, Holy Family Merewether Beach, St Pius X High Adamstown and St James Primary Kotara.

Newcastle

ST MARY’S PRIMARY SCHOOL | ST MARY’S SCHOOL FOR BOYS

ST MARY’S MARIST BROTHERS SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional owners of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi peoples

Newcastle

Named after England’s famous coal port. Also known as Coal River and King’s Town.

Opened 1866

Preceded by c1841Catholic Denominational School

Location Croasdill’s Longroom Newcomen Street Newcastle NSW

Relocated 1852 Perkins Street

Known as 1898 – 1918 St Mary’s School for Boys, Perkins Street

1838

Parochial district of Newcastle established, within the Archdiocese of Sydney

c1841

Catholic school in the ‘Long Room’ Newcomen Street, chaplain Fr Dowling ‘It was a large brick building built over 4 dwelling-houses, these long rooms or sailrooms were common on the waterfront. The sailors would go there and take their sails and stretch them out. There were no pillars and they could be stretched out the full length and the full breadth of a sail, and it was there that Father Dowling from 1838 to 1845 said Mass. It was furnished; it is on record that the Catholic soldiers in the regiment in Newcastle in 1838 gave a day’s pay to furnish the ‘Long Room’. It became a schoolroom, and thus also the site of the first Catholic school in Newcastle.’ ¹

1847

Diocese of Maitland, administered by Archdiocese of Sydney until 1873 (duration of Polding’s tenure as Bishop)

1852

Catholic school transferred to former presbytery / temporary church built

1853

Lay teachers John Breslan then Mrs Keck ²

1855

21 boys and 23 girls on the roll. Mr Keck was the teacher

1866

St Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church opened on Perkins Street, ‘basement storey of stone’ for teacher residence and school, St Mary’s Primary School

1873

Parish of Newcastle transferred to Diocese of Maitland

Dominicans, residing in Maitland Foundation, invited to staff Denominational girls’ and infants’ schools

The Sisters took charge of the Denominational school which was located under the church in cramped and unsuitable conditions. There was also concern about the Sisters travelling outside the enclosure to this school.

1874

Girls and Infants classes move to Dominican convent site

1883

Enrolment 103 boys

1888 –1898

Lay staff at St Mary’s, Mr J.B. Callaghan, Mr McCannon, Mr & Mrs Gribben ²

1898

Lay Principal, Mr Gerald Maher with assistant Mr Street

By invitation of Bishop Murray, 11 Marist Brothers arrived from Sydney – 4 resided at Stockton travelling initially as staff to St Mary’s School, with remaining 7 brothers residing at Campbells Hill. Later the Brothers moved to a house in Brown Street near the school.

First Marist Principal, Br Justin Cooper, school now known as St Mary’s Marist Brothers School with high school students attending

1902

144 boys enrolled,

1908

115 boys enrolled. The roll reached a record 115 in 1908. In 1917, in wartime and in the middle of an influenza epidemic, it sank to 47. By 1920 numbers had improved to 140. Increasing numbers in the 1920s, however, forced a decision upon the authorities. ³

1928

Marist Brothers school transferred to new site in Parkway Avenue, Hamilton

The First Catholic School in Newcastle

It was a large brick building built over 4 dwellinghouses, these long rooms or sail-rooms were common on the waterfront. The sailors would go there and take their sails and stretch them out. There were no pillars and they could be stretched out the full length and the full breadth of a sail, and it was there that Father Dowling from 1838 to 1845 said Mass. It was furnished; it is on record that the Catholic soldiers in the regiment in Newcastle in 1838 gave a day’s pay to furnish the ‘Long Room’. It became a schoolroom, and thus also the site of the first Catholic school in Newcastle.

1

2

3

Newcastle

ST MARY’S DOMINICAN CONVENT SCHOOL

ST MARY’S STAR OF THE SEA PRIMARY SCHOOL

ST THOMAS’ BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOYS

On Country

Traditional owners of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Newcastle

Named after England’s famous coal port. Also known as Coal River and King’s Town.

Opened 1874

Preceded

Location

Land bounded by Wolfe, Tyrrell, Perkins and Church Streets, Newcastle NSW 2300

Known as St Mary’s Star of the Sea Primary School

Also opened

1874 Select Day School in convent 1875 – 1888 School for Deaf students, on this site 1903 St Thomas’ College

Known as 1907–1960 St Thomas’ Boarding School for Boys

1873

Land and ‘Mansion on the Hill’ (former home of Dr Bowker) purchased by Dominicans for convent to be known as ‘St Mary’s Star of the Sea’ ¹

Dominicans, residing in Maitland Foundation, invited to staff c1841 Denominational girls and infants schools

First Dominican sisters, Xavier Byrne Superior, M Pius Collins, M Veronica Meade

The Sisters took charge of the girls and infants’ denominational school which was located under the church in cramped and unsuitable conditions. There was also concern about the Sisters travelling outside the enclosure to this school.

1874

A Select Day School was opened in the reconditioned stables and was soon patronised by the leading citizens whatever their religion. The former residence of the sisters was allocated to the parochial school children enabling the sisters to move from the church basement

1875 –1887

School for Deaf students also conducted on this site

1892

‘1,2 and 3 infants and 109 other pupils enrolled in the two schools run by the Dominican Sisters at Newcastle.’ ²

1903

Dominicans open Newcastle convent as boarding school for junior boys, St Thomas’ College

1907

Residential college for junior boys opened, St Thomas Boys College conducted by Dominican nuns’

‘The school is situated in an elevated and healthful position, spacious and well appointed in every way. The recreation grounds are ample, the building commanding a fine extensive view of the Harbour and Ocean. Under careful supervision, the Pupils are allowed seabathing. Boys admitted up to the age of twelve years.

For particulars apply to Mother Prioress.’ ³

1908

Enrolment 68 girls, 82 infants

1960

Dominican administration ended, St Thomas’ Boarding School for Boys closed.

1961

Sisters of St Joseph invited to take over the convent and Star of the Sea Primary School

First sisters M Barbara O’Neill, M Cleophas Moylan and M Marie Craddock. Enrolment 75 students

1968

St Mary’s Star of the Sea Primary School closed

1969 Convent closed

1981

Church Office buildings at 70 Wolfe Street renovated as Catholic Education Office and Diocesan Offices

1989

Newcastle earthquake 5.6 on Richter Scale, hastened relocation of offices

1997

Catholic Education Offices (Wolfe Street and The Junction) relocated to 841 Hunter Street Newcastle West

2003

Campus redeveloped as Aventine apartment complex

St Thomas’s School for Boys, Newcastle

Newcastle INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB

On Country

Traditional owners of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Newcastle

Named after England’s famous coal port. Also known as Coal River and King’s Town.

Opened 1875

Location

Land bounded by Wolfe, Tyrrell, Perkins and Church Streets, Newcastle NSW 2300

Relocated

1888 35 Bridge Street Waratah NSW 2298

1873

‘The deaf school began its formal existence under Sr Gabriel’s care with the enrolment of two pupils, Catherine Sullivan and Elizabeth Mary Rewald, on 8 December 1875.

Between 1875 and 1888, seventeen girls and thirteen boys were admitted to the school – a very small percentage of the Catholic deaf children in Australia. It was possibly this slow growth of pupils which urged Sister M. Gabriel to write to Bishop Murray, probably in 1883, stressing the necessity of making known the existence of the Newcastle School, and the importance of having Catholic deaf children sent there to be instructed in their faith.’

1875 Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, Newcastle

Land and ‘Mansion on the Hill’ (former home of Dr Bowker) purchased by Dominicans for convent

Dominicans, residing in Maitland Foundation, invited to staff Denominational girls’ and infants’ schools

First Dominican sisters, Xavier Byrne Superior, M Pius Collins, M Veronica Meade

1875

Dominican sister arrived from Ireland, Mary Gabriel Hogan, herself hearing impaired, trained in ‘manual alphabet’.

‘The deaf school began its formal existence under Sr Gabriel’s care with the enrolment of two pupils, Catherine Sullivan and Elizabeth Mary Rewald, on 8 December 1875.’ ¹ Thus began the Dominican apostolate for the education of children with hearing impairment.

‘Between 1875 and 1888, seventeen girls and thirteen boys were admitted to the school – a very small percentage of the Catholic deaf children in Australia. It was possibly this slow growth of pupils which urged Sister M. Gabriel to write to Bishop Murray, probably in 1883, stressing the necessity of making known the existence of the Newcastle School, and the importance of having Catholic deaf children sent there to be instructed in their faith.’ ²

1888

Deaf and Dumb Institute relocated to Rosary Convent and School, Waratah

When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.

On Country

Lambton ST JOHN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Lambton

Name created by the then Scottish Mining Company. Lambton proclaimed a municipal district 1871

Opened 1883

Preceded by

1871 Denominational School

Also opened 1889 Select School

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Mercy

Motto: Love One Another

Location: Dickson Street Lambton NSW 2299

Parish: Blackbutt North

1864

Thomas Croudace donated land for Methodist, Church of England and Catholic communities

1871

St John the Evangelist Church built in De Vitre Street, building used for school on weekdays

1873

Parochial district of Lambton established

1875

Denominational school in church building De Vitre Street, first lay teacher Patrick Maloney

1881

Denominational school enrolment 130 students

1883

Lambton Mercy convent established. Sisters of Mercy staff school, first sister, M Stanislaus O’Neill

1889

‘Sisters conducting ‘Select School‘ alongside Lambton Primary’ ¹

Enrolment 15 students in ‘Select School’

1892

Land purchased in Dickson Street through to Young Street

1908

Enrolment 78 students

1921

New church built, St John the Evangelist, original 1871 wooden church building used by school

1929

New brick convent built in De Vitre Street

1936

Four new classrooms added which became the canteen, library and finally in the 1990's the Parish Centre

1952

Brick kindergarten built on convent grounds, four classrooms built later adjoining the old school

1960

Old school demolished, replaced by two storey brick school building

1963

Enrolment 330 students

1976

Mercy administration ended, sisters remained on staff for some years

1977

First lay Principal, Mr Phillip Maloney

1995

Mercy administration ended

Convent vacated, handed over to parish, building modified and extended for school use then opened in 1996

1996

Extensions to school, modifications to former convent

2005

Construction of library and refurbishment of classrooms

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities external / procurement of ICT equipment and associated infrastructure

Construction and refurbishment of classrooms and refurbishment of multi-purpose hall

Wallsend ST PATRICK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Wallsend

After a place near Newcastle on Tyne, England. The suburb began as two mining towns – Wallsend and Plattsburg

Opened 1883

Preceded by

1871 Denominational School

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Mercy

Motto: Faith Knowledge Respect

Location: Macquarie Street Wallsend NSW 2287 (previously known as Plattsburg)

Parish: Wallsend-Shortland References 1 Cranfield, C. (1965) A History of Education in the Mining Community of Wallsend (n.d.)

1883–1983 St Patrick’s School Wallsend. (1983) parish publication. Newcastle Chronicle School Opened Staff Years Denominational St Patrick’s 1871 1883 Lay Teachers Mercies Lay Teachers 12 91 46

First church / school built

1871

Denominational school was open and applied for state aid, certification given in 1875

Wallsend first lay teacher recorded, Miss Thompson, then 1875 Miss Punch

1873

‘The Roman Catholic School, which for some time being closed, owing to the absence of a teacher has again been opened, under the direction of Miss Thompson, a young lady who has been appointed to the position.’ ¹

1875

School certification obtained

1876

Stone church / school opened on the hill, opposite the present church

1883

Sisters of Mercy arrived to staff the school with M Patrick Gates Principal, originally travelling from Lambton convent in horse drawn buggy, then steam tram, electric tram, then car

1902

Land across the road from original stone church purchased for parish centre

Brick school built consisting of one large room with front and back verandahs

‘One end of the western verandah was closed in by wooden walls and used by the Sisters as a lunch room.’ ²

1908

Enrolment 101 students

1931

New church opened

1937

Wallsend parish established

1950s

Facing Neilson Street, two timber classrooms built with voluntary labour

1963

Facing Wentworth Street a new wing was constructed comprising an office, four classrooms, storeroom and canteen

Wallsend Mercy convent St Patrick’s established in Macquarie Street

1969

First lay staff were employed

1973

Mercy administration ended

1974

First lay Principal, Mrs Maureen Taylor

1978

Original 1902 building being used as a school hall, collapsed in a wind storm

1983

New hall, library and canteen opened

1990s

Cottage adjoining the school in Wentworth Street purchased, undergoing renovation for use as administrative and staff facilities

1996

New classroom, shade structure, and new student toilets built

2006

Construction of classrooms, administration, staff facilities, library and stores

2009

Refurbishment of facilities external and internal, multi-purpose hall and classrooms

2011

Existing multi-purpose hall extended, teaching space constructed and student amenities refurbished

Hamilton SACRED HEART PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional owners of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Hamilton 'Hamilton' was the residence of William Carlyle, the Secretary of the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo). The residence was named in honour of Edward Hamilton Governor of the AACo 1856–1898

1875

Two acres of land at Hamilton purchased from Australian Agricultural Company

First church / school built

1876

Catholic Denominational School, lay teacher Mr Larkin then Mr Maloney ‘Headmaster Mr Maloney residing in a small house attached to the church.’ ¹

Certified Catholic Denominational School, enrolment 114 students

1878

Enrolment 159 students

1883

Enrolment 113 students – 66 boys, 47 girls of which 110 were Catholic

1884

Parish of Hamilton established, church built on Hunter Street and dedicated to Sacred Heart

Hamilton Mercy convent built, Menkens architect, St Aloysius ‘Select School’ opened in convent Sisters of Mercy arrived, residing in headmaster’s cottage, first Principal M Regis Murray

1889

Enrolment 50 students

1892

Enrolment 228 students

1894

Foundation stone laid for new brick school, built in 1895

1895

Sacred Heart School opened – a two storey ‘substantial and spacious building’ ²

1908

Enrolment 170 students

1915

Wooden building of four rooms ‘On one side it was adjoined by a restful green paddock of green Lucerne, on the other side was a fowl yard and cow shed.’ ³

1923

Original school replaced with substantial brick structure, first storey added

1941 Air raid shelters were dug in the tennis court

1963

New two storey building completed following ten years of fund raising

First floor – assembly room, shelter shed and tuck shop. Second floor – classrooms, library and offices

1981

Mercy administration ended

1982 –1992

First Lay Principal Patricia Lynch

1992

School closed due to falling enrolments, students transferred to St Columban’s Primary School Mayfield

Original building now occupied by the Diocese and the Catholic Schools Office

Hamilton ST ALOYSIUS HIGH SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional owners of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Hamilton 'Hamilton' was the residence of William Carlyle, the Secretary of the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo). The residence was named in honour of Edward Hamilton Governor of the AACo 1856–1898.

Opened 1915

Preceded by 1884–1915 ‘Select School’ St Aloysius

Renamed prior to 1928 known as St Aloysius Girls High

Parry Street Hamilton NSW 2303

1875

Two acres of land at Hamilton purchased from Australian Agricultural Company

1884

Parish of Hamilton established, church built on Hunter Street and dedicated to Sacred Heart

Hamilton Mercy convent built, Menkens architect, St Aloysius ‘Select School’ opened in convent

1899

Land purchased on Parry Street Lots 3,4,5,6,7 from Australian Agricultural Company

1915

School opened as St Aloysius High School on Parry Street, co-educational until 1928

First sisters of Mercy, Principal M Patrick Garaty, M Kotska, M Raymond ‘The girls played in the school grounds and the boys went out to the paddock where the Sacred Heart Church now stands. We sat along the convent fence eating our lunch and watching the traffic passing by. The roads were rough and the drivers, mostly in American cars, ensured a smooth ride by running along the tram lines’ ¹

1918

First Intermediate class sat for public examination

1923

Original school replaced with substantial brick structure, first storey added

New Secondary School opened, and extensive additions to the Convent of Mercy completed

1924

Successful Leaving Certificate students

1928

District school reorganisation – Mercy Girls, St Aloysius High School, Marist Boys, St Francis Xavier’s

Renamed – St Aloysius Girls High School ‘After the opening of the Brother’s school, when all … went off to Parkway Avenue, there reigned peace in the place’ ¹ ‘For Forty Hours, Sr M Nolasco took girls for the Latin Mass in the gallery of the old church where we practised steadily for weeks until the solemn High Mass and were rewarded by Monsignor Peters with a gift of oranges.’ ¹

1929

Commercial classes introduced, vision of Sr M Vianney

1934

Second storey enabled school to have commercial facilities within the secondary school

1953

Student memories of Principal Sr

Theophane ‘ … she replaced the school bell, which was not effective enough, by a loud horn which could be heard all over Hamilton and sounded like ships moving out of port.’ ¹

1963

Further extensions being new two storey wing

1966

March staff meeting minutes. ‘Please check up on girls coming late. Some have been seen outside the gates holding hands with boys from the Marist Brothers.’ ¹

School now operating as Years 7 – 10, senior classes transferred to St Anne’s High School Adamstown

1984

Secondary school restructuring for Newcastle area

School closed, students integrated into St Francis Xavier College now co-educational for years 11 and 12

... she [Principal Sr Theophane] replaced the school bell, which was not effective enough, by a loud horn which could be heard all over Hamilton and sounded like ships moving out of the port.

Hamilton ST FRANCIS XAVIER REGIONAL

PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR BOYS

On Country

Traditional owners of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Hamilton

'Hamilton' was the residence of William Carlyle, the Secretary of the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo). The residence was named in honour of Edward Hamilton Governor of the AACo 1856–1898.

Opened 1928

Preceded by

St Mary’s Marist Brothers School, Perkins Street, Newcastle

Closed 1953

On Hamilton site, relocated to Tighes Hill 1954

Location

Parkway Avenue Hamilton NSW 2303

References

1 Doyle, A. (1972) The History of the Marist Brothers in Australia 1872–1972 p 431

2 Campbell, H. (1966) The Diocese of Maitland 1866–1966 Letter from Bishop Gleeson 1929. Dimmock Press. Williams, G. (1998) On the Shoulders of Giants: The Story of the Marist Brothers in the Hunter Region 1898–1998. Drummoyne.

1925

Land purchased by Diocese from Australian Agricultural Company

‘The land purchased was very dusty and dirty, being adjacent to a disused coal mine in Beaumont Street’ ¹

1928

Diocese established a Regional Primary School for Boys on Parkway Avenue site. Boys were to come from the inner city parishes. ²

Original school was built as a single storey building of nine classrooms, topped by a turret

First Marist Principal, Brother Mel Patrick Morrissey. School under care of Marist Brothers, governance by Board of clergy with Bishop as Chairman, primary classes gradually phased out by 1957, becoming Marist Brothers High School ‘This is a new school opened at the beginning of the year … However, the school, considering all the difficulties that have been faced, is in satisfactory working order … The difficulties of organisation, always present in a new school, have been practically overcome. The prospects ahead of the school seem fairly bright. The masters and boys are working well together, and satisfactory progress is being made.’ Government Report ³

1932

250 boys enrolled in Primary school

1953

Last year of Primary School for Boys on Hamilton site

1954

Boys Primary School relocated at Union Street Tighes Hill

Broadmeadow ST LAURENCE O’TOOLE PRIMARY SCHOOL

ST LAURENCE FLEXIBLE LEARNING CENTRE (EREA)

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Broadmeadow

Part of the Newcastle Pasturage Reserve of 648 hectares

This school is thought to be named after the teaching seminary Laurence O’Toole in Harcourt Street Dublin, established with a large legacy from James Murray’s maternal uncle, specifically to promote Catholic education. It was named after Laurence O’Toole, the first Archbishop of Dublin.

Rev James Murray, Bishop of Maitland 1866 –1909, was on the teaching staff 1852 –1859. Zimmerman in her book suggests Murray derived from these years his practical teaching experience and also gained his abiding interest in education.¹

Opened 1905

Closed 1978

Reopened

1884

Parish of Hamilton established, encompassing Broadmeadow

1904

Wooden church / school built, opened and blessed by Bishop Murray

1905

Primary school opened ‘New Catholic school opened at Broadmeadow.’ ²

Sisters of Mercy, walking daily from Hamilton convent

1908 ‘78 pupils enrolled’ ³

1955

Principal M Gabrielle

1957

New school building opened

1964

Parish hall built, tuck shop and staff room built, playground concreted

1978

Primary School closed, students accommodated at Rosary Convent School Waratah

Mercy administration ended Premises continuing on as office education space including

- City State Schools Apostolate catering for Catholic students in State schools in Mayfield, Adamstown, Broadmeadow, Hamilton and Newcastle area

- The St Laurence Centre Counselling and Special Education Department for the Catholic Schools Office

- Christian library opened within this space

2019

Reopened as registered school catering for Years 9 and 10, enabling students to engage with a different model of school.

St Laurence Flexible Learning Centre SLFLC is an initiative of Edmund Rice Education Australia’s Flexible Schools Network Registered within the Diocese of MaitlandNewcastle, governance by Edmund Rice Education Australia

Hamilton MARIST BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL

ST FRANCIS XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS

On Country

Traditional owners of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Hamilton

'Hamilton' was the residence of William Carlyle, the Secretary of the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo). The residence was named in honour of Edward Hamilton Governor of the AACo 1856–1898.

Opened 1928

Preceded by

1925

Land purchased by Diocese from Australian Agricultural Company

1928

Original school was built as a single storey building of nine classrooms, topped by a turret

Marist Brothers moved Newcastle high school campus to Hamilton, vision for combined primary and secondary The Brothers school was transferred to a site lined by Skelton Street, Parkway Avenue and Everton Street, Hamilton. ¹

First Marist Principal, Brother Mel Patrick Morrissey. School under care of Marist Brothers, governance by Board of clergy with Bishop as Chairman, primary classes gradually phased out by 1957, becoming Marist Brothers High School ‘This is a new school opened at the beginning of the year … However, the school, considering all the difficulties that have been faced, is in satisfactory working order … The difficulties of organisation, always present in a new school, have been practically overcome. The prospects ahead of the school seem fairly bright. The masters and boys are working well together, and satisfactory progress is being made.’ Government Report ²

1929

‘By 1929 the roll call exceeded 300’ ³

1931

‘At the Annual Prize Giving at the end of 1931, Brother Mel Patrick mentioned that there had been over 500 students on the roll during the year..’ ³

1932

New two storey wing added, known as the ‘Skelton Street wing’

Registration as a Secondary School

1939

Marist Monastery built on crn Parkway Ave and Everton Street, a move from rented premises in next street

1941

Air raid shelters were dug on the tennis court

1944

Original school extended with a more substantial brick structure facing Skelton Street

1946

Two additional storeys added to Parkway Avenue wing, turret was lifted in turn to surmount the building

1957

Final primary class, thus ending primary education at Hamilton

1960s

Land at Shortland purchased for playing fields, Marcellin Park

1963

School swimming pool built by Form 1 boys, design and construction supervised by Br Bartholomew Spratt

1965

Science Block opened ‘This gift of almost 20,000 pounds is the first assistance given to any Catholic school in the Diocese of Maitland in over eighty years by any Government.’ ³

1970

Extensive construction and refurbishment works

1971

School chapel completed

1974

Library and Science laboratories opened, overpass constructed

1981

Pastoral Letter issued re the restructuring of Secondary Schools in the Newcastle area. St Francis Xavier High School for boys to become the new co-educational senior College for all schools in the Newcastle area

1983

Transition to new structure begins with no Year 7 intake

1984

Secondary school restructuring for Newcastle area

Last year of Marist Brothers High School

Following closure of St Aloysius High School, Hamilton and St Joseph’s High School

Merewether students integrated into St Francis Xavier College, now senior co-educational secondary school for Newcastle area

Hamilton ST FRANCIS XAVIER’S COLLEGE

On Country

Traditional owners of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Hamilton

'Hamilton' was the residence of William Carlyle, the Secretary of the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo). The residence was named in honour of Edward Hamilton Governor of the AACo 1856–1898.

Opened 1985 as St Francis Xavier’s College

Preceded by 1928–1983

Renamed St Francis Xavier’s College

School today years 11 and 12

Charism: Marist

Motto: Christ my Light

Location: 286 Parkway Avenue, Hamilton NSW 2303

Parish: Hamilton

School Opened Staff Years

St Francis Xavier’s College 1985 2018 Marist Lay Teachers 32 4

1925

Land purchased by Diocese from Australian Agricultural Company

1928

Original school was built as a single storey building of nine classrooms, topped by a turret

1984

Secondary school restructuring for Newcastle area

Following closure of St Aloysius High School Hamilton and St Joseph’s High School, Merewether students integrated into St Francis Xavier College, now senior co-educational secondary school for Newcastle area

1985

St Francis Xavier’s College co-educational for years 11 /12, Principal Brother Kenneth Moreland

The new co-educational college commenced – girls from feeder schools and boys from Marist Brothers and St Pius X High

Year 10 – Girls from St Aloysius, Hamilton, St Joseph’s Merewether, Boys from Marist Brothers

Year 11 – Girls came from St Aloysius, St Joseph’s, San Clemente Mayfield, St Mary’s Gateshead

Religious Sisters who worked at St Francis Xavier’s College

Josephite sisters – Megan Brock, Colleen Carney, Patricia Boland, Anne Rabbitt Mercy sisters – Margaret Burgess Dominican sister – Debbie Grigson

1989

Newcastle earthquake 5.6 on the Richter Scale caused considerable damage, taking two years to rectify buildings, others replaced

1991

Large covered area over main playground erected

1997

First lay Principal (acting) Dr Bryan Maher

1998

Marist Brothers resume administration of school

2004

Construction of multi- purpose hall

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal, upgrade of electrical reticulation

2010

Trade training centre, construction and hospitality centre with commercial kitchens

2013

Accessibility upgrade including walkway replacement

References

1 Williams, G. (1998) On the Shoulders of Giants: The Story of the Marist Brothers in the Hunter Region 1898–1998. Drummoyne.

2 Sternbeck, M. (1985) With Hearts and Hands and Voices; The Centenary History of the Sacred Heart Parish Hamilton 1884–1984. Sacred Heart Parish Hamilton.

3 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel. 09/1965

4 The Newcastle Morning Herald, 08/01/2005

Adamstown ST COLUMBA’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Adamstown

Named after surveyor Thomas Adams, who surveyed the town in 1896

Opened 1890

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Mercy

Motto: Reach out

Location: Lockyer Street Adamstown NSW 2289

Parish: All Saints Blackbutt

1884

Parochial district of Hamilton established

1890

Wooden church / school built on land purchased in 1899

Sisters of Mercy arrived to open school, originally travelling by tram from Hamilton convent

First sister, Principal M Regina

1892

Enrolment 63 students

1898

Roman Catholic Fair held to raise funds for schools in the Newcastle area

‘The opening ceremony was performed by the Mayor of Newcastle, Alderman Kidd, in the presence of a large and fashionable audience. The object of the fair is to raise funds on behalf of the Newcastle, Burwood, Carrington, Stockton, Tighe’s Hill and Adamstown Catholic Schools.’ ¹

1899

November, wooden school building destroyed by storm/cyclone. Student killed by falling debris ‘During the height of the storm the Roman Catholic school building at Adamstown entirely collapsed, and a few minutes afterwards all that remained of the church-school was a huge mass of building material. Fortunately, one of the sidewalks gave way outwards a few seconds prior to the total collapse of the structure, and the children seizing the opportunity, and urged on by their teachers, made good their escape. The pupils had scarcely gained a safe position when the remaining three walls of the building crashed inwards. One of the scholars, a little boy named Edward Hill, 6 ½ years of age, was instantaneously killed.’ ²

1900

New church / school built

1908

Enrolment 84 students

1925

Parochial district of Adamstown established

1929

Brick school built and opened 1930

1954

Adamstown Mercy convent established, named Marian House

1960

Infants’ school built

1986

Sisters of Mercy administration ended

1987

First lay Principal, Mr David Woodward

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities external and internal, construction of shade shelter

Refurbishment of multi-purpose hall, student amenities and classrooms

Merewether ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Merewether

After Edward Christopher Merewether, superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company, proclaimed a municipal district in 1885. Also known as Burwood

Opened 1884

Preceded by 1876 Denominational School

Also opened

1932–1984 St Joseph’s High School

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Live The Truth

Location: Farquhar Street Merewether / The Junction NSW 2291

Parish: Newcastle

Burwood was a working-class suburb; most men there worked in the local mines, in the pottery or the brickyards.

1891 St Joseph’s Merewether

1876

Official opening of stone church / school crn Farquhar and Kendrick Streets

1882

Denominational Catholic school lay teachers, Mr Byrne, Miss E Murray, Mr P Durkin, Mr J Egan

1884

Denominational school enrolment 107 students

Sisters of Mercy, first sisters M Assissium Kennedy and M Gabriel Barry travelling from Hamilton by buggy

‘However, they found the daily travel difficult and had asked the Bishop for permission to leave; he had agreed to fill the vacancy, lay teachers were hired until Murray turned to the Sisters of St Joseph.’ ¹

1886 –1887

Lay staff, Mrs E M Dwyer

1888

Sisters of St Joseph, first sisters M Imelda Flood, M Alphonsus

Old cottage in Union Street rented then purchased for convent and school

1891

Parochial district of Burwood established ‘Burwood was a working class suburb; most men there worked in the local mines, in the pottery or the brickyards.’ ¹

1908

Enrolment 124 students

1909

Timber primary school built, frontage on Farquhar street, buildings demolished 1960s

1926

Convent built Farquhar Street

1936 –1973

Major buildings works in three stages, beginning on crn of Union and Kendrick Streets, four downstairs classrooms used by the primary school, first floor housed the Girl’s High School 1936

Classes to Year 10 Intermediate Grade

1947

Large Kindergarten building opened 1956

Stage 1 – Primary school begun. Primary moved from 1936 building, making rooms available for high school 1960s

The 1909 timber classrooms demolished and 1956 building extended to provide modern classrooms 1962

Stone church built in 1876 demolished, new and larger church built St Joseph’s opened 1963 1984

First lay Principal, Mrs Irena Romero 1986

One wing of former High school converted to administration area, library, and staff facilities for Primary school 2000

Primary school rented two classrooms from former High school 2003

Primary school expanded to use a further two classrooms 2004

Construction of administration, staff facilities, library, classrooms and store 2005

Parish of St Joseph's takes charge of entire school site

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal

Refurbishment of multi-purpose hall, student hall and shade structure

2012

Josephite administration ended 1985

Blessing of the refurbished buildings

Merewether ST JOSEPH’S HIGH SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Merewether

After Edward Christopher Merewether, superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company, proclaimed a municipal district in 1885. Also known as Burwood.

Opened 1932

Preceded by

1884 St Joseph’s Primary School opened, staffed by Sisters of Mercy

Kendrick Street The Junction / Merewether NSW 2291

1876

Official opening of stone church / school crn Farquhar and Kendrich Streets

1884

St Joseph’s Primary School opened, staffed by Sisters of Mercy

1888

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph open convent at Merewether and staffed Primary School

1891

Parochial district of Burwood established

1926

Convent built on Farquhar Street

1932

Intermediate High School was established in a weatherboard hall located behind the presbytery

Principal M Germain Cullen

1936

Property purchased by parish 24–32 Kendrick Street

1936 –1973

Major buildings works in three stages, crn of Union and Kendrick Streets. Stage 1 – four downstairs classrooms used by the primary school, first floor housed in the Girl’s High School

Classes to Intermediate Grade

1940s

All available ground floor space in Kendrick Street building converted to Air Raid Shelter using sandbags

1945

Registration gained to extend classes to Leaving Certificate

1949

Parish purchased property 176 –178 Union Street for future school expansion

1956

Primary School moved from 1936 building to make rooms available for High School

1960

Parish purchased 180 Union Street, then in 1963 purchased 182–184 Union Street

1965

Due to introduction of Wyndham Scheme, classes terminated at Year 10

1966

‘The Diocesan Education Board becomes responsible for the additions, the administration, the responsibility, the maintenance, the staffing, the equipment … parishes pay a quota to the Fund for Higher Education. We are relieved that the administration of all this is now not our responsibility, after 30 years of establishing, adding, hoping and emphasising.’ ¹

Stage 2 Construction of two storey block – laboratories, classrooms and covered assembly area

1972

Stage 3 Construction of two storey block –library, staffroom, administration and school hall

1981

Reorganisation of secondary schooling in Newcastle area – St Joseph’s High School to close

No intake of Year 7 students 1984

High school classes closed, primary school continued

Josephite administration ended 1985

Year 10 girls accommodated in St Francis Xavier’s Co-educational Senior College, Hamilton

1986–1996

The Catholic Education Office used section of High School buildings for Teaching and Learning Department known as St Thomas More Centre. Some classrooms rented by various tenants

1

New Lambton ST THERESE’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

New Lambton

Named by the then Scottish Mining Company, in 1871 proclaimed a municipal district

Opened 1926

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Mercy

Motto: Mercy, Be True

Location: Burke Street New Lambton NSW 2305

Parish: Blackbutt North

1873

Originally within the Parish of Lambton

1926

St Therese of Lisieux Church / school opened in Royal Street

Church / school brick building partitioned to form three classrooms

Sisters of Mercy, first sisters M Cyril Stedman, M Rita McKinley, originally travelling from Hamilton convent

1928

Enrolment 144 students

‘We used to think it rather beaut if a funeral was held on a week day, as we would be sent out to play whilst the funeral rites were conducted.’ ¹

1954

Parish of New Lambton established, including Kotara South and Garden Suburb

New timber school of three classrooms and wide verandahs, in Burke Street

1955

New Lambton Mercy convent established consisting of two houses set side by side joined by closed verandahs

Three new classrooms added, duplicating the building opened the previous year

1956

Parish church now St Therese’s ‘On St Patrick’s Day there would be School Sports Day at the Show Ground. The Catholic Schools would take part in the street march wearing special uniforms of their school colours and carrying flags. There would be flag drill, maypole dancing and many other events.’ ¹

1959

Extra land facing William Street purchased from Church of England

1960

School library opened, ‘first primary school of such scope in the Diocese.’ ²

1966

Library officially opened

1982

Mercy administration ended

1983

First lay Principal, Mr Terrence Gleeson

1994

Administration and staff facilities built and opened

2004

New library as extension to administration building

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities

Construction of classrooms and multipurpose hall

2012

Opening of St Therese’s school hall

2019

‘Work will start in coming weeks on a $6 million rebuild of St Therese’s Primary the largest scale construction project the New Lambton school has seen in more than 60 years.’ ³

On St Patrick’s Day there would be School Sports Day at the Show Ground. The Catholic Schools would take part in the street march wearing special uniforms of their school colours and carrying flags. There would be flag drill, maypole dancing and many other events.

Merewether Beach

HOLY FAMILY PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Merewether

After Edward Christopher Merewether, superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company, proclaimed a municipal district in 1885. Also known as Burwood

Opened 1956

School today kindergarten to year 2

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Thy Will Be Done

Location: 19 Janet Street Merewether Beach NSW 2291

Parish: Newcastle

1939

Parochial district of Merewether South established

Church first in Ridge Street cottage, then in church hall

1952

New brick church Holy Family built crn Pell and Ridge Streets, church hall converted for school use

1956

School opened in old church hall

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, originally travelling daily from Merewether convent

First sisters, M Ursula Kauter Principal, M Mary Jackson and M Patricia Hayes

1961

Merewether Beach convent opened, crn Janet and Pell Streets

New school built with four classrooms and ancillary rooms, later another wing

1983

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1984

First lay Principal, Mr Michael Gore

1987

‘A parish maintenance committee formed each year and drawing mainly from the fathers of children enrolled at the school, cares for all parish grounds, resulting in attractive, well kept surroundings for the children, teachers and parishioners.’ ¹

1992

‘Demountable’ classrooms were purchased

1994

Infants toilets were upgraded, extra storage area provided

1997

Sisters withdrew from convent

Convent converted for school and parish use

1998

‘It was a sisterly reunion at Merewether’s Holy Family primary school yesterday when the school opened its new administration block. School founders Sisters Mary Jackson, Ursula Kauter and Patricia Hayes were on hand as Newcastle parish priest Father Peter Brock officially blessed and opened the building. Centrepiece of the opening was a mural tracing the school’s history.’ ²

2004

Construction of administration and staff facilities, library, classrooms and store

2007

Holy Family church closed as a Mass centre

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal

Refurbishment of multi-purpose hall, student hall and shade structure

Garden Suburb ST JAMES PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Kotara

Aboriginal word for ‘a club’

Opened 1961

School

Kindergarten to year 4

Closed 1980

Location Myall Road Kotara / Garden Suburb NSW 2289

1958

Land purchased in Myall Road from BHP

1961

School opened Myall Road, Garden Suburb School opened in a building (formerly used as an operating theatre) relocated from Greta Migrant Camp.being a large building, half went to Tarro for convent and church, half to Kotara / Garden Suburb

Remainder of Greta hospital relocated for more classrooms and temporary church

Sisters of Mercy arrived, M Cordula Torpey, M Chrysostom Dolahenty travelling from New Lambton convent

Classes began for Kindergarten to Year 4

1962

Parish of New Lambton was established

1963

Kotara South parish established, Church of St Philip ‘The building was originally used as a bath-house for the Crofton Colliery … Fifteen to twenty men worked each weekend for about three months on the building to turn it into a church seating two hundred and fifty, the total cost having been about 2,000 pounds. … Mr Peter Gannon, architect of Newcastle, although not a parishioner, gave his services free and drew up the plan of converting the old building into a new Church.’ ¹

1971

School now Kindergarten to Year 6

1974

Twenty four acres of land purchased on Vista Parade, Kotara South

1975

‘Demountable’ classrooms purchased allowing full school relocation

1977

Mercy administration ended

1978

Infants classes relocated to ‘open plan’ classrooms at new site

1981

Entire St James School relocated to new school site on Vista Parade Kotara South, paid for by parish. Old school site sold to make way for a private nursing home

School opened in a building (formerly used as an operating theatre) relocated from Greta Migrant Camp. Being a large building, half went to Tarro for convent and church, half to Kotara / Garden Suburb. Remainder of Greta hospital relocated for more classrooms and temporary church.

Kotara South ST JAMES PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Kotara

Aboriginal word for ‘a club’

Opened 1978

Preceded by

St James School relocated from Myall Road Garden Suburb

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Mercy

Motto: In Faith We Learn

Location: Vista Parade Kotara South NSW 2289

Parish: All Saints Blackbutt

School Opened Staff Years

St James Primary 1978 Lay Teachers 43

Reference 1 Catholic Education Reporter 12/1981

1961

St James School kindergarten to year 4, originally built on Myall Road Garden Suburb

Sisters of Mercy, first sisters M Cordula, M Chrysostom travelling from New Lambton convent

1962

Parish of New Lambton established

1974

Twenty four acres of land purchased on Vista Parade, Infants section relocated there

1975

Old school site and ‘demountable’ classrooms purchased with a vision for full school relocation

1977

Mercy administration ended

1978

Infants classes transferred from Myall Road site to present site on Vista Parade. Classes held in new ‘open plan’ building fully funded by parishioners

Garden Suburb school site sold and demountable classrooms purchased to allow the school to be fully located on one site.

Founding Principal Kotara South, Mr Ian McDonald

1981

With the assistance of a building grant from the Commonwealth Schools Commission and support from parishioners, a permanent school was fully operational on the Vista Parade site by 1981

Completed relocation from Myall Road to Vista Parade, paid by parish of Kotara South

Permanent school built, reopened as kindergarten to year 6 ‘The school is set against a background of dense bush. Its central courtyard and reading court, both of which have been extensively landscaped by the parish, provides the school with a most attractive environment for education.’ ¹

2007

Construction of administration facilities and walkways

2009

Construction of shade structure, refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal

Construction of multi-purpose hall, refurbishment of library and associated works

2015

Establishment of outdoor education area

2016

Computer laboratory dismantled, new contemporary space established

The school is set against a background of dense bush. Its central courtyard and reading court, both of which have been extensively landscaped by the parish, provides the school with a most attractive environment for education.

Catholic Education Reporter 12/1981

Adamstown ST PIUS X HIGH SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Adamstown

Named after surveyor Thomas Adams, who surveyed the town in 1896

Opened 1961

originally on Tighes Hill site 1959

Known as

until 1983 St Pius X College

School today years 7 to 10

Motto: To Renew All Things In Christ

Location: Park Avenue Adamstown NSW 2289

Parish: All Saints Blackbutt

1959

St Pius X Secondary School for boys opened at Tighes Hill, two First Year classes. School staffed by Diocesan priests.

1960

Park Avenue Adamstown property purchased from Lustre Hosiery, 16 acres with factory premises

1961

St Pius X College opened Adamstown 19 March when 170 students moved from St Pius X Tighes Hill

‘Father Newton said that at least two playing fields would be provided. He said that the school would probably absorb a large number of students from rapidly developing areas of Charlestown and Kotara. He said that the school had been forced to move because at Tighe’s Hill [sic] it was a case of “too little space for too many boys.’ ¹

College Rector Fr J. Newton, priests V. Dilly, L. Cicolini, T. Kennedy

1964

First Leaving Certificate year

1966

New classroom wing and minor works

1967

St Anne’s Senior High School for girls opened in the grounds of St Pius X College

1970s

St Anne’s became co-instructional Senior High School with St Pius X

1980

Parcel of land purchased

1983

Restructuring of Newcastle secondary schools with St Pius X becoming coeducational, in a staged process beginning with Year 7

No Year 11 students enrolled – boys transferring to St Francis Xavier’ High School Hamilton

Last Year 12 class

1984

Became a Junior Co-educational High School – name changed from St Pius X College to St Pius X High School

Buildings of St Anne’s School now utilised for St Pius X

First lay Principal, Mr Ray Kelly

2008

St Anne’s Hall renamed Sr Marie Hall, honouring long service to the school by Josephite, Sr Marie Therese Fahey

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities external and internal

Stage 1 – refurbishment of classrooms, administration facilities and multi-purpose hall

Completed – Trade Training Centre, Hairdressing Salon and Hospitality Commercial Kitchen

2011

Stage 2 – refurbishment of Science and Technology classrooms

Adamstown ST ANNE’S HIGH SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Adamstown

Named after surveyor Thomas Adams, who surveyed the town in 1896

Opened 1966

Fifth form began on Tighes Hill site

Location Park Avenue Adamstown NSW 2289

Closed 1985

1966

St Anne’s High School opened as a Senior Secondary High School for Girls in the Newcastle area.

‘The changes brought about by the implementation of the Wyndham scheme were difficult, especially for the teachers of the senior classes at St Aloysius. To cater for the range of subjects required under the new scheme, the diocesan authorities arranged that the four schools in the Newcastle area, San Clemente Mayfield, St Aloysius Hamilton, St Joseph’s Merewether and St Mary’s Gateshead should send their senior girls to the new academy to be known as St Anne’s High School. ¹ School staffed by Dominican, Mercy and Josephite sisters. The six sisters were Sr M Raphael (Levey) O.P., Sr M Phillipa O.P., Sr M Bartholomew rsm (Principal), Sr M Julie rsm, Sr Jane Frances rsj, and Sr Francis Xavier rsj.’

Fifth Form began in former school buildings at Tighes Hill as new school not completed. Laboratory facilities at Marist Brothers High School Hamilton were used while school operated in the temporary accommodation.

1967

St Anne’s Girls School opened on site adjacent to, but separate from St Pius X. The buildings included five classrooms, six tutorial rooms, two science labs, a geology room, library (15,000 books), assembly hall and administration offices. ²

1970s

St Anne’s became a co-instructional Senior High School with St Pius X College

‘In order to make the best use of teaching resources at the senior level a system of co-instruction was established with the adjacent secondary boys’ school, Pius X College Adamstown, which at the time was staffed mainly by diocesan priests. In practice this meant a sharing of staff and premises to cater for mixed senior classes in some subject areas.’ ¹

1984

Last Year 11 class enrolled

1985

School closed due to restructuring of Secondary education in the Newcastle area

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE Lakes region

On Country:

Traditional custodians of the land the Awabakal people

Lakes Region encompasses all Catholic schools surrounding Lake Macquarie.

Originally known by the Aboriginal name ‘awaba’ meaning ‘plain or flat surface’, then by extension,’awaba’ referring to the people native to this area, the Awabakal people were the traditional custodians of the land on which all our schools are now situated.

As Australia’s largest coastal salt water lake Lake Macquarie is found south of and adjacent to the City of Newcastle. Lake Macquarie is Australia's largest coastal salt water lake encompassing an area of 110 square kilometres, with a staggering shore line of 174 kms and a vital connection to the Tasman Sea by a short and since early times a controversially, shallow channel. Many districts grew up around the Lake's shoreline and hinterland. Settlement originally was based around early cedar cutting and logging industries, while later around coal extraction industries, then following post war expansion around mining, transport and commercial needs. Tourism unfolded as a major focus in more recent times. Critical factors in expansion came with transport connections: the 1879 rail line linking Newcastle to Sydney loosely meandering along the Lake’s western shore, the Pacific Motorway now the M1 humming along a similar route more westerly. While on the eastern and coastal shoreline connection came about with the 1895 Swansea bridge opening as a public roadway, evolving into the busy Pacific Highway of today.

Before 1823, Newcastle was strictly a penal settlement and with the express intention of isolating penal life and its associated vices from the growing Colony in Sydney, Governor Macquarie forbade settlement in the wider Hunter districts. Following transfer of most convicts to Port Macquarie, settlement north of Sydney became possible. 1826 saw the first land grant at Cooranbong and from this early and ultimately unsuccessful rural enterprise a fledgling cedar timber industry developed, soon thriving due to the navigable creek, lake and sea channel connection to Sydney.

Prior to 1861, Cooranbong community largely centred around six Irish convicts assigned for work on the 1826 land grant, used their strong Catholic influence and growing commercial interests to eagerly seek out educational opportunities.

Education for Catholic students began at Cooranbong in 1861 ¹, so it is here our story begins. This rural community built a humble timber church leased for 17 years to the National Board of Education for all children in the area as a National School. First Catholic teachers Jeremiah and Catherine Cronin opened the school with an enrolment of thirty-six students, of which twenty-six were Catholic. ²

Being then within the Archdiocese of Sydney and under the pastoral care of Archbishop John Polding, ³ Cooranbong’s church/school began as a mass center administered from the parish of Kincumber, with the priest riding vast distances on horseback around the Lake tending to the needs of his far-flung Catholic flock. In later years the trip was made easier on motor cycle, then car.

This National School lease agreement continued (1866 saw a transfer to Council of Education) with lay teachers on staff until 1880, ending with the implementation of the Public Instruction Act when government financial aid was withdrawn from all church schools. Bishops now faced a crisis, how to maintain existing Catholic schools on a severely reduced budget.

Fortuitously, the Sisters of St Joseph with then head of the Order Mary MacKillop, upon arrival in Sydney from Bathurst were offered eight foundations, Cooranbong accepted as one. Immediately upon opening the now called ‘Catholic School’ the ‘Brown Joeys’ as staff saw student enrolment increase to eighty-four, aided no doubt by a very strong

Bishop's Pastoral Letter ’encouraging’ parents to send their children to Catholic schools. Controversially and not surprisingly, enrolments at the recently established ‘State’ school dramatically declined necessitating temporary closure.

The ‘Brown’ Joeys remained at Cooranbong school and convent for sixteen years. Falling enrolments heralded closure, due largely to the much hoped for Sydney to Newcastle rail line bypassing Cooranbong in favour of Morisset, some six kilometres east. Upon inevitable closure in 1896, the Sisters relocated to Kincumber, establishing there a Josephite Orphanage and Convent, continuing their mission to the poor until 1989.4

The diaries of Mother Mary MacKillop had recorded both her 1895 visits to the sisters, and also her attendance at mass in the then timber church, so, when canonized in 2010 as Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, the church of St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s became recognized as a Pilgrimage Site. Closely following her canonization, commemorative plaques were placed outside this humble brick gothic church rebuilt in 1904, where today it continues to function on a rostered weekend basis as a mass center for the parish of Morisset.

Of relevance for modern day Cooranbong, is the unfolding presence of the Seventh-day Adventists. For in the same year as Mary MacKillop visited her sisters in 1895, a similarly strong and educationally focused woman also arrived. Ellen White had come seeking a suitable place to establish an educational facility for Adventism in Australia and from these humble origins, Cooranbong has continued as the central Australian home of Adventism, today a thriving community at Avondale

Other districts around the nor-western area of the Lake experienced post war expansion especially around that of mining and with subsequent population increase the provision of Catholic schools gained momentum. The Sisters of St Joseph arrived from Sydney opening a convent at Boolaroo staffing schools as needed on this western and northern side, while the Diocesan Josephites purchased land for a convent at Swansea on the eastern side of the Lake, initially as a rest and care center for their Lochinvar Congregation, but also travelling out to, establishing and staffing new schools. This arrangement remained in place until 1966, when Diocesan boundaries changed formally including all of Lake Macquarie in the Maitland Diocese.6 This Diocesan boundary change necessitated the gradual withdrawal of Congregational Josephites returning to schools within the new boundary of the Archdiocese of Sydney and their consequent replacement with Josephites from Lochinvar.

Establishment of ten primary schools was well underway during the 1950s and early 60s, however, provision of secondary education which had begun tentatively at Belmont and Glendale schools, began afresh when land was purchased at Gateshead in 1964 by the Diocesan Josephites. With the establishment of St Mary’s Catholic College Gateshead now providing accessible Catholic secondary education for primary school leavers on the eastern shoreline of the Lake, there was an early but increasingly insistent call to provide similar secondary schooling on the western shore. And so, twenty years on St Paul’s Catholic College at Booragul was established, continuing to provide for students completing their primary years at Catholic schools from the south and western districts of the Lake.

Slowly but surely over many years despite periods of change and uncertainty, with the assistance of several Religious Orders and many well qualified and devoted lay educators, a very strong Catholic Education System, of which we can be proud, has been established and is now thriving in the Lakes Region.

Footnotes

1 Keith, Clouten, Reid’s Mistake A History of Lake Macquarie 2000

2 ibid

3 Celebrating 150 Years of Catholic Presence 1861 – 2011 2011

4 Christine, E Bowry From the Mountains to the Sea A History of the Catholic Church on the Central Coast 1838–1998

5 Used with kind permission from the Congregational archives of the Sisters of St Joseph

6 Celebrating 150 Years of Catholic Presence 1861 – 2011 2011

Cooranbong NATIONAL SCHOOL / CATHOLIC SCHOOL

ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Cooranbong

Aboriginal word for ‘water over rocks’

Opened 1861

Archdiocese of Sydney

Closed 1896

Archdiocese of Sydney

Location

6 Martinsville Road Cooranbong NSW 2265

2015

School Opened Closed Staff Years

National/church Catholic school 1861 1880 1879 1896 Lay Teachers Congregational Josephites 18 16

1

2 Mother Mary MacKillop 1895 diary entries used with kind permission from the Congregational Archives of the Sisters of St Joseph 3 Freemans Journal 22/12/1906

4 The Sisters of St Joseph (1926) unknown author Bowry, C. (1998) From the Mountains to the Sea A History of the Catholic Church on the Central Coast 1838–1998 parish publication

A History of St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s Church and Cemetery (2011) parish publication

Cooranbong originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney, Kincumber Parish, Rev. H N Wolfrey OC

1822–1861

First land grants made in the area, thriving community built around timber industry

1861

Community built a humble wooden structure, 17 year lease as National School and Catholic church

1861–1879

Lay staffed, first teachers Jeremiah and Catherine Cronin, operated by the National Board of Education

1880

Three ‘Brown Joeys’ arrived, residing close by in a dwelling/convent ‘rent free’, along Mathew Valley Road

Sisters of St Joseph, from their new foundation in Sydney opened school after Easter in church school ‘… several sisters were sent directly from Brisbane to Tenterfield, while most of the others were instructed to break their journey in Sydney and accept foundations offered them by [Bishop] Vaughan.’ ¹

Sisters of St Joseph (later to become known as Congregational Josephites) arrived. First sisters M Collett Carolan, M Aloysius Ferricks, M Patrick Barry

Enrolment 67 students

1886

Enrolment 98 students

1889

Rail link Sydney to Newcastle opened, station built at Morisset thus by-passing Cooranbong

1892

Two storey convent built along Mathew Valley Road

1895

Congregational leader, Sr Mary MacKillop visited on two occasions ‘April 20th Saturday Mass, Holy Communion and Meditation early – going to Cooranbong. Met by Mr Healy. Fare cost 7/6.’ ‘Saw Fr Cohen and Fr O’Shea at Cooranbong. Fare 7/6’ ² ‘May 20th Mon. Mass and oratory, then started for Sydney via Gosford. Remained a few hours there. Went with the priest to two places about a room for School Teacher, secured promise of one at 12/– a week with Mrs Denny. Travelled with Dominican nuns to Hornsby. Got home 7.45pm.’ ²

1896

Josephite administration ended, convent and school closed.Cooranbong convent

‘The original cottage … purchased by Russell [family of Morisset], dismantled and now stands reassembled as the residence of the caretaker of “Lake Lodge” a holiday resort in Morisset.’ 4 ‘The Sisters left Cooranbong and established their Convent and Orphanage at Kincumber, so dear to the heart of Mother Mary of the Cross, in 1887.’ 4 Josephite Convent operated at Kincumber until 1960s functioning currently as a Retreat Centre.

1902

Title to 3-acre parcel of land church/school secured for 10 shillings, from the estate of Sir Daniel Cooper

1904

Humble gothic brick church built ‘in defiance to (sic) the weather and the white ants for many years to come’ 3, mass centre for Wyong parish

1947

Morisset parish included within Diocese of Maitland, St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s Church Cooranbong continuing as a mass centre, now for Morisset parish

2015

Two plaques mounted close to the front church corner to mark Mary of the Cross MacKillop Pilgrimage Site

West Wallsend ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Wallsend

After a place near Newcastle on Tyne, England. The suburb began as two mining towns – Wallsend and Plattsburg

Opened 1912

Closed 1978

Location 5 Hyndes Street West Wallsend NSW 2286

1872

‘The Right Rev Dr Dwyer, Bishop of Maitland, will bless the new convent on Sunday next at 8.15pm. The convent will supply a long-felt want in this populous district, and as the good sisters of St Joseph who will conduct the school are now well known as a teaching order, good results may be looked for. The Lochinvar Convent, under the same order of nuns, lately sent up a number of pupils, out of which no less than 24 passed the Bursary examination. The new convent was opened for school duties during the week and 32 names were recorded on the roll. The Very Rev. Father McAuliffe in whose district the convent is situated, is assured by his parishioners that by the end of the month the attendance will be at least 150 pupils’

Newcastle Morning Herald 24/1/1912, p. 6

Lambton parish established

1908

Wallsend included in Lambton parish

1910 –1911

Convent built, opened 1912

1912

Diocesan Josephite sisters came to staff the school, M Agnes Gallagher, M Dominic Barry, M Benignus Tobin, M Patricia Boland

St Joseph’s School opened with enrolment of 95 students

1913

Extensions built to both church and school

1915

Registration gained as Intermediate Certificate School ‘Meeting the public school standard became an important point later in 1912 when the Bursary Endowment Act was passed in New South Wales. For the first time, non-government school students were eligible to win a bursary for secondary or university study at a state or private institution. That institution, however, had to meet the educational standard prescribed for the qualifying and leaving certificates of the state school system.’ ¹

1931

With the Great Depression and the closure of mines, enrolment now fallen to 50 students

1937

West Wallsend established as parish

1955

West Wallsend and Glendale established as parochial district

1962

Sisters of St Joseph travelled to staff St Benedict’s Edgeworth

1960s

Infants classes moved to St Benedict’s Edgeworth, primary classes remained

1978

School closed, last Principal Sr Frances Slack rsj

1979

West Wallsend and Edgeworth schools combined, now established at St Benedict’s Edgeworth

1982 –2015

Convent used for parish work by both Sisters of Mercy and Sisters of St Joseph

Boolaroo OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Boolaroo

Aboriginal word for ‘place of flies’

Opened 1926

Closed 1976 Location

Seventh Avenue Boolaroo NSW 2284 References

Boolaroo and Warners Bay originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney, until 1966

Land purchased at Boolaroo ‘… another mining centre on Lake Macquarie, the people of the district were chiefly engaged in the Stockton and Borehole Collieries, and Cockle Creek Sulphide Works.’ ¹

1917

Foundation stone laid for first church

1926

Convent at 24 Seventh Street and presbytery at 26 Seventh Street built by Fr Green, first parish priest ‘Fr Green – also a great carpenter – made desks and forms so that the people could use the latter at Mass.’ ²

Congregational Sisters of St Joseph residing at Kincumber convent invited to staff school at Boolaroo.

Sisters lived in the presbytery awaiting the completion of Boolaroo convent

First sisters M Winifred O’Brien, M Dolores Goss, M Rodrigues Millar, M Agnes King, M Joan O’Connor

School opened in church of Our Lady Help of Christians with 50 children

1930

Music centre opened in the convent

1934

Three new classrooms built

1954

Enrolment 145 students

1956

School painted and toilet block commenced

1959

Enrolment 98 students

1961

New church built, Our Lady Help of Christians, enabling extra classroom accommodation in old church, school extended to Year 6

1966

Boolaroo and Warners Bay parishes transferred to Diocese of Maitland

1968

Boolaroo Our Lady Help of Christians School became a St Mary's Primary School

1969

Students transferred by bus daily – infants classes to St Mary’s Warners Bay, primary classes transferred from St Mary’s Warners Bay to Boolaroo

First lay teacher employed

1975

Enrolment 69 students

1976

Boolaroo School closed, students accommodated at St Mary’s Primary School

With closure of school, buildings relocated to Warners Bay

Congregational Josephites remained at the Boolaroo convent, travelling daily to Warners Bay school

1981

Josephites withdrew from Warners Bay school, two sisters remained to continue parish work

1989

Convent at 24 Seventh Street damaged in earthquake, demolished in 1991, rebuilt 1993

1998

‘During February and March 1998 the old Church built in 1917 and the tuck shop and toilet block were all demolished.’ ²

Cardiff ST KEVIN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Cardiff

Named after the capital of Wales at the suggestion of settler James Edward in 1889. Area previously known as Winding Creek, then Lymington

Opened

1917 St Joseph’s

Also opened

1958 Junior High School

Known as

1989 St Kevin’s

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Nurturing Mind, Body and Spirit

Location: 228 Main Road Cardiff NSW 2285

Parish: All Saints Blackbutt

1873

Parochial district of Lambton established

1906

Wooden church and convent built

1917

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph came to open school, M Patrick Comerford, M Agatha Bussell, M Madeline O’Brien

School opened as St Joseph’s, enrolment 70 students

1928

Brick church built, existing buildings in Newcastle Street to be used for school purposes

1939

Cardiff parish established

1942

Wooden school buildings destroyed by fire, but because of war time school was not immediately rebuilt ‘Sister M Kilian with first class occupied the old tin shed … desks were made by resting boards on cases and the children sat on the cases … the AIP rooms … a shop … had been divided into two classrooms by a partition of Hessian

… Sr. M Bede taught second class and M Christina taught fourth and fifth … the men had erected a tin shed for Sr. M Felicitas and her sixth class. The shops and shed were not rain proof, very hot in summer and cold in winter.’ ¹

‘Gordon Swadling brought umbrellas for us in case it rained.’ ²

1944

New school building opened. Building of the new school was delayed because building materials were in short supply due to World War 2.

1958

New convent opened, closed 1980 then reopened 1981

Junior High School conducted in addition to primary grades

1969

Extensions were added to the school to cater for increased enrolments

1976 –1980

First lay Principal, Mr David Carty

1980

The convent was closed

1981

Sisters moved back into the convent as it was unsuitable for school expansion

1989

School named St Kevin’s, changed in line with parish name

1991

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1992

Major extensions

Mercy sister Judith Murphy appointed Principal

1993

2009 Refurbishment of buildings, grounds, security fence

2009

Construction of multi-purpose hall, refurbishment of library

2012

Mercy administration ended

Opening of new facilities

The wooden school building which was the original church was destroyed by fire in October 1942. Because of the war, building materials were in short supply and a new school didn’t open until June 1944. In the meantime classes were held in various nearby locations.

Sister M Kilian with first class occupied the old tin shed … desks were made by resting boards on cases and the children sat on the cases …

Charlestown ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Charlestown

Thought to be named after Charles Smith, manager of the Waratah Coal Company

Opened 1927

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Truth in Christ

Location: 32 Shelton Street Charlestown NSW 2290

Parish: MacKillop

1884

Parochial district of Hamilton established, encompassing Charlestown

1904

Church / school Mary Immaculate at 9 Milson Street

1927

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, M Benignus Tobin, M Stanislaus Donnelly, M Dominica Chapman

School conducted in church building, expanded with four weatherboard classrooms ‘Sunday, 9th August, was a beautiful sunshiny day and favoured the promoters of the “Sacred Concert” that was held in the Convent School in the afternoon. With weather so inviting and with the first public appearance of the St Joseph’s Percussion Band of 51 performers, the school was taxed beyond its capacity. The

young performers acquitted themselves with an earnestness surprising in children so young – their ages being from 5 to 12 years. The “Full Band”, when marching in with charming uniforms of royal blue and gold, were enthusiastically applauded by a very appreciative audience.’ ¹

1951

Parochial district of Charlestown established

1968

Two prefabricated classrooms added on limited site

1973

New school built in Shelton Street, opened 1975, Commonwealth Government Grant

1978

Enrolment of 400 pupils

1981

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1982

First lay Principal, Mrs Nancy Smythe

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities external and internal, classroom joinery work

Construction of library, classrooms, refurbishment of administration and staff facilities

Toronto ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Toronto

Named after champion sculler Edward Hanlan, who hailed from Toronto Canada and arrived in Australia at the time of the sub division

Opened 1950 Closed

School

K. E. (1991). Unfurrowed fields: a Josephite story, NSW, 1872–1972. St. Joseph's Convent.

3 Kelly, C. (1997) A Journey… Through Light and Shadow: Sisters of Mercy Singleton 1875–1995. Hamilton NSW.

Toronto and Boolaroo parishes originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney until 1966

1903

Land purchased on the corner of Carey Street and Brighton Avenue by Archdiocese of Sydney, Cardinal Moran

1914

Parish of Wyong established, within the Archdiocese of Sydney

1915

St Joseph’s Church opened on Carey Street site operating as mass centre

1926

Toronto parish joined the parish of Boolaroo

1949

‘Wonderful news! We were to get two Brown St Joseph Sisters and have our own little school in the church.’ ¹

1950

First school opened in church building Carey Street Toronto, Kindergarten to Year 4

Congregational Sisters of St Joseph, travelled “in the miner’s bus” from Boolaroo convent ²

Sisters of St Joseph, M Patricia O’Brien, M Peter Julian, M Geraldine O’Meara, M Enda

1952

Sisters of Mercy purchase Convent of Our Lady of the Lake

Toronto Mercy convent established

1954

Parish of Toronto established, Archdiocese of Sydney ‘It could boast of no presbytery but did have three weatherboard churches, the Toronto building doubling for a school in the charge of the Brown Sisters of St Joseph and a quarry site containing a partially completed school building, at a standstill because the contractor had run into financial difficulties.’ ¹

Construction of school began on quarry site opposite church

1956

Sisters of Mercy appointed to staff school –Sisters M Heather McClymont, Principal, M Mary Bowe, M. Bernadine Cunningham.

New brick school on quarry site opened in September.

1960s

Lower playground behind church constructed by parishioners

1964

Building acquired from Rathmines Airbase, used to accommodate Years 5 and 6

First lay teacher, Mrs O’Brien

1966

Toronto parish transferred to Diocese of Maitland

1972

Mercy administration ended

1973

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived to staff the school, M Maureen Metz Principal, M Maureen Salmon, M Janice Kealy, M Carol Woodlands, travelling from Morisset convent ‘During this period the lower playground had been developed by voluntary labour, the Canteen area had been extended by the Men’s Service Club, the school grounds had been fenced, tree planted by the Lions’ Club and a car had been provided for use by the sisters following driving instructions where necessary by John Montgomery.’ ¹

1974

Residence at 237 Excelsior Parade converted to convent for Sisters of St Joseph

1976

Three ‘demountable’ classrooms were erected on edge of property, extra ones added in 1979

1982

School inspection showed that school facilities were grossly inadequate and limited registration was given

1983

Decision to widen road outside school made by Department of Main Roads and Lake Macquarie City Council

Forty acres were purchased in Kilaben Bay, including a large residence

Diocesan Josephite administration ended, convent property becoming privately owned

1984

St Joseph’s Primary School closed to be relocated at new school site, Kilaben Bay

Kilaben Bay ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Kilaben Bay

Aboriginal word for ‘shining, ’bright’, ‘glorious’

Opened 1984

Preceded by

1950 – 1983 St Joseph’s Toronto

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Love One Another

Location: 140 Wangi Road Kilaben Bay NSW 2283

Parish: Toronto

1984

New site at Kilaben Bay for church, presbytery, school and convent

New school completed and transfer of convent building to Kilaben Bay site

‘The new school which is of log cabin construction, is set in bushland 10 kilometres south of the town.’ ¹

First lay Principal, Mr Ian McDonald

1985

St Joseph’s School opened, with school buses delivering 400 children

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal and shade structure erected

Construction of multi-purpose hall and refurbishment of classroom and other works

‘This undulating bushland site provided a challenge to the architects in designing the large BER funded multi-purpose hall ’ ¹

Belmont ST FRANCIS XAVIER’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Belmont

Named by settler Thomas Williamson, after his home village on the Shetland Islands

Opened 1950

Also opened

1957 Secondary school opened

1950 St Joseph’s Primary 1996 St Francis Xavier’s

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Let Your Light Shine

Location: 42 Ernest Street Belmont NSW 2280

Parish: East Lake Macquarie

Belmont originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney, parish of Swansea until 1966

1950

School opened as St Joseph’s Primary

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph travelled from Swansea convent, one hour trip by boat and bus, crossing the Swansea Channel until the convent at Belmont was built

First sisters came to staff school, M Virgilius Perkins, M Callista Nolan

School opened in Ernest Street, L-shaped wooden building of three classrooms and verandah ‘The school opened with little furniture. The desks which had been expected had not arrived in time for classes. Teachers therefore brought the seats from the Church and used these until high school desks from a brothers [sic] school eventuated. These desks were so large that the infants [sic] classes disappeared behind them. They were later cut down to size.’ ¹

1951

Belmont convent opened

1956

Grey stone cottage adjoining the primary school purchased

1957

Secondary School opened in cottage, first year girls only

Extensions undertaken on primary school ‘A significant factor contributing to the school’s expansion in these early years was the provision of voluntary labour. The teachers of this decade remember well the many numbers of occasions when parishioners gave of their time and labour to provide better facilities for the children and sisters. Of note, was the furnishing of the first additional room, the asphalting of the playground and the construction of two more rooms …’ ¹

1958

High school expanded to second year students

1959

High school expanded to third year, with students completing further schooling at St Joseph’s Merewether

1962

New two storey brick wing built adding five rooms for secondary students

1963

Secondary school closed with all buildings available for primary school expansion, students accommodated at St Mary’s Gateshead

1966

Swansea parish transferred from Archdiocese of Sydney to Diocese of Maitland

Parish of Belmont established, incorporating Swansea parish

1979

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1980

First lay Principal, Mr Ray Hanley

1996

Name change from St Joseph’s to St Francis Xavier’s Primary School

1997

Construction and refurbishment –administration, extra classrooms, library, canteen and toilet facilities

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal

Refurbishment of classrooms, library and associated works

Belmont ST JOSEPH’S HIGH SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Belmont

Named by settler Thomas Williamson, after his home village on the Shetland Islands

Opened 1957

Closed 1963

Location

Ernest Street Belmont NSW 2280

Belmont originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney, parish of Swansea until 1966

1952

School opened as St Joseph’s Primary in Ernest Street, wooden building of three classrooms

1956

Grey stone cottage adjoining the primary school purchased

1957

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived to staff school First Principal M Joseph Mary Parmeter ‘Since there was no convent at Belmont at the time, the sisters were required to travel daily from the holiday convent at Swansea. As the convent was on Caves Beach Road and distant from the bus stops, Mr Tom Shanahan, the convent gardener, rowed the nuns across Black Ned’s Bay to a point on the highway where a bus collected and transported them to Belmont, via Mark’s Point – a trip which took nearly an hour.’ ¹

1958

High school expanded to second year students

1959

High school expanded to third year, with students completing further schooling at St Joseph’s Merewether

1962

New brick wing built adding five rooms for secondary students

1963

Secondary school closed with all buildings available for primary school expansion

Upon closure secondary students and staff and staff relocated to St Mary’s Gateshead, original convent used as a St Vincent de Paul Centre, second convent demolished for school expansion

1966

Swansea parish transferred from Archdiocese of Sydney to Diocese of Maitland

Parish of Belmont established, incorporating Swansea parish

Swansea ST PATRICK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Swansea

Named from its resemblance to a seaport in Wales, by Captain R N Talbot, pioneer of the ship building trade.

Opened 1952

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Grow in Hope

Location: 213 Northcote Avenue Swansea NSW 2281

Parish: East Lake Macquarie

Swansea and Belmont originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney until 1966

1941

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph purchased a property in Northcote Avenue, for sisters requiring rest and care

1952

Sisters asked to staff new school St Patrick’s in Wood Street Swansea. Opening enrolment 30 students

School building construction began

First Principal M Virgilius Perkins. ‘Initially, St Patrick’s Primary School was staffed by the Sisters of St Joseph. Its founding principal was Sr Virgilius Perkins. In those early days the nuns, who lived at Belmont, travelled to Black Neds Bay wharf by rowboat, where they moored and walked to the school which, at that time, was located on the site of what is now the McDonalds restaurant in Swansea. Local legend has it that, on more than one occasion, the boat capsized and gave the Sisters an additional bath for the day.’ 1

1954

Swansea parish, separated from Belmont parish, both within Archdiocese of Sydney

1966

Swansea and Belmont parishes transferred to Diocese of Maitland

1971

New school extensions opened in Wood Street, acclaimed for its modern amenities

1977 –1978

Relocation of church, classrooms and parish cottage to Josephite owned land in Northcote Avenue, on the shore of Black Ned’s Bay, land then donated to parish

1984

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1985

First lay Principal, Mr Paul Neary

1986

Repairs and renovations to school buildings 1995

Convent moved from central site on the land parcel to new premises adjacent to school

Original convent dwelling demolished, St Teresa’s Cottages built adjacent to the site catering for Aged Sisters

Cottage in the grounds relocated to St Joseph’s Lochinvar near the Sports Field

1996

Sisters moved to adjacent site allowing school to expand

Two ‘demountables’ added for library and classrooms

2005 –2006

Old school demolished, new school built, also administration and staff facilities

2007

New school facilities officially opened

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, external construction completed

Construction of multi-purpose hall

Glendale HOLY CROSS PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Glendale

Name is Scottish in origin, ‘glen’ for valley between hills, ‘dale’ also meaning ‘valley’

Opened 1958

Also opened

1961–1967 Girls High School

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Mercy

Motto: We Dare We Share

Location: 326 Lake Road Glendale NSW 2285

Parish: Sugarloaf References

Several acres of land gradually acquired

1957

Parish of Glendale established, Diocese of Maitland

1958

School opened in ‘the Green Cottage’, a brick veneer structure of four rooms

Sisters of Mercy, originally travelling from Lambton convent

Sisters taught in newly erected church hall / school

First sisters, M Gonzaga Lantry, M Jacinta O’Connor

1958

Kindergarten to year 4, opening enrolment 105 students

1960

New primary and secondary schools and convent built

1961

Primary and secondary opened, buildings transported from Wangi Power Station and Greta Migrant Camp

Glendale Mercy convent established

1961 –1967

Girls High School operated

1968

Closure of high school enabled wooden style buildings to be used for primary classrooms

1974

First lay Principal Mrs June Bickle 1975

Open style building known as ‘The Unit’ constructed, uniting the school in one area ‘Gradually, better facilities were provided by the Parents and Friends of the school and the Mothers Club, so that it would now appear to be very well equipped. Many people, teachers and others who have been associated with Holy Cross School have sensed the existence of a very good spirit.’ ¹

1978

Sisters of Mercy resume administration of school

1988

Sisters of Mercy administration ends

2001

Construction of classrooms and student facilities

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, internal works, IT equipment and infrastructure

Construction of multi-purpose hall and refurbishment of library

Glendale HOLY CROSS GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Glendale

Name is Scottish in origin, ‘glen’ for valley between hills, ‘dale’ also meaning ‘valley’

Opened 1961

Closed 1967 Location

326 Lake Road Glendale NSW 2285

Several acres of land gradually acquired

1957

Cottage of four rooms, brick veneer structure

Parish of Glendale established, Diocese of Maitland

1958

Mercy sisters taught in church / hall, Kindergarten to Year 4

1961

Glendale Mercy convent established

Sister of Mercy, Principal M Louis Coote ‘From the beginning of the next school year the Sisters of Mercy will conduct a Secondary School for girls at Glendale. It will begin with one first year class and progress yearly until it will provide a full secondary school curriculum. For this purpose five class-rooms and a recreation room for the girls are being prepared. These classrooms are being constructed from buildings purchased from the Wangi Power Station project. A convent is also being provided for the Sisters of Mercy who teach in the present primary school and the new High School.’

Primary and Secondary opened in buildings transported from Wangi Power Station and Greta Migrant Camp

Girls High School opened, beginning with First Year, progressing each year to provide years first to sixth

1965

Five girls sitting the School Certificate won scholarships taking them to St Anne’s High School, Tighes Hill

1966

Registration granted under Bursary Endowment Act

1967

Sister of Mercy, Principal M Kostka Coote

Parents informed of expected closure at end of school year

Gradual closure of high school enabled wooden style buildings to be used for primary classrooms

Warners Bay ST MARY’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

The church owned our playing fields and nature area which was then a mass of bush. Another neighbour Mr Jack Finn, from the Water Board, sold us his property, hence we named it Finnland [sic]. There were a lot of new Australians present in our community at that time and many were Catholic.

1976 St Mary’s Warners Bay

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Warners Bay

Named after Johnathan Warner, residing on his original Land

Grant of 1280 acres, once called Awaba Bay

Opened 1958

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: To Jesus Through Mary

Location: 2 Bayview Street Warners Bay NSW 2282

Parish: Boolaroo–Warners Bay

Warners Bay and Boolaroo originally within Archdiocese of Sydney until 1966

1957

School Building Committee formed

1958

Congregational Sisters of St Joseph opened a new school at Warner’s Bay, officially opened March

Two roomed school on parish land opened for Kindergarten and First class, enrolment 41 students

Sisters travelled daily from Boolaroo convent

1959

First sister, M Monica Joseph Enrolment 70 students

1960

School extended, now Kindergarten to Year 6

1966

Warners Bay and Boolaroo parishes transferred to Diocese of Maitland

1968

St Mary’s became Infants School for the parish, Boolaroo continued to cater for primary classes

1969

Students were transferred by bus daily –infants classes to St Mary’s Warners Bay, primary classes transferred from St Mary’s Warners Bay to Boolaroo

1976

Warners Bay parish purchased extra land at Warners Bay ‘The church owned our playing fields and nature area which was then a mass of bush. Another neighbour Mr Jack Finn, from the Water Board, sold us his property, hence we named it Finnland [sic]. There were a lot of new Australians present in our community at that time and many were Catholic.’ ¹

With closure of Boolaroo school, all students Kindergarten to Year 6 now accommodated at St Mary’s ‘Gradually with a shift in development from Boolaroo to Warners Bay, the school buildings at Boolaroo were eventually moved to Warners Bay. However, for some twenty years the two schools operated separately, one gradually decreasing and the other increasing’ ²

Boolaroo school buildings relocated to Warners Bay

1981

Congregational Josephite administration ended

1982

First lay Principal, Mr Greg Ginns

1986

Diocesan Sister of St Joseph appointed Principal M Marie Jones

New classrooms, administration block, relocation of existing classrooms, landscaping undertaken

1988

Diocesan Josephite administration ended 1989

Mr David Carty, Principal, 2005

Construction of classrooms, administration, staff facilities and library

2009

Construction of shade structure, security fence and general refurbishment

Windale SAINT PIUS X PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Windale

Named after an early settler Vere James Winn. Town was gazetted in 1951

Opened 1959

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Awake Aspire Learn

Location: 2 Lake Street Windale NSW 2306

Parish: East Lake Macquarie

Windale originally within Archdiocese of Sydney, parish of Belmont until 1966

1959

School classes began in church-hall building, enrolment 77 students

Convent opened for Sisters of St Joseph. Convent had been built under auspices of Archdiocese of Sydney

First Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived to staff the school, M Virgilius Perkins Principal, M Anselm Brooder, M David (Loretta Mullins) ‘We found our school had people of special talents also: The sister who had uncanny marksmanship as she would fire her chalk at Ross Robinson to draw his attention to the board. The sister with the cleanest room in the school, at the expense of the childrens’ socks & to the annoyance of the parents, would not allow anyone in with shoes on.’ ¹

1966

Lakes Parishes transferred to Diocese of Maitland

1967

Parochial district of Windale established

1969 –1976

School buildings assembled – classroom relocated from Tighes Hill and a ‘demountable’ installed ‘The first one [tuck shop] began in Ruth & Bill Nelson’s kitchen across the road from the church, it operated for sometime until we obtained the building you now use as the library. Ruth would do the buying & and the ladies would assist in the preparation, load up the trays and carry them to the school. Mince was cooked & the children were served it hot in mugs or bowls that they brought from home. Sr Majella had a lolly tray & Thel Shultz a cake tray from which they sold their treats.’ ¹

1980

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1981

First lay Principal, Mr David Carty

1986

Enrolment 135 students

Administration facilities completed

1993

Four new classrooms, tuckshop and toilet block added

1996

Mercy sister appointed Principal, Patricia Davidson

2009

Refurbishment of site landscaping, and school facilities both external and internal

Construction of library and multi-purpose hall

The first one [tuck shop] began in Ruth & Bill Nelson’s kitchen across the road from the church, it operated for sometime until we obtained the building you now use as the library. Ruth would do the buying & and the ladies would assist in the preparation, load up the trays and carry them to the school. Mince was cooked & the children were served it hot in mugs or bowls that they brought from home. Sr Majella had a lolly tray & Thel Shultz a cake tray from which they sold their treats.

Morisset ST JOHN VIANNEY PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Morisset

Believed to be named after Major James Morisset, then Commandant of Newcastle Penal Settlement. In 1843 he made the first overland trip Newcastle to Sydney, camping on the western shore close to the present railway station.

Opened 1962

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Everyday our Best

Location: 60–66 Yambo Street Morisset NSW 2264

Parish: Morriset

Morisset originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney until 1966

1914

Parish of Wyong and Lake Macquarie established. Priest would travel from Wyong by train, say Mass in Morisset in a private home on Saturday, then ride a push bike 6kms to Cooranbong for Sunday Mass

1926

Wyong Parish established, encompassing Morisset and Cooranbong

1929

Land purchased in Yambo Street for church by Mr Dwyer

1930

Building relocated from Bridge Street to Yambo Street for church hall

1947

Parish of Morisset established, administered from Kincumber parish, Archdiocese of Sydney

1948 –1959

Parish administered by Fr Dominic O’Gorman OH (Order of John of God) residing at Morisset Park

1953

Land purchased 11 and 12 Dora Street, now included in school grounds

1958

Residence in Park Street (now Kent Street) rented then purchased for convent, refurbished 1961

1961

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived to staff school, school blessed

1962

St John Vianney School opened, first sisters

M Basil Tynan Principal, M Hilda Hayes, M Gonzaga Bradley

1964

Small hall with canteen built for use of school and parish, donated funds from Mr Condron

1966

Parish of Morisset transferred to Diocese of Maitland

1970

‘The IQ test was given to Sixth Class. The children participated in the Anzac Day March and the sisters took a bus load of children to see the Queen. Children in Second Class made their First Holy Communion.’ ¹

1972

Josephite administration ended

1973

First lay Principal, Mr Joseph Henchy

1981

‘Demountable’ classroom purchased

1984

Last Josephite Sister in the school

1991

Renovation / addition of classrooms and toilet block, ‘demountable’ relocated for office and staffroom

1996

Fence dividing two playgrounds removed, following lease of laneway from Lake Macquarie City Council

1997

Landscaping incorporating a swale running through the school grounds, all-purpose steel shelter built

2003

Portable building on site, with another ‘demountable’ added in 2006

2008

Administration block built

2009

Library and multi-purpose hall built, oval completed

2015

St Patrick’s & St Brigid’s Church, Cooranbong now Mary of the Cross MacKillop Pilgrimage Site, with two plaques mounted close to the front church corner

Edgeworth ST BENEDICT’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Edgeworth

Named after Sir T W Edgeworth-David, Welsh geologist and Antarctic explorer, who discovered the Hunter Valley coalfields while working as assistant geologist for the NSW Government. Edgeworth was formerly known as Young Wallsend

Opened 1962

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Pray Together Work Together

Location: 839 Main Road Edgeworth NSW 2285

Parish: Sugarloaf

1960

Land purchased three and a half acres on Main Road

1962

Five wooden buildings from Greta Migrant Camp relocated for use by school, convent and parish ‘About three years ago Rev. Father B. Kennedy, the priest in charge of the Parish of West Wallsend, purchased three and a quarter acres of land on Main Road Edgeworth, and bought a hut from Greta Migrant Camp and had it converted for use as a Church which can accommodate 140 people. More huts were then obtained and converted for use as a school and have been in use for some time. Recently more huts were purchased and renovated for use as extra classrooms and a small convent.’ ¹

St Benedict’s became Infants School for West Wallsend and Edgeworth parishes

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived, M Cabrini Boyle, M Anne Mary Hatton, travelling from West Wallsend convent

School opened Kindergarten to Year 4, enrolment over 60 students. Primary students attended West Wallsend. ‘The new school is fairly well equipped, but Father Kennedy said this week that one thing it lacks is a piano for the kindergarten classroom. If anyone can help with their old piano or would like to give a second - hand piano to the school, it would be greatly appreciated.’ ²

1964

School and convent officially opened. Convent was a converted ‘hut’ from Greta Migrant Camp

1972

Convent closed to allow school use of building, sisters resumed travelling from West Wallsend Convent

1978

St Joseph’s School West Wallsend closed

St Benedict’s Edgeworth became full primary school for the area

1980

Extensions to school

1984

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1985

First lay Principal, Mr Steve Murray

New administration and kindergarten block

Last religious in the school

1994

New administration block, three classrooms and canteen

2004

Construction of 6 new classrooms and library

2009

Construction of shade structure, refurbishment of school facilities, external works and upgrade of electrical reticulation

Construction of multi-purpose hall and classrooms

2011

Construction of 2 new classrooms and new much needed hall

Morisset ST JOHN OF GOD TRAINING CENTRE

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Morisset

Believed to be named after Major James Morisset, then Commandant of Newcastle Penal Settlement. In 1843 he made the first overland trip from Newcastle to Sydney, camping on the western shore close to present Morisset railway station.

Opened

Morisset within the Archdiocese of Sydney until 1966

1934

Purchase of 55 acre property ‘The Bluff’ at Morisset Park, from owner Bert Bailey by The Little Company of Mary, order of nursing nuns with Hospital and Provincial Home in Lewisham.

St Joseph’s Convalescence Home established as an adjunct to their hospital, and conducted by sisters as a retreat house for alcoholic and burnt-out priests.

‘They also established a cemetery there, where members of their Order, and also seven priests, were buried. They were responsible for the large statues of Our Lady and St Joseph still to be seen in the grounds.’ ¹

1947

Parish of Morisset established

Hospitaller Order of St John of God (OH) purchased ‘The Bluff’ from The Little Company of Mary.

St John of God Training Centre established as a special school for emotionally disturbed boys, later named Kendall Grange. The Centre was based on the model of a Boarding School. It accepted boys between 7 and 14 years with orphans being given a priority. The number of enrolments peaked at 93 of whom 20 were orphans. The Centre came under the auspice of St Vincent de Paul Society (SVDP), until such times as the brothers assumed full responsibility.

‘This was the first house established by St John of God Brothers in Australia. It was also their novitiate.’ ¹

First brothers to arrive, Brothers Herbert and Hartley

1948 –1959

Fr Dominic O’Gorman OSJD OH, chaplain for the Brothers, became parish priest of Morisset

1951

‘The farm attached to the centre produced 5,031 gallons of milk and 5,338 dozen eggs last year. This added 1,400 pounds to the centre’s funds. Cardinal Gilroy said that the committee had 2,200 pounds in hand before the meeting began.’ ¹

1966

Parish of Morisset included in the Diocese of Maitland

1967

Principal, Br Stanislaus Murray OH

1969

Brothers assumed full responsibility for Kendall Grange, after many years of SVDP support

1983

Administration of St John of God Brothers ended

1985

Constable Report recommends that a Board of Management be established

1992

Usher Report recommended closure of all large residential facilities Government policy encouraged the development of smaller group homes, but this was not implemented

St John of God residential facilities closed

1993 –2000

Behaviour Management Outreach Program which kept children in their family units was developed

1999

Decision made to not accept new enrolments and to phase out the current in-home Behaviour Management Outreach Program by September

2000

Sept 6 The last children left St John of God and the service closed

Sept 10 St John of God Family Services commenced 2004

Kendall Grange site sold to Johnson Property Group for proposed development 2020

All hostel buildings demolished, now developed as Trinity Point Estate

Gateshead ST PAUL’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Gateshead

Named after a town in England, by the first surveyor in the area 1876, Mr W.T. Verge

Opened 1964

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Love One Another

Location: Felton Street Gateshead NSW 2290

Parish: MacKillop

1963

Parish of Gateshead established, Diocese of Maitland

Land five and a half acres purchased on Pacific Highway for new high school (originally Buckton Milroy farm)

1964

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived, first Principal, M Kilian, enrolment 75 students

First community, Sisters Joan Blake, Anita Conroy, Marcellinus, Miriam Nicey, Kilian Casey, Maureen Idstein, Marie Craddock, Bernadette Casey, Betty Brown, Lynette Pearce

Infants School St Joseph’s opened in two classrooms of the High School

New church / school opened in May for Kindergarten to Year 2

High school opened, many buildings were relocated here from other parts of the Diocese and business world ‘One particular structure is outstanding in my mind. It was a prefabricated, post World War II, set of two classrooms which had to be moved from Glebe Public school grounds to make way for a new school there. Father Kennedy heard about it and bought it for $500. … In spite of the sweat and sometimes blood lost on these projects a wonderful comradeship grew up between the men working. … Fr Kennedy was a hospitable man and always provided refreshments for his workers. Some people on the outside said it was

bribery, others a temptation, but to us it was a “thank you”. The deadline for classrooms had always to be met and there were times when we finished “past the midnight hour” and “driers had to be put to the paint”, so lately applied. Thank goodness for understanding wives!.’ Early memories from Dave Lester ¹ ‘Fr Kennedy … would like to pay a special tribute to the architect, Mr Kevin Gannon who designed the whole project … [using] as much voluntary labour as possible.’ ²

1967

St Paul’s School became full primary catering for Kindergarten to Year 6

Convent built for sisters teaching at Primary School

1968

Former cottage used for kindergarten at New Lambton moved here, new toilet block in construction

1970

Land purchasedthree and a half acres from Lands Department, extra classrooms built

1971

Enrolment 355 students

1973

To free up classroom space, parish built a new church

1984

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1985

First lay Principal, Mrs Mary Young

2001

Construction of classrooms and student facilities

2002

New premises opened after three years of planning and construction work, at the rear of the same site

2009

Refurbishment of internal school facilities, Information and Communication Technologies equipment and infrastructure

Construction of multi-purpose hall and refurbishment of library

2012

School hall erected and used as a shared facility with St Mary’s Catholic College, Gateshead

Gateshead ST MARY’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Gateshead

Named after a town in England, by the first surveyor in the area 1876, Mr W.T. Verge

Opened

1964 Known as 1964 St Mary’s High School School today years 7 to 10

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Love One Another

Location: 47– 49 Pacific Highway Gateshead NSW 2290

Parish: MacKillop

1963

Parish of Gateshead established, Diocese of Maitland

‘The success of a priest in Australia during the past depended not only on his spirit of prayer but also on his capacity to organise his people into a community. Added to that was needed a knowledge of finance, a building acumen, an estate agent’s sense of when and what to buy. Father Kennedy had all these qualities as you will see from all the work mentioned here.’ ¹

‘Every step was an exciting challenge. I had had good experience with voluntary workers in different places and saw it as a vital means of getting what was wanted. There were no money grants then, to do buildings – only loans.’

Land Five and a half acres purchased by Sisters of St Joseph on Pacific Highway for new high school

New school designed by and built by VF Doran & Sons

1964

New convent built by Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph

First community, sisters Joan Blake, Anita Conroy, Marcellinus, Miriam Nicey, Kilian Casey, Maureen Idstein, Marie Craddock, Bernadette Casey, Betty Brown, Lynette Pearce

St Mary’s High School opened for girls, secondary students transferred from, then St Joseph’s High School Belmont

Enrolment 160 students

1969

Part of convent used for secondary school 1971

School administered by Catholic Education Office 1981

Enrolment 420 students

1982 –1983

School began transition to Junior Secondary Co-educational High School 1983

Addition of facilities for home science, technics and change rooms

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

First lay Principal, Mrs Helen Hemphil

Enrolment 940 students

Construction of music rooms, student, science laboratories, senior learning area and TAS

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities external, construction of shade structure, upgrade of electrical reticulation

Trade training centre, dust control, fume extraction and agricultural equipment

2011

Refurbishment of science laboratories

2018

Transition to Stage 6 with Year 11

School renamed St Mary’s Catholic College

Booragul ST PAUL’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Booragul

Aboriginal word for ‘summer’

Opened 1984

Known as

1984 St Paul’s Co-educational High School

2018 St Paul’s Catholic College

School today year 7 to 12

Motto: To Live is Christ

Location: 70 Primrose Street Booragul NSW 2284

Parish: Booragul

School Opened Staff Years

St Paul’s Catholic College 1984 Lay Teachers 37

References

1 Catholic Education Reporter 12/1981

2 Catholic Education Reporter 06/1986

Booragul originally within Archdiocese of Sydney, parish of Toronto, 1966 transferred to Diocese of Maitland

1972

Parish of Toronto set up Committee, aiming to establish a regional high school in Westlakes area ‘Public meetings were held in the parishes concerned and a survey was conducted seeking the response of Catholic parents to the idea of a regional Catholic high school. The response was enthusiastic.’ ¹

1980

Diocesan Education Board supported the establishment and unanimously recommended this to the Bishop. High School to draw from parishes of Boolaroo, Booragul, Cardiff, Glendale, Morisset, Sugarloaf, Toronto, Warners Bay and West Wallsend

1982

Land purchased from Housing Commission

1984

Opened as St Paul’s co-educational High School

Upon opening the school was fully ay staffed

Founding Principal, Mr David Moore ‘In those early days of St Paul’s (and in our context, two years is a long time in the life of a school!) there were no traditions, no established ways of doing things. Hopes and aspirations were very high from all members of our school community and there was a real commitment to the establishment of a school where Gospel values would permeate through into all its activities.’ ²

1985

Stage 1 commenced

1987

Stage 1 completed – administration block and first permanent classrooms

1994

Completion of permanent library

1999

Stage 2 Classrooms and speciality teaching rooms

2000

Construction of classrooms, canteen and Performing Arts area, senior courtyard, Holland Court

School extended to include Years 11 and 12

2001

Another parcel of land was purchased

2004

Opening of school hall on 25 May

2009

Sports Assembly area and Master Plan developed

Refurbishment, external works, upgrade of electrical reticulation, security fence built

Trade Training Centre – Construction, Hospitality Commercial kitchens

2013

Construction of general learning area, specialised library area, administration and covered outdoor learning area

2018

Renamed, St Paul’s Catholic College

Completed – new administration wing, classroom block, staff facility, and St Paul’s Chapel

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE Manning region

On Country:

Traditional custodians of the land the Biripi, Guringai and Worimi peoples

The Manning River begins its journey in the Guringai region of the Barrington Ranges and winds its way through remote rural lands for much of its upper catchment gathering volume from the many tributaries that flow into its course. At Wingham, it becomes a significant river which widens at Taree and separates into a double delta river, dividing the coastal land between its arms into several large islands. The south arm enters the ocean near Old Bar while the north arm is joined by the Dawson and the Lansdowne Rivers winding its way past Cundletown and enters the sea at Harrington.

This is the country of the Biripi people of the Bundjalung nation who called the river Booumbahlee meaning a place where the brolgas played.

European settlement in the Manning region was very limited before the mid –1800s. In 1826 the Manning River was declared the boundary of the Northern Counties thus restricting the area in which settlers were free to occupy land. However by 1830 cedar getters were located along the banks of the Manning. In response, Wingham which is located near the limit of navigation on the Manning, was established in 1840 as a Government settlement and the gateway to the Upper Manning. It was from Wingham that the cedar logs were floated down the river to Cundletown where a private town developed around the river trade.

Max Solling in his book, Town and Country, A History of the Manning Valley, gives an insight into the early settlers.

‘Presbyterian minister, J. D. Lang sought to transplant Presbyterian families from Scotland and Ireland along the North Coast and create an anti-papist peasantry there. Almost eighty per cent of Macquarie County in 1861 was Protestant and Catholics remained well below the state average along the north coast. As the largest voluntary grouping in colonial society, Protestant beliefs and practices exercised a powerful influence on the conduct of life.’ 1

The Catholic settlers in the Manning may have been a minority but their presence spread throughout the valley as free settlers from countries such as Ireland and Germany made their home in the region. The Parochial district of Manning River was established in 1855 with Cundletown as its centre. It was here that the Catholic community erected its first church in 1856 on a parcel of ground presented to them by the Cundle Land Company. 2 This was the first of many small churches that were built by Catholics in the scattered communities of the Manning region. Between 1870 and 1901 Churches were opened at Taree, Krambach, Camden Haven, Little Dingo (Wherrol Flat), Tuncurry, Nabiac, Upper Lansdowne, Oxley Island, Stewarts River and Wingham thus showing the commitment and dedication of these early Catholic settlers.

It was not until the 1890s that there was a movement towards establishing Catholic schools in the region. Without Government funding, it was necessary to seek a Religious Congregation to provide teachers. In the Manning, the Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar responded in the spirit of St Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods to provide Catholic education to children in rural areas.

Krambach was the first community to establish a Catholic school. Krambach, formerly known as Larry’s Flat was an important coaching stopover in the final quarter of the nineteenth century and was the third most populous Manning town housing 357 residents in 1901.³ Beverly Zimmerman’s book, The Making of a Diocese, relates the initiative of the solid Catholic fraternity in approaching Bishop Murray to establish a convent school in the village.

MANNING REGION MAP

‘On a trip to the North Coast the bishop called at Krambach, where he was met by a delegation of German and Irish Catholics who put their case to him. Murray stipulated that unless they had a certain number of children, a suitable school building and means to support a community of sisters, he could not meet their request. The German and Irish settlers gathered their resources and within a few weeks, had the required number of children and a school building. Gallagher offered accommodation for the sisters free of charge at his hotel until suitable convent could be built and promised that he and his brothers, Larry and Tom, would see that the sisters had adequate support. The first community of Sisters of St Joseph arrived at Krambach in April 1893.’ 4

Thus began a long association of the Sisters of St Joseph in Catholic education in the Manning Region.

Six years later in 1899, Bishop Murray escorted a community of Sisters of St Brigid from Coonamble to Cundletown where they planned to open an exclusive boarding school for young ladies. The Sisters’ stay in Cundletown was short lived and they moved to Sydney in 1905 and in January 1906 the Sisters of St Joseph from Lochinvar opened a school with 50 pupils including a Girl’s Boarding School. 5

The opening of the North Coast Railway linking Maitland, Dungog, Gloucester, Wingham and Taree in February 1913 provided a secure land route for the communities in the Manning Region and led to the development of these rural towns. With the increased population, the demand for Catholic education grew. In the spirit demonstrated by the Krambach community the Sisters of St Joseph were invited to respond to this need. A primary school was opened in Gloucester in 1919. In 1923 the Sisters went to Taree where they opened a primary school and in 1926 opened a high school. Wingham school was opened in 1935 including an Intermediate High School which operated until 1961. To cater for pupils who lived in isolated areas the Boarding School for Girls was transferred to Taree in 1923 and a Boarding School for Boys under 12 years of age was opened at Cundletown.

The schools at Bulahdelah and Forster were established in the 1950s and are situated to the south of the Manning River on the lands of the Worimi Aboriginal peoples. Originally these communities and the whole of the Wallamba and Myall districts were part of the Krambach parish.

St Joseph’s Primary School at Bulahdelah was opened by Sisters of St Joseph in 1955 and from 1958 to 1966 an Intermediate High School was conducted there. When the Parish of Forster/Tuncurry was established in 1956 there was a movement to build a Catholic school. This was strongly supported by the families of the Italian fishermen who had made their home in Tuncurry as early as the late 1800s. 6 In January 1959 the Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar, moved into the home they had purchased in Tuncurry and later that month set up a school in the Holy Name Church/Hall in Forster.

The Sisters opened a school at Kendall, in the Camden Haven area in 1952. When the diocesan boundaries changed in 1966, Kendall became part of the Lismore Diocese and the school moved to Laurieton and became St Joseph’s Community School.

It is from these small beginnings that Catholic education in the Manning Region has been able to grow.

Footnotes

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Krambach ST JOSEPH’S

PRIMARY

SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Biripi people

Krambach

The local mountain was called Krambach, and with increased settlement the village came also to be so named, possibly after the German Bavarian village ‘Krambuch’

Opened 1893

St Joseph’s 1893 1989 Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers 88 7

Originally the area was part of land belonging to the Australian Agricultural Company

1874

Krambach originally known as Larry’s Flat, settled by a mixture of Irish and German families

Original wooden church built, St Kilian’s (First church site)

1892

Consecration of new Roman Catholic Church St Kilian’s, 18 October (Second church site)

1893

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph travelled from Dungog convent, journey of three days by boat and buggy

First sisters, M Francis Tracey, M Josepha Comerford, M Aquin Leehy ‘Well, there are mountains all around us and big shrubs. There are all kinds of lovely wild plants growing about and nice ferns. We get nice flowers too to decorate Our Blessed Mother’s Altar. There are thirty two children coming to school. We teach in the church. The convent and church are wooden buildings.’ ¹

Catholic school opened in church with 32 students, girl boarders accommodated from the early days

1895

‘By April it had 54 students.’ ¹

April ‘We have had a great lot of rain and very high floods since the New Year. Most of the farmers lost their crops.’ ¹

September ‘There is a great deal of dead timber about and I think every tree and log for miles around was on fire that night. I never saw such a sight in my life. We had to keep nine children here that night.’ ¹

1907

Parish of Krambach established

1908

Enrolment 58 students

1911

‘It was a positive time to be at Krambach, for that year a new brick school with two classrooms and a stage, was opened.’ ¹

1915

Opening of new presbytery

1928

Sisters were withdrawn in June over disagreement with Parish Priest Fr P O’Regan (PP died 8/10/1928 )

1929

Sisters returned the following January

1958

Storm completely destroyed parish church, St Kilian’s.

‘On Wednesday afternoon after school an 80 mile-an-hour wind accompanied by torrential rain swept through Krambach causing severe damage.’ ¹

1959

New school building and church “opened in spacious undulating grounds.” (Second church site) ¹

1962

Bus service began from Bucca Wauka, transporting children to Krambach

1963

New church built on First church site, now named St Bernadette’s

1981

Diocesan Josephite administration ended.

1982

First lay Principal, Mrs Ann Jones

1989

School closed, students accommodated at Taree School Opened Closed Staff Years

Cundletown ST JOSEPH’S

PRIMARY

SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Biripi people

Cundletown

Cundel was the Aboriginal word for a plant we now know as Cockspur

Opened 1906

Preceded by

1899 Catholic Primary School opened by Brigidine Order, Coonamble

Also opened

1899 Select High School and Boarding school, Brigidine Order

1906 Catholic Primary School and Girls’ Boarding School, Josephite Congregation

Closed

1923 Girl’s Boarding School transferred to St Joseph’s Taree

Opened 1923 Boy’s Boarding School

Known as 1964 St Joseph’s College

Closed 1969 Primary School and Boy’s Boarding School

Location

52 River Stree Cundletown NSW 2430

1855

Parochial district of Manning River established, within the Archdiocese of Sydney

1857

St Patrick’s Church, first Catholic church in the Manning Region established, built of wood

1883

Community of Brigidines arrived in Australia, establishing their first foundation in Coonamble

1887

Diocesan boundary change, Coonamble excluded from Diocese of Maitland

1899

Six sisters from Coonamble arrived Cundletown with Bishop Murray aboard the coastal steamer ‘Coraki’

Brigidine sisters opened a Catholic school 19 October, residence leased for sisters ‘Cundle House’

‘Select’ High school for girl and boy boarders opened

1901

Bishop Murray visited the Manning and gave an address at St Patrick’s Cundletown ‘The first picnic in connection with the Brigidine Convent school, held on the extensive college grounds on Saturday, was a gratifying success. Amongst the visitors, were his Lordship Bishop Murray and many prominent non-Catholic residents of the district.’ ¹

1904

Enrolment 47 pupils

1905

Brigidine sisters leave Cundletown and move to their Sydney Foundation in Randwick

1906

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph founding community arrived from Lochinvar Convent First sisters, M Alphonsus Londrigan, M Agatha Bussell, M Gonzaga Connolly, M Ligouri May

‘To get there from Lochinvar was an adventure – or an ordeal! The Sisters ’… left Newcastle on a steam ship at midnight Friday 12 January. Mid-morning they reached Cape Hawke (near Forster), where they stopped briefly before being driven by Gallaghers to Krambach (over 35km away). There they stayed the night and the following morning they travelled another 40km to Taree, after lunch they travelled the short distance to Cundletown.’ ²

1908

Enrolment 49 students

1909

New church of St Patrick built on River Street. Also built, new boarders’ dining, music and painting rooms

‘To get there from Lochinvar was an adventure – or an ordeal! [The Sisters] … left Newcastle on a steam ship at midnight Friday 12 January. Mid-morning they reached Cape Hawke (near Forster), where they stopped briefly before being driven by Gallaghers to Krambach (over 35km away). There they stayed the night, and the following morning they travelled another 40km to Taree, after lunch they travelled the short distance to Cundletown.’

1906 St Joseph’s Cundletown

1914

Convent destroyed by storm

1915

New convent built ‘neat timber buildingroomy, well ventilated’ ²

1923

Boys’ Boarding School opened for boys under 12. Girls’ facilities closed with students transferred to newly opened St Joseph’s Taree

1956

New convent and boarding school built, old convent used for school

1969

January 10 School and Boarding School closed

1975 –1976

Sisters of Mercy, Aboriginal Apostolate in convent building

1976

Old convent complex demolished, St Paul’s Hostel for Aged built, now St Paul’s Retirement Community

1989

Re opening of convent by Josephite Community

Gloucester ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Guringai and Worimi people

Gloucester

Named after the Cathedral City in England

Opened 1919

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Reach out in Love

Location: 53 Denison Street Gloucester NSW 2422

Parish: Gloucester

1907

St Joseph’s wooden parish church built

1919

New convent blessed and opened Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived, travelling from Dungog convent

First sisters, M Vincent Webber, M James McCann, M Bernadine Stanton

School opened in church building with two classrooms, enrolment 58 students

1929

Enrolment 37 students, lowest on record

1930s

Priest would come once a month to say Mass

1951

‘When I first came to Gloucester, I taught in an old garage. When the priest came from Dungog, all the school furniture had to be packed up so that his car could be put in.’ ¹

Free standing garage was sealed and lined to become Infants school

1954

Opening of new brick school / church ‘Father Bourke asked me to plan a school church, not a church school. Hence, we have the present church which used to be divided into large airy classrooms.’ Sr M Cyril 1

1955

Parochial district of Gloucester established

1964

Weatherboard classrooms built and opened for years 3–6, on the site of the old garage

Infants moved into school / church

1969

New brick school blessed and opened

1986

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1987

First lay Principal, Mr Jim Fitzgerald ‘At the conclusion of the 1987 school year, the last teaching nun, Sr Catherine (Brazier), left St Joseph’s. Thus ended the long era of teaching by the sisters who, over the past few years were gradually replaced by lay teachers.’ ¹

1994

Building opened for administration, staff facilities and library

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities internal and external

Construction of multi-purpose hall and refurbishment of parish hall as library

Taree ST JOSEPH’S

PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Biripi people

Taree

Aboriginal word ‘tareebit’ for ‘fruit of the fig tree’ which grew in profusion in the area

Opened 1923

Original location on Wynter Street

Also opened

1923–1926 Girls Boarding School

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: God is Love

Location: 1 St Joseph’s Drive Taree NSW 2430

Parish: Taree

1893

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph first came to the district settling in Krambach

1916

Parochial District of Manning River changed to Parochial District of Taree

1922

Bishop Dwyer laid foundation stone for school, his brother Bishop of Wagga laid foundation stone for convent

1923

New convent and school built on Wynter Street

St Joseph’s Primary and Boarding School for girls opened by Sisters of St Joseph, enrolment 88 students

First religious sisters, M De Sales Johnson Principal, M Teresa Kauter, M Hilary Dunn, M Benedicta Cross, M Anselm Brooder, M Pascal Bruton

St Joseph’s Cundletown girls’ boarding facilities closed, girls transferred to Taree

1926

St Joseph’s High School established on parish site

1958

Brick veneer refurbishment

1971

Rosary High School relocated to parish owned land of five acres at Davis Street, Taree

Primary school years 3–6 moved into recently vacated secondary school premises

1972

Original 1923 school building demolished, modern infants school built in Wynter Street – three classrooms enabling open plan teaching ‘Tuckshops were days of great joy for parents and children especially Father Mulcahy who wished the children to get full value for their sixpence. Sandwiches, cakes, homemade sweets and toffees were sold on these old tuckshop days held under the old primary school just demolished, and many will recall the exciting atmosphere they generated as well as the numerous bumps on the head that were entailed.’ ¹

1977

Rooms on lower floor of old presbytery used for Special Education ’A special programme began for under-achieving pupils in these Primary Classes. Children were helped individually in small groups to become more confident and independent students.’ ²

1986

Enrolment 418 students, 20 staff members

1988

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1989

First lay primary Principal, Heather Brady

1998

New primary school opened 25 May on new site St Joseph’s Drive

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal work

Extension to multi-purpose hall and classrooms, refurbishment of administration and amenities

References

Taree ST CLARE’S HIGH SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Biripi people

Taree

Aboriginal word ‘tareebit’ for ‘fruit of the fig tree’ which grew in profusion in the area

Opened 1970

Original location on Davis Street

Preceded by 1926 St Joseph’s High School

Known as

Rosary High School, 1962 Rosary College

Taree Catholic High School, 1986 St Clare’s High School

Also opened

1926 – 1965 Girls Boarding School

School today year 7 to year 12

Charism: Josephite

Motto: All for Christ

Location: Davis Street Taree NSW 2430

Parish: Taree

1923

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived, opened primary school and girl’s boarding school on Wynter Street

1926

St Joseph’s High School established on parish site, 20 students enrolled in First Year

First Year to Intermediate, co-educational with boarding facilities for girls

First religious secondary Principal, Sr Columbkille

1930

Our Lady of the Rosary Church opened, old 1873 church building renovated for high school use

1931

Rosary High School officially opened

1942

Leaving certificate classes ceased Commercial classes introduced, ceasing 1961

1961

Boarding school renovated and extended, closed 1965

1962

New school opened, Rosary College ‘ In Taree itself an urgent need had arisen for a new high school to cater for the growing number of students and the alteration of the school curriculum under the Wyndham Scheme.’ ¹

1970

Relocation to five acres of parish land on Davis Street, chosen site for new Regional Secondary School

1971

Opened and renamed Taree Catholic High School

Enrolment of 206 students

‘The trend of increasing numbers at the school can be seen in the following figures. In 1971, the year the school was opened, enrolments stood at 206 and from this point on numbers continued to rise. In 1974

figures were 265, 1976 saw numbers top 300 with 90 students enrolled in Year 7, in 1981 360 students were listed and finally by 1984, the year prior to the last building project, 445 students attended the school.’ ²

1979

Staff common room added and three new classrooms for Technical Drawing, Art and Mathematics

1984 –1985

New technics block, two science blocks, four new classrooms, new entrance and car park

1986

Renamed St Clare’s High School, with introduction of Year 11, progressing to Year 12

1987

First Higher School Certificate class

1989

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1990

First lay Principal, Mr Larry Keating

1998

Additions included new library, two learning areas, fibre optic cabling and general refurbishments

2006

Construction of classrooms, music block and canteen refurbishment

2007

Construction of multi-purpose hall

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal

Refurbishment of science laboratories and trade training centre

2010

Refurbishment of TAS and art classrooms

2012

Refurbishment of technical and applied science facilities

Kendall ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL (DIOCESE OF LISMORE)

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Biripi people

Kendall

Originally known as Camden Heads, renamed Kendall after Henry Kendall the Australian poet, who lived in the area 1875–1881 working as a Forest Inspector

Opened 1952

Known as

St Joseph’s Primary School

Location: Jackson Street Kendall NSW 2243

Parish: St John the Evangelist Kendall

Relocated

1975 to Laurieton

St Joseph’s Community School

Location: 421 Ocean Drive Laurieton NSW 2443

Originally part of the Diocese of Maitland Parish of Taree

1880

First Church of St John the Evangelist in the Camden Haven area opened

1891

The village of Camden Heads renamed Kendall

1918

Opening and blessing of new brick St John the Evangelist Church by Bishop Dwyer

1939

Parochial district of Kendall was established

1952

Convent for the Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph opened in the former presbytery

Sisters opened St Joseph’s Primary School

First sisters – Sisters Brendan Ruelle, Veronica O’Connor, Mark Nicey.

1966

Diocese boundary change – Kendall and the Camden Haven area included in the Diocese of Lismore

1975

Closure of St Joseph’s Primary School Kendall

1976

School transferred to Laurieton and became known as St Joseph’s Community School

1982

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph withdrawn from Kendall convent but not from the school at Laurieton

1

On Country

Wingham

ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

Traditional custodians of the land, the Biripi people

Wingham

Named after a village in Kent, England

1961 Secondary classes

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: In All Things Kindness

Location: Church Crescent Wingham NSW 2429

Parish: Wingham

1901

Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, wooden building opened to serve as church and school

1935

St Joseph’s convent opened

First Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived to staff school, M Michael Cahill, M Brendan Ruelle, M Joan Blake, M Camillus Roach, M Kieran Doherty

1935 –1961

Super primary classed offered

1947

Parochial district of Wingham established

Extensions made to church/school, verandah and two new rooms

1953

New church built allowing school use of entire original 1901 wooden church/school buildings

1955

High School Principal, M Brendan Ruelle

1961

Three secondary classes added

1974

New school opened, original building moved to property on Tinonee Road enrolment 80 students

1982

Convent closed, sisters came to reside in Taree convent with two sisters return travelling daily to school

1984

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

Convent building converted to administration offices and staff facilities, library and canteen. Previous administration area now converted into new classrooms for Years 5 and 6

New classrooms opened for Years 3 /4 and 4/5, each unit with its own withdrawal room for selective teaching

1985

First lay Principal, Mr Travis Graham

1986

‘The school has a most fortunate setting overlooking the Manning River and farmlands which provide spectacular views and most peaceful surroundings. The playground is a credit to the foresight of those responsible as it contains many native trees and shrubs, gardens, walkways and courtyard areas.’ ¹

2001

Construction and refurbishment of school facilities

2004

Refurbishment of site landscaping, internal and external facilities

2009

Construction of library, multi-purpose hall, covered walkways and canteen

‘The hall and library will offer more flexible learning spaces and new, clean, neat buildings that will appeal to modern pedagogy and the digital natives in our classrooms.’ ²

Restoration also completed of former convent buildings

2013

Second stage, refurbishment of specialised teaching areas

The school has a most fortunate setting overlooking the Manning River and farmlands which provide spectacular views and most peaceful surroundings. The playground is a credit to the foresight of those responsible as it contains many native trees and shrubs, gardens, walkways and courtyard.

Bulahdelah ST JOSEPH’S

PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Worimi people

Bulahdelah

Aboriginal word thought to mean ‘meeting place of two rivers’.

Named by John Oxley Surveyor General in 1818

Opened 1955

St Brigid’s

Also opened

1958 St Joseph’s Intermediate High School, closed 1966

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Love, Learning and Living like Jesus

Location: 26C Bulahdelah Way Bulahdelah NSW 2423

Parish: Myall Coast

1893

Catholic education began in the Manning region when Sisters of St Joseph established a convent and school at nearby Krambach

1907

‘The Roman Catholic parish of Manning River has been divided into two parishes, The Rev Father O’Regan late assistant priest Taree, has been appointed parish priest of the southern new parish, which extends from Krambach to Bulahdelah and includes the whole of the Wollamba and Myall districts.’ ¹

1922

Parochial district of Bulahdelah established

1955

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph invited to Bulahdelah to open a new primary school, St Brigid’s

Sisters M Killian Casey, M Callista Nolan, M Augustine Krelle and M Annette Keyes resided in the former presbytery built in 1927

1958

St Joseph’s Intermediate High School conducted, in addition to primary grades

Sisters of St Joseph, Principal M Annette Keys

1966

High School closed, primary classes continued

1991

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1992

First lay Principal, Mr Steve Corrigan

2002

All new school buildings

2006

With a significant Capital Grant, St Joseph’s Primary School was essentially re built

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities external and internal, security fence

Construction of covered outdoor learning area

Forster HOLY NAME PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Worimi people

Forster

Named after William Forster, the then Secretary of Lands Town founded in 1862

Opened 1959

Known as

1959 St Joseph’s Primary School, 1961 Holy Name Primary School

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Concern for Others

Location: 41 Lake Street Forster NSW 2428

Parish: Forster-Tuncurry

Forster and Tuncurry originally within the parish of Krambach

1952

Two blocks of land were purchased in Lake Street by the parish

1956

Parochial district of Forster-Tuncurry established

1957

New church hall built and opened in Lake Street

‘Upon the arrival of Sisters from St Joseph Order at Lochinvar in January 1958, the hall was also used as a school.

The Sisters conducted classes in improvised classrooms in the church-hall until the new school was opened in 1961.

One parishioner recalls that ladies from the parish made curtains as partitions to divide the hall into separate classrooms.’ ¹

1959

Presbytery built on land next to church hall

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph invited to set up school St Joseph’s in now converted church hall

First Sisters, M Francesca Bolton, M Hilda/ Pat Hayes, M Francis Mary/Florence Tobin

Sisters purchased property at 16 Manning Street Tuncurry for Josephite convent

Sisters and students needed to cross Wallis Lake on launch ‘Flying Jack’, prior to building of bridge

Bridge linking Forster and Tuncurry completed

1960

Land purchased at 41 Lake Street for present school

1961

New brick school opened as Holy Name Primary School, comprising three classrooms, teachers’ room, music room, tuck shop and other facilities

‘The building allowed for an enrolment of 150 pupils although it’s initial enrolment was only 35 pupils. It had wide verandahs to provide shelter and in addition to the classrooms had two music rooms and a tuckshop. It also had a septic system.’ ¹

1971

Land purchased for school, being Lots 9, 10, 17 and 18

1973

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1974

First lay Principal, Mr David Carty

Extra buildings and renovations of infants section to cater for increased enrolments

1978

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1980

New church built on land adjoining the presbytery

1981

Capital Grant enabled extensions to be made for rapidly increasing enrolments

1983

Further extensions and renovations, incorporating two classrooms and toilet block

2004

Construction of hall, administration and staff facilities, refurbishment of classrooms and computer room

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal, security fence and shade structure

Refurbishment of classrooms, associated works and extension of library

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE North region

On Country:

Traditional custodians of the land the Awabakal and Worimi peoples

The northern side of the Hunter River is the land of the Worimi (Warrimay) who have always been and remain today the traditional custodians of a large tract of land bounded by four rivers, the Hunter River to the south, Manning River to the north, the Allyn and Patterson Rivers to the west.

The southern shore of the Hunter River is the traditional land of the Awabakal. ‘Awaba’ was the word for Lake Macquarie, meaning flat or plain surface and by extension referred to the people native to that area.

By 1818–1820, convict timber cutters had exhausted the supply of red cedar which defined the area to the west of Newcastle and to the east of the junction of the Williams and Hunter Rivers at present day Millers Forest. The clearing of the timber opened the rich alluvial soil of the floodplains to farming and Duckenfield, Woodberry, Berry Park, Osterley and Millers Forest all started this way. An offshoot of the Great North Road ran through Millers Forest on its way up the Hunter Valley but the predominant means of transportation for the abundant produce and grain grown in the area to supply Sydney was via the port of Raymond Terrace with the region to become ‘the first food bowl of Sydney’.

With a great number of farming families in and around Millers Forest, the demand for community infrastructure, such as schools and churches emerged. By 1844 a Catholic denominational school was operating at Millers Forest on the Maitland-Raymond Terrace Road. A Catholic school on Jacob’s estate (Millers Forest) appears to have been established in this area, the presence of so many Catholic families on the estate is an interesting demographic and probably reflects the great proportion of migrants of farming backgrounds that came to the Maitland area from Ireland in the late 1830s and 1840s.

In 1887 St Patrick’s schoolhouse at Millers Forest was opened. Designed by the legendary architect Fredrick Menkens it shares its architectural pedigree with iconic buildings around Newcastle such as the Tabernacle on Laman Street, the Fred Ash Warehouse on Hunter Street Newcastle and the ornate Woods Chambers on Scott Street are just a few examples of Menkens work. The traditional cedar timber structure is uncomplicated, both in appearance and arrangement and still stands operating as a private residence at 49 Monkley Road Millers Forest.

Commercial activity on the southern shore of the Hunter River were the villages of Tighes Hill, Carrington, Mayfield and Waratah serving the port facilities and emerging heavy industry. Religious congregations from overseas arrived in the diocese at the request of Bishop Murray to staff schools to educate the children of the workers in ‘the one true faith’. The Dominican Sisters and the Marist Brothers from France remaining in the larger centres of Newcastle and Maitland. The Sisters of Mercy from Ireland settling in the larger centres but also taking over schools within a buggy ride of the mother house.

The Dominican Sisters recognised an additional need when children with hearing impairments were enrolled at St Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic School on the Hill. A growing demand to cater for deaf children to be instructed in their faith saw a request to Bishop Murray for a specialist school incorporating boarding facilities leading to the Diocese purchasing four acres of land at Waratah and commissioning Frederick Menkens to design the Institute of Deaf and Dumb School in 1889. In 1948 Helen Keller, the American blind and deaf authoress visited the school.

Another need of the time was recognised with the establishment of orphanages across the diocese. Singleton: Campbells Hill – Monte Pio Orphanage for Girls and Murray Dwyer orphanage for Boys at Argyle House Mayfield.

Shortland

Schools Current Schools

St Pius X Primary School

St Pius X Secondary School

Murray-Dwyer Orphanage

Sancta Maria School

Christ the King Primary School

Millers Forest ST PATRICK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Worimi people

Millers Forest

Named by Vicars Jacobs for his estate of 2,000 acres, presumably associated with cedar cutting industry

1844

‘a Catholic denominational school was operating at Millers Forest on the MaitlandRaymond Terrace Road.’ ¹

1847

Diocese of Maitland

1852

First lay teacher, Thomas O’Brien

1852 –1881

Lay teachers

1853

Parochial district of Raymond Terrace established

1857

‘n a Report of the Denominational School Board for 1857, we read of provision being made for teachers’ residences for the Catholic schools in Millers Forest and Raymond Terrace.’ ²

1860s

‘A Catholic school on Jacob’s estate appears to have been established in this area, … The presence of so many Catholic families on the estate is an interesting demographic and probably reflects the great proportion of migrants of farming backgrounds that came to the Maitland area from Ireland in the late 1830s and 1840s.’ ¹

1880

Lot 13 Vickers Jacob Grant, donated to church by Mr Jack Kearney

1881

Mercy Convent at Raymond Terrace established

Sisters of Mercy staffed Millers Forest, travelling by buggy across on punt from Raymond Terrace Convent

1887

St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Schoolhouse and chapel opened

Cedar timber dwelling built by Mr Monaro, local contractor of Italian background School officially opened by Bishop Murray

1889

Enrolment 120 students

1908

Enrolment 78 students

1955

Devasting Maitland floods, all thirty students were accommodated in St Brigid’s Raymond Terrace

School closed

1955 –1972

Building used as a place of worship, then as St Vincent de Paul storage

2001

Old schoolhouse built in 1887 ‘… must have been in a greatly deteriorated state for a long time.’ ¹

2017

Property at auction, after two previous private ownerships and restoration

Schoolhouse surviving and gracefully restored, officially recognised as designed by architect Menkens

‘A Catholic school on Jacob’s estate appears to have been established in this area, … The presence of so many Catholic families on the estate is an interesting demographic and probably reflects the great proportion of migrants of farming backgrounds that came to the Maitland area from Ireland in the late 1830s and 1840s.’

Raymond Terrace ST BRIGID’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Worimi people

Raymond Terrace

Named after midshipman Raymond who remarked on the ‘terraced appearance of the trees’ while observing from a boat on the Hunter River

Opened 1881

Preceded by

1851 Denominational School

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Mercy

Motto: Truth and Trust

Location: 52 Irrawang Street Raymond Terrace NSW 2324

Parish: Raymond Terrace

1840

In October Bishop Polding visited Hunter Valley, celebrating mass in a tent at Raymond Terrace

1851

Denominational School opened in rented four room slab stone cottage with chimney, fronting William Street

1853

Parochial district of Raymond Terrace established

1854

First lay teachers William Vincent Bryan, then John Usher, then Daniel O’Leary

1861

Wooden school built

1862

Church of St Brigid’s erected of quarried stone, Denominational School probably relocated to here

1867

Raymond Terrace Roman Catholic School was registered a Certified Denominational School, signed Sir H Parkes

1880

‘I have the honour to acquaint the Minister of Education that the nuns at Singleton have received written instructions from the Rt Rev Dr Murray, Bishop of Maitland to take charge of the Certified R.C. Denominational School at Raymond Terrace. … I have had charge of this school for 11 years and 4 months, and I believe I have given satisfaction to both the people and Local Boards. Now, when it has increased both in numbers and attainments I am ruthlessly expelled without any previous notice.’ ¹

Stone school built

1881

Raymond Terrace Mercy convent established, single storey with slate roof fronting William Street

Sisters of Mercy arrived, first religious Principal M Xavier Ryan

1908

Enrolment 64 students

1912

New convent built alongside church, two storey colonial style fronting William Street

1920

School / church hall built opposite church, in simple brick with ornate entrance façade, extensions in 1953

1955

Following Maitland floods, St Patrick’s Millers Forest school closed, with 30 students accommodated here

1959

Stone school built in 1880 now demolished, new school built on same site

1960

New school opened

1984

New classrooms and toilet block added

1985

Mercy administration ended

1986

First lay Principal, Mr David Carty

1989

Student reminiscence. ‘Christmas brought with it an earthquake with a Newcastle epicentre: sadly people died as a result of the earthquake. St Brigid’s Primary didn’t go unscathed either with several buildings requiring significant repairs. In the interim, classrooms were established on the ‘middle’ oval whilst these repairs were undertaken.’ ²

1995

Convent converted into administration building, extensions to the library

2009

Large school community space, refurbishment of existing library and classrooms

2011

Major construction of large school hall, 5 new classrooms, also renovations to original 1960 and 1984 classrooms

Stockton ST PETER’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Worimi people

Stockton

Named by John L Shortland, who discovered the estuary of the Hunter River, while searching for escaped convicts.

Opened 1887

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Mercy

Motto: Strength in Christ

Location: 5 Dunbar Street Stockton NSW 2295

Parish: Stockton

1887

School classes began in new St Peter in Chains Catholic Church

Opening enrolment 75 students with lay staff

First lay teachers at the school, Miss Pierce and Miss Breen

1902

New weatherboard school erected, hall of 2 classrooms measuring 19 x 10.5 feet, 40 ft verandah on each side

1903

Sisters of Mercy arrived to staff school, travelling by tram and ferry from Hamilton convent

Prior to establishment of convent ‘My mother sent them a hot dinner to the school two days a week and Aunt Nell sent one, as did Mrs Fogarty and someone else. This went on for three years or longer.’ Terry Callen ¹

1919

Parochial district of Stockton established

1920

Stockton Mercy convent ‘Mount St Mary’s’ established, gift from Peter Callen with home ‘Rosemount’

Sisters of Mercy, M Borgia McSherry superior, M Alcoque Rooney, M Constance Casey, M Magdalen Irwin

‘Norbert Callen donated ship’s ballast to solidify the sand which covered the school grounds. The ballast consisted of small pebbles which students believed must be valuable coming from ‘far away places’. It soon became a favourite pastime, ’fossicking’ through the ballast looking for treasure.’ ²

1925

Brick school renovated as multi-purpose hall for school and parish use, opened

1939 –1945

Stockton peninsular heavily fortified owing to fear of Japanese invasion

1952

Convent sold to Mark Bailey

1953

Stockton parish purchased ‘The Laurels’ as residence for the sisters

1957

Kindergarten room opened in King Street, closed 1970, Kindergarten class then incorporated into existing 2 storied building

1971

Two storey brick school building opened, on same site as the 1903 original wooden church

1985

Mercy administration ended, convent vacated

1986

First lay Principal, Mrs Jennifer Skeffington

2004

Construction of classrooms, administration, staff facilities, library and shade structure

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal

Refurbishment of multi-purpose hall and construction of a lift

2017

Parish hall used as a classroom

Carrington ST FRANCIS XAVIER’S

PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Carrington

Named after Lord Carrington, Governor of NSW when the area was proclaimed a municipality

Opened

1888 as St Joseph’s

1937 St Francis Xavier’s Primary School

Closed 1970

Location

Gipps Street Carrington NSW 2294

1887

St Francis Xavier Church blessed and opened

‘Carrington was a tidal island ( also called Bullock Island) largely built up by rock ballast dumped from sailing ships that came to load up with coal; the first bridge to connect it to Newcastle was only built in the 1879s.’ ‘Men living there worked on ferries, at the shipping works, the railway, nearby mines, the foundry or the local engineering plant.’ ¹

1888

Within parochial district of Newcastle

Church building used also for school, sisters lived in rented cottage in Little Gipps Street

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived, M Xavier McInerney, M Bernard Taggart, M Clare Murphy

1889

Convent St Joseph’s blessed and opened

1908

Enrolment approx. 100 students ‘Starting from nothing, within three years they had 100 pupils and a new convent, a two-storey weatherboard building surrounded by a charming little garden, which their neighbours have made for the Sisters.’ ¹

1937

New school built and opened, church no longer used for school

Name change to St Francis Xavier’s, in line with parish name

1956

Parochial district of Carrington established

1960

Fund raising for verandah to make the school cooler, paving of school yard and general painting

1970

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph withdrawn, school closed

St Francis Xavier’s Primary 1888 1970 Diocesan Josephites 82

Reference

1 Dunlop, R. (2016). Planted in Congenial Soil: The Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar 1883–1917. Lochinvar NSW. School Opened Closed Staff Years

Waratah

CORPUS CHRISTI PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Waratah

Aboriginal word meaning ‘beautiful.’ Area marking the extreme northern boundary for this naturally occurring species. Hunter River to Victoria

Opened 1934

Preceded by

1907–1917 The Rosary Convent School

Known as 1918–1933 St Joseph’s Primary School

Renamed

1934 Corpus Christi Primary School

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Dominican

Motto: Truth

Location: Platt Street Waratah NSW 2298

Parish: Blackbutt North

1875

Dominican Sisters arrived in Australia, invited to staff Star of the Sea School, Perkins Street Newcastle

1886

Four acres of land purchased in Waratah, bounded by Bridge, Lorna, Alfred and Platt Streets

Foundation stone laid for Dominican Rosary Convent, imposing brick building constructed, architect Menkens

1907

Dominicans open Rosary Convent School, order-owned on land opposite the convent

‘At Bishop Murray’s request, the Sisters at Waratah agreed to staff a primary school for the area, using for this purpose a cottage they had purchased opposite the convent. This developed into the official parochial school when Waratah became a parish in 1917.’ ¹

‘The school was directly opposite the main gate entrance to the convent grounds. For a playground, the children shared an adjoining paddock with a few cows.’ ²

1917

Parish of Waratah established, Rosary Convent School now a parochial school

1933

‘The enrolment at St Joseph’s primary school has increased to such an extent that the old weatherboard building in Alfred Street is unable to accommodate comfortably the various classes. If parish finances permit a new more commodious school will be built next year.’ ³

1934

Ground floor of new Corpus Christi parish school completed

1935

Larger school of five classrooms opened, built by parish with a new hall added for school and parish use

1954

Reconstructed school opened with second floor completed

1963

‘At Waratah, good progress is reported on the building of a School hall … It is of solid brick construction and is expected to be finished in a few months.’ 4

1967

Enrolment 267 students

1978

Rosary Convent School closed, with students relocated here

1979

Rosary Convent closed

1987

Dominican administration ended

1988

First lay Principal – Mr Paul Dangarfield 1989

First primary lay Principal, Mrs

2002

Construction of classrooms, library, canteen, disabled facilities and general refurbishment

2009

Refurbishment of external and internal school facilities, library and multipurpose hall

2017

Two adjoining blocks of land purchased

2018

Two spaces utilised for active learning, play and fitness activities, one named 'The Dominic Courtyard'

Waratah DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTE

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Waratah

Aboriginal word meaning ‘beautiful.’ Area marking the extreme northern boundary for this naturally occurring species. Hunter River to Victoria

Opened 1888

Preceded by

1875–1887 Deaf and Dumb Institute, Perkins St, Newcastle

1867

Eight Dominican sisters arrived in Australia from Kingstown, Ireland. Invited to staff Denominational girls’ and infants’ schools becoming Star of the Sea School Perkins Street Newcastle

1875

With the enrolment of a few children with hearing impairment, the Dominican apostolate for these children began

From Ireland arrived Dominican sister, Mary Gabriel Hogan, herself hearing impaired, trained in ‘manual alphabet’

‘The deaf school began its formal existence under Sr Gabriel’s care with the enrolment of two pupils, Catherine Sullivan and Elizabeth Mary Ruwald, on 8 December 1875.’ ¹

1886

Four acres of land purchased in Waratah, bounded by Bridge, Lorna, Alfred and Platt Streets

Foundation stone laid for Dominican Convent, known as Rosary Convent.

Imposing brick building constructed, architect Menkens

1888

Deaf and Dumb Institute opened as boarding school for boys and girls, first Principal M Gabriel Hogan

1889

Students from the Institute in Newcastle relocated to Waratah, enrolment 24 students

1913

New wing built for Institute, hall used as Mass centre, becoming the first Catholic church in Waratah. During the week hall used as sewing room for senior girls ‘The industrial school at Waratah took orders for every type of needlework and maintained its own show room.’ ³

1916

Dominicans purchased a property at Mayfield, San Clemente

1918

Further additions to Convent, three storey edifice – drying and ironing room, servery, infirmary and dressing rooms

1963 School for Deaf Girls

1976 Catholic Centre for Education of Deaf

‘Between 1875 and 1888, seventeen girls and thirteen boys were admitted to the school – a very small percentage of the Catholic deaf children in Australia. It was possibly this slow growth of pupils which urged Sister M. Gabriel to write to Bishop Murray, probably in 1883, stressing the necessity of making known the existence of the Newcastle School and the importance of having Catholic deaf children sent there to be instructed in their faith.’ ²

1885

Decision made to establish a complete and separate Institution for the Deaf and Dumb

Day high school for the local area established in connection with Rosary Park Convent

1895

Sr M Columba appointed Superior of the Convent, serving education of the deaf until 1932

1907

Dominicans staff a primary school on land opposite the convent, known as Rosary Convent School to continue as Corpus Christi Primary School

1919

Whole establishment transferred to Havelock Street seven acre site, now known as San Clemente

1922

Four of the older boys transferred from Waratah to St Gabriel’s Castle Hill, Sydney, newly opened specialised school for the deaf staffed by Christian Brothers

1923

The sixteen remaining boys transferred to Castle Hill, and Waratah became a girls’ school

1925

Golden Jubilee celebrating the beginning of Catholic Deaf Education in Australia

1927

Lay teachers on staff, M. Bruyn, N. Burke, D Dendle, D. O’Neil, M. and N. Elligate

1931

Enclosed retreats for ladies began

1934

North and South wing added to building as industrial school for adult deaf girls, architect Mr H. Agabiti

1938

Fr Lucien Page C.S.V. Canadian teacher of the deaf, visited for five weeks. The speech method was then adopted in place of sign language

1948

Fire extensively damaged a section of the building, reconstruction in 1952

Helen Keller visited – US blind and deaf authoress

1952

Opening of reconstructed school

‘In his speech Dr Toohey said the Institute for teaching deaf children was the first of its kind in Australia and since its establishment at Newcastle in 1875, over 470 pupils from Australia, New Zealand and the Islands had passed through it.’ 4

1963

Now known as 'School for Deaf Girls

1976

The Rosary Convent School for Deaf Girls ceased to function in its current form, closing in 1979

Name change to Catholic Centre for Education of Deaf

1980

Integration Unit formed within San Clemente High School for hearing impaired and Autism Spectrum Disorder students

1986

Centre open for educational assistance for children with mild and moderate hearing losses

‘In his speech Dr Toohey said the Institute for teaching deaf childrem was the first of its kind in Australia and since its establishment at Newcatle in 1875, over 470 pupils from Australia, New Zealand and the Islands had passed through it.’

Dr Toohey 1952

1988

Dominican administration ended

1989

First lay Principal, Mrs Leola Loudon

1991

Convent and school buildings leased to Catholic Care of the Aged

1992

Catholic Centre for Education of Deaf closed at Waratah and moved to new premises at Mayfield adjoining San Clemente High School

References

1 Egan, M. (1975) History of Catholic Deaf Education in Australia 1875 – 1975

2 ibid

3 MacGinley, R. (2009). Ancient Tradition – New World: Dominican Sisters in Eastern Australia 1867 – 1958, St Pauls Publications.

4 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 04/1952 Bourke, J..A. (1973) The Dominican Nuns’ School Journal of the Royal Historical Society

Mayfield ST DOMINIC’S CENTRE

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Mayfield

Named after May, daughter of John Scholey, who bought the area in 1881 and had it subdivided

Opened 1993

Preceded

by

1976 Catholic Centre for Education of Deaf

1980 Integration Unit for hearing impaired students at San Clemente High School, Mayfield

School today kindergarten to year 10

Charism: Dominican

Motto: Truth

Location: 76 Havelock Street Mayfield NSW 2304

Parish: Mayfield

St

St Dominic's Centre, Mayfield is a Kindergarten to Year 10 school that provides an education of excellence for children with a range of disabilities including hearing impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Moderate Cognitive disability.

1976

The Rosary Convent School for Deaf Girls ceased to function in its current form, closing in 1979.

Name change to Catholic Centre for Education of the Deaf.

1980

Integration Unit formed within San Clemente High School for hearing impaired students.

1986

Centre open for educational assistance for children with mild and moderate hearing losses.

1992

Catholic Centre for Education of Deaf closes at Waratah and moves To Mayfield

1993

St Dominic’s Centre, purpose built to reduce ambient noise, opens at Havelock Street, Mayfield, adjacent to San Clemente High School

2009

Refurbishment of library, school facilities, external and internal, a specialised Information and Communication Technology infrastructure supports

2012

Accessibility and special needs upgrade

2014

Integration Unit within San Clemente High School relocates to St Dominic’s Centre

2016

St Dominic’s merged into one campus Kindergarten to Year 10

2018

First cohort of Autism Spectrum Disorder children accepted in Kindergarten and Year 1

Tighes Hill ST PATRICK’ PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Tighes Hill

Named after Atkinson Tighe an early resident, who purchased the estate in 1843

Opened 1895

Closed 1975

Location

Bryant Street Tighes Hill NSW 2297 References

1

1884

Parochial district of Hamilton established, encompassing Tighes Hill

1895

Primary School opened in Rosedale Hall used for mass and school purposes

‘The new Roman Catholic school at Tighes Hill was formally opened today. Appropriate addresses were delivered by Bishop Murray, Bishop of Maitland, and Dr Lanigan, Bishop of Goulburn. The building is of a tasteful character, and will hold about 500 pupils. The school will be under the management of the Sisters of Mercy.’ ¹

Sisters of Mercy, walked daily from Hamilton convent, later travelled by tram

This journey by foot, tram or bus continues for about thirty-three years until a convent was built in 1928 ²

First sisters, M Stanislaus O’Neill, M Peter Bercini, M Ita Condon

1899

Land donated by Mr Charles O’Hara, modest wooden structure built for classrooms

Blessing of memorial stone to mark beginnings of new school / church

1900

The timber church named the Immaculate Conception completed

‘The church-school was by no means ideal, as teaching was difficult when classes from sixth down to second were all in one room while first class was into a small sacristy. The Australian Catholic Directory gives the enrolment in 1899 was 110.’ ²

1908

Enrolment 130 students

1912

Enrolment 180 students

1914

Brick school built, St Patrick’s Primary School of four rooms, with gradual additions

1921

Parochial district of Tighes Hill established

1928

Tighes Hill Mercy convent established on 2 acres of land purchased in Union Street. The two storey brick building with balconies around was set among artistic lawns and gardens. The Sisters now only had a short walk to the school

1954

Foundation stone laid for new parish church, Immaculate Heart of Mary

1970s

St Patrick’s school population was decreasing as young families continue to move to outer suburbs of Newcastle

1975

St Patrick’s Primary School closed. Children transferred to several schools in close proximity

Tighes Hill

ST PIUS X PRIMARY SCHOOL | ST PIUS X HIGH SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Tighes Hill

Named after Atkinson Tighe an early resident, who purchased the estate in 1843

Opened 1955

Preceded by

Marist Brothers Regional Primary School, Hamilton

Closed 1958

Location

Union Street Tighes Hill NSW 2297

TIGHES HILL ST PIUS X PRIMARY SCHOOL

1954

Bishop Gleeson with the Marist Brothers built a new school at Tighes Hill at a cost of £26,000. As this school was to replace the Marist Brothers Regional Primary School at Hamilton, the cost was to be distributed throughout the parishes in the Newcastle area

The plan was to relieve Hamilton of its heavy primary class loading and to allow space for increased secondary enrolments 3

New School, Tighes Hill 1

All boys who desire to enrol in the fifth and sixth classes at the new school at Tighes Hill for 1955 should present themselves at the Marist brothers’ High school, parkway avenue, Hamilton on Tuesday 7th December 1954 at 9.30am. Each boy should ask his teacher for his last test marks and should also bring a pencil with him. Rev Brother Director 1

1955

St Pius X Primary School, staffed by Marist brothers travelling from Hamilton

The school was of unusual design with its low pitch roof and slanting ceiling but the four classrooms each 30ft by 24ft were very well lit, spacious and airy with excellent acoustics and ventilation. Underneath was a large basement to serve as a shelter shed and tuck shop. 3

1955 –1957

First principal – Br Faber Turnbull

1955 –1958

Marist Brothers

1957

Announcement made that school would become a secondary school

‘ … this means that no more boys can be taken into the Primary classes and that there will be no enrolments for Fifth Class next year.’ 2

1958

Primary School closes and Marist Brothers withdraw from school

TIGHES HILL ST PIUS X HIGH SCHOOL

1958

Decision to open a new Secondary School for boys to be staffed by Diocesan Priests

1959

Administration of secondary school passed to priests of the Diocese, overseen by Fr Newton

School began with two First Year classes with 94 boys

1961

Male students transferred to the newly opened St Pius X High School Adamstown

1966

School buildings used as temporary accommodation for Fifth Form students until the buildings for the new St Anne’s High School were being completed on land adjacent to St Pius X College at Adamstown. This school was a senior secondary school for girls in the Newcastle area staffed by Dominican, Mercy and Josephite sisters

1967

Female students transferred to newly completed St Anne’s Adamstown

Mayfield SAN CLEMENTE HIGH SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Mayfield

Named after May, daughter of John Scholey, who bought the area in 1881 and had it subdivided.

Opened 1917

School today years 7 to 10 junior secondary co-educational

Charism: Dominican

Motto: Truth

Location: 78 Havelock Street Mayfield NSW 2304

Parish: Mayfield References

1867

Dominicans arrived in Australia from Kingstown Ireland, invited to staff Denominational School, becoming Star of the Sea School, Perkins Street Newcastle

1916

Dominicans invited to established a primary, secondary and boarding school in Mayfield

Purchase of property on Bull and Kerr Streets Mayfield

Dominican community established, called ‘San Clemente’ acknowledging Spanish origins of the Order, founding sisters M Concepta O’Donohoe, M Bonaventure Lamond and M Winifred Keating

1917

‘Sisters began with a fifty strong enrolment of parochial pupils and a few applicants for their day high school.’ ¹

1919

Purchased and moved to seven acre property of Julian Windeyer, crn Havelock and Crebert Streets Mayfield with ‘stately home in spacious grounds’ ‘Redcliff’, adjacent properties acquired later ‘… they moved to a large house ‘Redcliffe’ set on three acres of land where a larger day school was developed and registration as a secondary school to intermediate standard was obtained.’ ¹

1922

Major extensions, again in 1947 to accommodate day school students and boarders

1929

Convent and boarding school erected and opened

1968 –1969

Dominican Order sold ‘Redcliff’ property to the Maitland Diocese

1970

Library, two classrooms, book hire room and art room were added

1976

Dominican administration ended

1977

San Clemente High School became the first Diocesan high school to be staffed entirely by lay teachers

First lay Principal, Mr R Slattery

1978

School chapel built

1980

Integration Unit formed for the integration of hearing impaired students into general classes

1983

School became co-educational

Extensive new facilities – technics, art and craft, economics rooms and laboratories

1984

Extended library canteen, shower and toilet facilities

1990

Earthquake repairs following 1989 Newcastle earthquake

2008

Stage 1 Construction of classrooms

2009

Stage 2 Purpose built facilities including library, art rooms, general classrooms and music precinct

Refurbishment of administration, staff facilities and classrooms

Refurbishment of external school facilities and security fence

Construction of Trade Training Centre –Hospitality and Construction

2013

Additional Campus Unit for integration of hearing impaired and Autism Spectrum Disorder students

2014

This Campus Unit was relocated to St Dominic’s Centre 2017

Celebration of Centenary

Construction of hall and adjacent classrooms 2020

Renovations with façade of the school repaired

1

Mayfield ST COLUMBAN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Mayfield

Named after May, daughter of John Scholey, who bought the area in 1881 and had it subdivided.

Opened 1917

Known as

Opened as San Clemente Primary School

1922 St Joseph’s 1954 St Columban’s

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Dominican

Motto: Truth

Location: Church Street Mayfield NSW 2304

Parish: Mayfield

1917–1997

1916

Property purchased by Dominicans crn Bull & Kerr Streets – convent, primary, secondary and boarding schools

1917

Parochial district of Waratah established, embracing Waratah, Broadmeadow and Mayfield

Dominicans invited to established a primary school in Mayfield

‘The sisters began with a fifty strong enrolment of parochial pupils and a few applicants for their day high school.’ ¹

Dominican sisters, M Concepta O’Donohoe Superior, M Bonaventure Lamond and M Winifred Keating

Agreement – land given to parish by Dominicans, school built and maintained by parish

Parochial school set up within San Clemente grounds, primary school opened as San Clemente

1919

Dominican Order purchased 7 acres – land and home on corner Havelock and Crebert streets. Later adjoining land was purchased

Whole establishment of home and land named ‘San Clemente’

1922

Decision made to transfer primary section from Kerr Street to Church Street, along with a few classrooms and shed buildings, school known as St Joseph’s

1922 –1940

School building used as a parish church

1927

First part of St Columban's church/school opened

1940

Parish church opened as St Columban's

1950 –56

Major construction work, old classrooms renovated, new sections, canteen made from two trams

‘The tuck shop was a broken down old tin shed’! It’s a miracle there were no serious mishaps in it … Soon after it was officially publicised that buses were to replace trams, … a discussion took place at a Parents and Friends Association Meeting, regarding .“the suitability” of using a couple of the tram cars for a tuck shop. … The men did a wonderful job. The.“transformation” of the tram cars into a “tuck shop”, with “all modern conveniences”, was incredible. Everyone was delighted with “the new set up”. As you may well imagine, none more so than the ladies on the Tuck Shop Roster.’ ‘His Lordship Bishop Edmund Gleeson officially blessed and opened the Tram Tuck Shop.’ ²

1954

School name change now St Columban’s

1983

Dominican administration ended

1984

First lay Principal, Mr David Carty 1993

Students accommodated here from Christ the King Primary School Mayfield West,

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal

Refurbishment of administration block and construction of library

2017

Grounds upgraded with new memorial garden

School celebrated its Centenary

2018

Improvements – inviting new infants corridor and new toilet block

Mayfield MURRAY – DWYER ORPHANAGE

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Mayfield

Named after May, daughter of John Scholey, who bought the area in 1881 and had it subdivided.

Opened 1933

1952 – 1956 Sancta Maria School

Location

Gregson Avenue Mayfield NSW 2304

1917

Parochial district of Waratah established, embracing Waratah, Broadmeadow and Mayfield

1933

Diocese purchased Mayfield property with a vision to conduct a boy’s orphanage, 38 acre site being residence of superintendent of Australian Agricultural Company

Orphanage named after the first two resident bishops of the Diocese.

Orphanage blessed and opened, licenced for total of 65 boys, including 12 boys under 7 years

Daughters of Charity (St Vincent de Paul) arrived to staff orphanage

First sisters, M Gertrude Minogue as Superior, M Margaret, M Monica, M Gabriel, M Philomena

Members of the SVDP Society asked to contribute to the furnishing of the residence

1933 –1944

Total of boys admitted, 246

1936

Orphanage extended to include new wing with dormitory, dining-room and play hall

1937

Report from government inspector – one dormitory for 28 beds actually accommodated 42 beds

1939 –1945

Buildings taken over by the military, 46 boys transferred to Monte Pio Orphanage Campbells Hill

1945

Approved to take in 30 British migrant boys

1946

The Sisters and boys returned to Mayfield ‘Besides the repairs necessary after army occupation a further wing was added to care for nearly a hundred boys from wartorn England.’ ¹

1948

Licenced amended to allow admission of 74 boys, with 21 boys under 7 years

Boys under 3 not admitted, boys between 11 and 12 years transferred to St Vincent's Boys Home, Westmead

1950s

Child migrant policy grant enabled additional dormitory for 30 beds, and extension to 3 classrooms

1950 –1960

Renewed criticism from child welfare professionals

1952

School known as ‘Sancta Maria’, Years 1–5 opened near the entrance to the orphanage

1956

United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child saw a change in focus for management of orphanages

Daughters of Charity administration ended, Sancta Maria School closed, buildings relocated to Mayfield West

1957

Students accommodated at Mayfield West school, then known as St John’s

1961

Catholic Family Welfare Bureau (Centacare) established in Hamilton, assumed responsibility for admissions

1964

In residence only 37 boys

Late 1960s

Boys under 5 years not admitted

1967

Policy adopted in favour of scattered cottage homes staffed by married couples

1968

First homes began operating in Merewether

1969

Murray-Dwyer Orphanage formally closed. Property taken over by BHP

1973

Along with the closure of Monte Pio Orphanage at Campbells Hill, almost a century of segregated orphanage provision in the Diocese now came to an end

Mayfield ST JOHN’S INFANTS SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Mayfield

Named after May, daughter of John Scholey, who bought the area in 1881 and had it subdivided.

Opened 1937

Also known as

Colloquially Snake Gully

School

Kindergarten to Year 2, operated as annex to St Columban’s Primary School, Mayfield

Closed 1952

Location

Hanbury Street Mayfield NSW 2304

1917

Parochial district of Waratah established, embracing Waratah, Broadmeadow and Mayfield

1937

Dominican sisters, first sister M Barbara, travelling daily from San Clemente convent by taxi

Church/school opened as St John’s, students progressing ‘up the hill’ to St Columban’s, Church Street, Mayfield ‘The Sisters relied heavily on the generosity of people like Stan Ryan, who answered their every call for help. At about midday, he could be seen approaching the school. He carried a tray which, one day might contain a bowl of soup or, on the next, a plate of homemade cakes.’ ¹

Partly dismantled buildings from Rutherford Army Camp relocated and rebuilt as church/ hall and church/school. Hall also used as entertainment hall, picture theatre and housie venue. ‘Even given Catholic school conditions of the time it was bad. There were fairly large holes in the wooden floor which were ignored until Fr McNamara tripped in one as he was saying Mass. The solution to the problem was the usual one. A raffle was organised and with the proceeds from this a piece of carpet was bought and placed in front of the altar.’ ¹

The school came to be known affectionately as ‘Snake Gully’ name coined by a parishioner – ‘down in the gully’ as distinct

from ‘up on Monastery hill’. The term ‘Snake Gully’ came from the then popular Dad ‘n Dave radio series. Presbytery in cottage next door School concerts were held in Sancta Maria Hall, Gregson Street Mayfield ‘When ‘Trams for Sale’ was the order of the day, we seized the golden opportunity and bought not one but two trams – one for a tuck shop and one for a shed.’ ¹

1937

Or soon after, air raid shelter 6 ft deep built in playground during Word War II years, demolished in 1946

1952

Dominican administration ended Upon closure, ‘Snake Gully’ school was amalgamated with St Columban’s Mayfield

1989

Hanbury Street property sold by parish, later developed into housing commission homes

1993

Parishes amalgamated – Christ the King Mayfield West and St Columban’s Mayfield

Mayfield West CHRIST THE KING PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Mayfield

Named after May, daughter of John Scholey, who bought the area in 1881 and had it subdivided.

Opened 1957

Preceded by 1952 – 1956 Sancta Maria School on Gregson Avenue Mayfield Known as until 1971 St John’s Primary School

1917

Parochial district of Waratah established, embracing Waratah, Broadmeadow and Mayfield

1952

Sancta Maria School Years 1–5 opened at the entrance to the Murray-Dwyer Orphanage on Gregson Avenue

Sancta Maria School staffed by Daughters of Charity (St Vincent de Paul), coming from the Orphanage

1955

Parish of Mayfield West established, Christ the King

1956

Five blocks of land purchased Wilson / Fitzroy Roads establishing Mayfield West Church

Sancta Maria school closed

1957 –1958

Staffed by Dominicans

1959

Daughters of Charity (St Vincent de Paul) took charge of the school

1964

‘

… it is fitting here to express the gratitude of all concerned with St John’s to our two good lay teachers Mr J Henchy and Mr D Carty. Both masters have unstintingly given of their best, of the varied talents, and of their wide experience to play key parts in the life and progress of St John’s. We will always be indebted to them.’ ¹

1969

Daughters of Charity (St Vincent de Paul) administration ended

1970

Staffed by Dominicans

Fitzroy Street Mayfield West NSW 2304

Daughters of Charity administration ended, buildings and hall moved to new site on Fitzroy Street

1957

St John’s School opened accommodating students from Sancta Maria School Mayfield

1971

School name change to Christ the King, in line with parish name

1976

Dominican administration ended

1977

First lay Principal Mr Ray Hanley, first Diocesan Primary school to be fully lay staffed

1992

Reminiscences from the school secretary ‘Eight years ago I produced all the typing on a manual portable typewriter and when we acquired an electronic typewriter about three years ago, I thought life was wonderful. However, last year we progressed to the computer age and the school administration is now done on computer. This year has been a great challenge which I am slowly mastering …’ ²

School closed, students accommodated at St Columban’s Primary School Mayfield

1993

Parishes amalgamated – Christ the King Mayfield West and St Columban’s Mayfield

Shortland OUR LADY OF VICTORIES PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Mayfield

Named after Lieutenant John Shortland, who in 1797 while searching for escaped convicts, discovered the estuary of the Hunter River

Opened 1957

Known as

St Joseph’s School, K to Year 4

1964 Our Lady of Victories Primary School

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Truth

Location: 15 Lovell Parade Shortland NSW 2307

Parish: Wallsend-Shortland

Three acre block purchased from Mr Hanson

1949

Parochial district of Shortland established

1956

Church / school opened on land purchased by the parish between Sandgate Road and Lovell Street

1957

School opened, originally as St Joseph’s School, Kindergarten to Year 4, enrolment 81 students

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph moved in convent – Sisters Marguerite Chapman Principal, M Cecily Keyes, M Matthew Bowe.

Rapid growth in the suburb, owing to the construction of War Service and Housing Commission homes

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, M Marguerite Chapman Principal, M Cecily Keyes, M Matthew Bowe

1958

Old church of St Joseph used for school classrooms

Presbytery garage converted to classroom, later meeting room, affectionally called ‘The Academy’

1959

Convent extended to accommodate eight sisters

1964

‘By dent of unflagging hard work and constant effort by Rev Fr Smyth, backed by the yeoman work and assistance of devoted and loyal parishioners, today the Parish of Shortland can boast a fine parochial plant comprising a school of over 300 pupils, a convent housing seven Sisters of St Joseph, a presbytery and from Sunday, November 1, a beautiful new Church.’ ¹

School name changed to Our Lady of Victories Primary School, in line with parish name

1977

First lay Principal, Mr Peter Samuel

1980

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

2004

Construction/refurbishment of classrooms, administration, staff facilities, library, toilets, canteen

2009

Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal

Construction of multi-purpose hall and refurbishment of classrooms

2016

All classrooms refurbished, new carpet, roofs, data and electrical upgrade, spaces providing flexible learning areas

Nelson Bay ST MICHAEL’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Worimi people

Nelson Bay

Named after the ship HMS Lady Nelson, which in 1801 was sent to survey the Hunter River and district.

Opened 1962

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Mercy

Motto: Truth and Trust

Location: Sproule Street Nelson Bay NSW 2315

Parish: Nelson Bay

1939 –1945

During World War II 30,000 men were stationed between Newcastle and Nelson Bay

Land between Magnus Street and Victoria Parade donated to the church by Miss Dorothy Porter

‘Prepared to pay the market price to the solicitor, we received the welcome surprise of a free gift. Nelson Bay owes an immense debt to this generous lady, now living in Edgecliffe [sic]. She lent a book called ‘St Michael’ to the parish priest, and the name St Michael was thought of for the Church title, as a fitting thank you for the land.’ ¹

1947

St Michael’s church opened

1949

Arrival of migrant families from vacated military camps, and children of personnel at Williamtown Royal Australian Air Force Base

1952 –1953

Chaplaincy to the migrants began, with Sisters of Mercy attending to instruction of children on Sundays

1960

Parochial district of Nelson Bay established

1962

Nelson Bay Mercy convent and hall established, adjacent to presbytery in Victoria Parade

St Michael’s School opened in church/hall in Magnus Street, accommodating three classrooms with enrolment of 42 students

Sisters of Mercy, Principal M Edmund Cahill, M Aloysius Petherbridge, M Henrietta Hoban

‘On the 30 January 1962 three sisters began the work of Catholic education at the Bay in very humble circumstances, but their own enthusiasm and the evident appreciation of both pupils and parents made up for much that was lacking in the way of equipment.’ ²

Parish purchased large property at the end of Tomaree Street

1969

First section of new school opened at the end of Sproule Street, in Wahgunyah Street

1970

Two further classrooms added

1977

First lay Principal, Mr John Van Nus

1984

School extensions opened

1986

Mercy administration ended

1991

Lopes Library opened, named in honour of generous benefactor and parishioner Mary Lopes

2003 Administration facilities upgraded

2009

Replacement of ‘demountables’ with new classrooms, lift well and multi-purpose hall space, shade structure built

Medowie

CATHERINE MCAULEY

CATHOLIC COLLEGE

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Worimi people

Medowie

Aboriginal word meaning ‘the place of tall trees’

Opened 2021

School today co-educational high school

Charism: Mercy

Motto: United in Mercy

Location: 507 Medowie Road Medowie NSW 2318

Parish: Raymond Terrace

2015 –2016

Analysis and study for the provision of secondary education, with recommendation 3 being adopted. Land purchased on Medowie Road. Vision to accommodate St Nicholas Early Learning Centre, primary and secondary schools and chapel to serve education communities and local parish community

2016

October 28 unveiling of foundation stone

2021

Upon opening school fully lay staffed

Opening with Years 7 and 8

2025

Expected to cover education for all classes Years 7 to 12

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE Upper hunter region

On Country:

Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua, Gamilaroi and Wiradjuri Indigenous peoples

The rich pastoral area of the Upper Hunter River and surrounding regions has been the home of the Wonnarua people for over 30,000 years. The first European presence in this area was an expedition party led by John Howe in March 1820, who with the help of Aboriginal guides discovered a overland route connecting the Hawkesbury Region to the Hunter. He called the region St Patrick’s Plains and described the area in favourable terms. ‘It is the finest sheep land I have seen since I left England……. The grass on the low ground equals a meadow in England and will grow as good a swath and is, like the native grass found where old stockyards have been.’ 1 This discovery of rich farming and grazing lands soon led to the rapid expansion of the European colony as the region was opened up for settlement usually by means of grants and a plentiful supply of convict labour. The earliest settlement in this region was at Singleton, named after a member of John Howe’s expedition who moved to the area as early as 1821.

The first mention of a Catholic school was in 1843 when Rev. J. T. Lynch visited the school to examine the children under the tuition of Mr J. J. Walsh.2 By 1849 88 Roman Catholic inhabitants from Singleton had presented a petition to the Government in regard to the distribution of funds to Denominational Schools. This led to establishment of a funded Denominational school.3 There was a strong Catholic spirit in the Upper Hunter Region. Archbishop Bede Polding visited the region in 1860 to open the newly built St Patrick’s Church in Singleton and included in this visit the laying of the foundation stone for new churches at Muswellbrook and Scone and the opening of the church at Murrurundi. On his return he planned to visit Merton (Denman), Merriwa and Cassilis on his way to Mudgee. It was around these early communities that Catholic schools were established.

With the arrival of Most Rev. James Murray as the first resident bishop in the Diocese of Maitland in 1866 there was an increased emphasis on developing Catholic Education in the diocese. To support this he invited the Sisters of Mercy from Ennis, Ireland, to begin a foundation in the Diocese in 1875. Singleton was chosen for these Sisters because Bishop Murray knew they

would be well supported by local Catholic Community. Two further female congregations were invited to the Diocese in 1883 – the Sisters of St Brigid established their foundation in Coonamble and the Australian order of the Sisters of St Joseph made their diocesan foundation at Lochinvar.

When the Diocesan boundaries changed in 1887 it fell to the Mercy and Josephite sisters to staff the schools of the Upper Hunter. The Sisters of Mercy established Convents in the major towns of the region – Singleton, Muswellbrook, Scone, Murrurundi while the Sisters of St Joseph resided in the smaller and more isolated country towns – Merriwa, Wybong, Denman, Aberdeen, Wingen. Beverly Zimmerman in The Making of a Diocese describes this distinction in the charism of the two congregations.

The Sisters of Mercy … were in the diocese to teach the children of the upwardly mobile families of Maitland’s established towns. The Sisters of St Joseph were the foot-soldiers who moved into small, remote areas of the diocese to continue the fight and to advance the cause of Catholic religion.4

To cater for students from isolated areas a Boarding School for girls was opened at St Catherine’s College Singleton, while the Sisters of St Joseph opened boarding facilities for children under 12 years at Aberdeen for boys at Denman for girls.

The Upper Hunter region has had periods of great prosperity as well as times of hardship. Today coal mining and electricity generation are prominent industries dramatically changing the landscape from its pastoral beginnings. Dairying and beef cattle, as well as vineyards and horse studs also add to the industrial diversity of this region. The story of the Catholic schools of the Upper Hunter show how they have continued to support the changing circumstances of the communities they serve. Smaller schools may have closed but with improved transport a comprehensive K-12 system strives to build on the rich heritage beginning in the 1840s.

Footnotes

Wood, W.A., Dawn in the Valley, Wentworth Books, Sydney, 1972 Maitland Mercury, 7/10/1843. Maitland Mercury, 18/8/1849 Zimmerman, Beverly, The Making of a Diocese, 2000, pp.185–86

UPPER HUNTER REGION MAP

Singleton

ST FRANCIS XAVIER’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

The traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people

Singleton

Named after Benjamin Singleton, a member of John Howe’s 1820 expedition into the area and the person responsible for the establishment of the township.

Opened

1868 St Patrick’s then St Xavier’s

Prededed by

1843 Classes in makeshift buildings

1849 Catholic Denominational School

Known as

1968 St Xavier’s

1979 St Francis Xavier’s Primary School

School opened as Kindergarten to Year 6, From 1972 Year 3–Year 6

Closed 2000

Location

Cambridge Street Singleton NSW 2330, original entrance on Patrick Street

1843

Classes conducted in make shift buildings, stone/brick with shingle roof

Lay teacher Mr J J Walsh

1844

Parochial district of Singleton established

1845

Wooden structure replaced with a weatherboard structure on land donated by John Brown

1849

Catholic Denominational School began, first lay teacher John Haynes

1857

New school and teacher residence built

1860

St Patrick’s Church built

1868

New school opened for the parish, St Patrick’s, later known as St Xavier’s ‘Old St Xavier’s School opened by Fr Leonard after a successful fund-raising campaign.’ ¹

1868 –1875

Lay staff including Mr and Mrs Coghlan

1876

Sisters of Mercy took charge of Catholic Denominational School, lay teachers continued until 1882

1951

New buildings added

1952

Blessing and Opening of St Francis Xavier Memorial School by Bishop Gleeson

1965

Stage 2 school buildings completed

1968

Original St Xavier’s school opened in 1868 was demolished

1969

Final stage of building works completed

1971

St Augustine’s Primary School South Singleton closed, primary students transferred to St Xavier’s

1972

Reorganisation of Catholic schools in Singleton parish

St Xavier’s Primary School established as Year 3–6 school

Infants classes transferred to the new Catholic Junior School in Patrick Street

1979

Name change to St Francis Xavier’s Primary School

‘We have been favoured with an inspection of the plans for the erection of a new Roman Catholic denominational school at Singleton, which is to be built near the church belonging to the same congregation. The building consists of a very large school-room, 70 feet long by 25 feet wide, and will easily accommodate from 250 to 300 children. The length of the school-room fronts the street, the monotony of this large frontage is relieved in the centre by a neat double entrance porch – one door being for boys and the other for girls. Great care has been taken to ensure thoroughly efficient ventilation, there being in addition to two doors and two fireplaces, no less than eight large windows.’

Maitland Mercury, 18/4/1867, p.3.

1992

Mercy administration ended

1993

First lay Principal Mr Roger Whitney

1999

School closed and amalgamated into new St Catherine’s College K-12

2000

Formation of St Catherine’s Catholic College Kindergarten to Year 12, combining three school entities – St Catherine’s College, St Francis Xavier’s Primary and Infants Schools

2020

Cambridge Street building used as offices for the parish of Singleton and Branxton

References

1 Sternbeck, M. (1909) The Catholic Church in Singleton

Singleton CATHOLIC JUNIOR SCHOOL / ST FRANCIS XAVIER’S INFANTS’ SCHOOL

On Country

The traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people

Singleton

Named after Benjamin Singleton, a member of John Howe’s 1820 expedition into the area and the person responsible for the establishment of the township

Opened 1972

Preceded by

St Augustine’s Primary School South Singleton

School

Opened as Kindergarten to Year 2 Renamed

1991 St Francis Xavier Infants School

Closed 2000

Location

Patrick Street Singleton NSW 2330

1875

Singleton Mercy Convent established becoming the mother house for the Mercy Order in Maitland Diocese

1951

St Augustine’s now catering for classes Kindergarten to Year 4

1971

St Augustine’s Primary School closed

1972

March 12, Bishop Toohey opened the Catholic Junior School, Singleton to replace St Augustine’s ‘The Catholic Junior School was considered innovative in design and teaching methods for this area at the time of its opening, … The building complex is comprised of three large units – one for each infants grade – with two teachers in each unit involved in team teaching. Two withdrawal rooms are attached to the main units and are used by groups for activities such as drama ’ 1

Sisters of Mercy staffed the school, travelling from nearby Mercy Convent

Principal – Sr Delores Kealy rsm

Students from St Augustine’s, South Singleton transferred to Catholic Junior School

1981

Sr Judith Glaister appointed Principal. She was very talented musically and introduced the Suzuki method of teaching violin in the school

1985

Mercy administration ended

1986

Mrs Mary Cutjar appointed as first lay Principal

Enrolment 168 pupils

1991

School named changed to St Francis Xavier Infants School

1999

St Francis Xavier Infants School amalgamated into the new St Catherine’s Catholic College K-12

2000

Classes continued on Patrick Street site, as transition was managed over to College site

2012

All classes finally settled on St Catherine’s Catholic College site

In 1875, the Sisters of Mercy were introduced into the diocese from Ennis, County Clare, Ireland. Bishops could foresee that the time was not distant when the educational question would bring even more serious repercussions than it already had, so when Bishop Quinn of Bathurst visited Ireland in 1874, he was asked by Bishop Murray to secure the services of some more Sisters for the Diocese of Maitland.

The new community of Sisters, comprising six professed Sisters and three postulants, set out from Ireland and were conducted into their little convent at Singleton in August, 1875. The first superioress was Mother M. Stanislaus Kenny.

1966 Fr Harold Campbell, The Diocese of Maitland 1866–1966

Singleton ST CATHERINE’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE

On Country

The traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people

Singleton

Named after Benjamin Singleton, a member of John Howe’s 1820 expedition into the area and the person responsible for the establishment of the township.

Opened 1875

Also opened 1875 day and boarding school for girls

Aso opened 1974 co-educational high school

School today kindergarten to year 12

Charism: Mercy

Motto: Harmony Faith Integrity

Location: 30 – 40 Combo Lane Singleton NSW 2330

Parish: Singleton

1844

Parochial district of Singleton established

1875

Six Sisters of Mercy arrived from Ennis Ireland, establishing their first Foundation, Mother M. Stanislaus Kenny as superior Singleton Convent became the mother house for the Mercy Order in Diocese of Maitland

St Catherine’s Day and Boarding school established as ‘Select School’

1986

Mercy administration ends

1910

Brick building opened providing extra classrooms and living quarters for boarding

1913

New convent building completed – St Catherine’s College registered under Bursary Endowment Board

1942

Singleton Army Base opened bringing an increase of population to the area

1960

Extensive building program, new science block added ‘It is one of the most up to date classrooms in the State. The room can seat 54 students in six rows of tiered seats that rise from floor level … By providing this type of seating the students have an unobstructed view of practical demonstrations conducted at the central workbench by the Sister demonstrator.’

1964

Acquired building became McAuley Hall, demolished 1992

1967

First lay teachers in the school

1969

Substantial additions – two storey classroom block, two science rooms, four classrooms, assembly hall, administration facilities

1970

Boarding school closed

1974

Beginning of co-educational high school with intake of boys in Year 7

1987

First lay Principal, Mr Ken Rodwell

1993

Last Mercy sister on staff, Sr Eva Hassett

2001

Formation of St Catherine’s Catholic College, Kindergarten to Year 12 combining three school entities – St Catherine’s College, St Francis Xavier’s Primary School and the Infant’s School

2003

All new school buildings

2004

Construction and refurbishment of classrooms

2007

Refurbishment of classrooms and administration facilities, upgrade of electrical reticulation

2009

Construction and refurbishment of classrooms

Trade Training Centre, purchase of farm 2010

All classes located on St Catherine’s Catholic College site

South Singleton ST AUGUSTINE’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

The traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people

Singleton

Named after Benjamin Singleton, a member of John Howe’s 1820 expedition into the area and the person responsible for the establishment of the township.

Opened 1927

School

Infants, then Kindergarten to Year 4

Closed 1971

Location

Bathurst Street South Singleton NSW 2330

1875

Singleton Mercy Convent established becoming the mother house for the Mercy Order in Maitland Diocese

1927

Foundation stone laid for new Catholic church-school

‘The school will be a brick building, 60ft by 30ft, with walls 15ft high. A verandah 46ft by 11ft will be on the north side, and also a porch. The back wall will be a temporary one of wood, to admit of extension if necessary. The roof will be of iron with a pine ceiling.’ ¹

Sisters of Mercy staffed the school, travelling from Mercy Convent

1950

School extensions to cater for the southern end of the township

1951

St Augustine’s now catering for classes Kindergarten to Year 4

1953

Enrolment 82 students

1954

School Opened Closed Staff Years

St Augustine’s Primary 1927 1971 Mercies 44

References

1 Singleton Argus 29/03/1927

2 Singleton Argus 20/08/1954

‘Perfect spring weather added much to the enjoyment of the many parents and friends who went to St Catherine’s College on Wednesday afternoon and to St Xavier’s and St Augustine’s Primary Schools on Thursday afternoon to join in the Education Week celebrations. … St Augustine’s School South Singleton gave an out-of-doors entertainment in their spacious playground and used a specially erected stage beautifully decorated with wattle and spring flowers.’ ²

1971

St Augustine’s closed, students transferred to Catholic Junior School and St Francis Xavier Primary School

1972

Reorganisation of Catholic schools in Singleton parish

Former school building became a parish hall alongside St Augustine’s Church

1974

‘Cooinda’ Home for the Aged built in the grounds of St Augustine’s Church

Singleton MERCY ORPHANAGE

On Country

The traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people

Singleton

Named after Benjamin Singleton, a member of John Howe’s 1820 expedition into the area and the person responsible for the establishment of the township.

Opened 1877

Closed 1910

Location

30–40 Combo Lane Singleton NSW 2330

1844

Parochial district of Singleton established

1875

Six Sisters of Mercy arrived from Ennis Ireland establishing their First Foundation, Mother M. Stanislaus Kenny as superior Singleton Convent became the mother house for the Mercy Order in Maitland Diocese

1877

Opening of Mercy Orphanage with four girls admitted

‘The first Catholic orphanage in the Diocese of Maitland was established at Singleton in 1877. It was conducted by a community of Irish Sisters of Mercy who arrived in Singleton from Ennis, County Clare in 1875.’ ¹

1893

Twenty three in residence, ‘a relatively small institution’

1894

0nly ten orphanes

1899

Nine orphanes so ‘to fill empty beds eleven women were admitted.’

‘It seems the orphanage always had financial problems. Although the cash revenue would have been supplemented by donations of food and clothing, it is clear this orphanage would have been a very poor institution.’ ²

1910

Orphanage closed when ‘Twenty girls were relocated to Campbells Hill Orphanage.’

1910 –1973

Bishop Murray Memorial Home for Girls opened at Campbells Hill Maitland, known as Monte Pio

‘The care of the orphan was a work very dear to M. M. Stanislaus and our early sisters, who began with four homeless girls in Singleton in 1877 in very humble accommodation. Increasing numbers needed their ministrations over the years, reaching twenty-two in 1909. The memorial booklet of M. M. Stanislaus pays tribute to her motherly concern for these children:

For them she had the greatest possible respect … Their home in Singleton was very humble, but with that exception, they were well cared for and so bright that one day she expressed a hope that their better home on Campbell’s Hill would never take away their happy spirit.’ 2

Muswellbrook ST MARY’S HIGH SCHOOL

On Country

Tradition custodians of the land the Wonnarua and Gamilaroi peoples

Muswellbrook

Named after a quantity of mussels were found in the vicinity.

Opened 1953

Preceded by

1883 St James Primary School

Mary’s Mount Providence

Location

Skellatar House

1847

Within the Archdiocese of Sydney, transferred to Maitland Titular See, administered from Singleton

1883

Muswellbrook Mercy convent established, Father Fitzgerald called the area Mount Providence

Sisters of Mercy arrived and established St James Primary School

1952

Large section of new development purchased by parish, including Skellatar House

The historic homestead Skellatar House had been built in 1883 by the Bowman family

1953

St Mary’s High School established in converted building, 18 students enrolled

‘Thanks to the untiring efforts of Rev. Father

Roger Kennedy and Father Terry Williams, along with the willing men of Muswellbrook, the school was soon made ready and really began operating on 28 January, 1953.’ ¹

First Mercy sisters, M Louis Coote, M Irenaeus Flynn –Extracts from her diary

‘During the weeks which followed much hard work and lots of fun went into preparing a tennis court, a basketball field and other playing areas for the girls.’

‘Any account of St Mary’s, however short, would not be complete without mentioning Mr Oakes Senior, and Mr and Mrs Vic Oakes who lived on the premises and who were at our beck and call for all kinds of things.

… On one occasion Mr Oakes did us the service of getting rid of a very unwanted visitor, a long six foot black snake which wriggled almost to the classroom door.’ ¹

1967

Enrolment 49 students

Decision made to close the secondary school owing to Wyndham Scheme requirements, Mercy administration ended

1968

Girls were accommodated at St Catherine’s Singleton

1977 –1984

Skellatar House used as a Teacher’s Centre, transferring to Sowerby Street Convent School after closure

Muswellbrook ST JAMES’ PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua and Gamilaroi peoples

Muswellbrook

Named after a quantity of mussels were found in the vicinity

Opened 1883

Preceded by

1861 Catholic Denominational School

1871 St James Convent School

Also opened

1973–1975 St Mary’s Infants School

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Mercy / Josephite

Motto: Living in Christ

Location: Skellatar Stock Route Muswellbrook NSW 2333

Parish: Muswellbrook

1841

Government grant of land to the church

1845

St James Chapel built

1847

Within the Archdiocese of Sydney, transferred to Maitland Titular See, administered from Singleton

1861

Muswellbrook parish established, stone church built in Brook Street, used as Catholic Denominational School

Catholic Denominational School in the ‘new stone church’, first lay teacher, Miss M Quinn 1871 Mr Frank Guilfoyle

1871

New school ‘St James Convent School’ and residence built in Brook Street “The schoolroom stands east and west with its handsome gable at each of the points: there are two porches, one at each end for girls and boys respectively.’ ¹

‘As there was talk of the coming of the Sisters of Mercy to Muswellbrook in the next year or so this necessitated the additions of a brick building for a dining room and kitchen at an estimated cost of 200 pounds ($400).’ ¹

1883

Muswellbrook Mercy convent established ‘Eventually, when the Denominational School was abandoned, the long schoolroom was partitioned and used by the sisters as a community room and refectory.’ ¹

Sisters of Mercy arrived to staff school, M Francis Fleming Principal, M Raphael McMahon, M Loyola Gates, M Monica Doherty ‘They lived in Mr Guilfoyle’s four room cottage as they taught in their new St James’ School.’ ¹

St James Primary School established

1885

New school built on the hill behind the church in Sowerby Street, second storey added 1914

‘At this time moveable partitions were used to separate the classrooms. When overcrowding took place some children were housed and taught in a tent.’ ¹

1892

Enrolment 86 students

1912

New stone church built, St James

1914

Second storey added, building now surrounded by verandahs and balconies

1931

New timber classrooms opened

1945

Wooden classrooms built for CUSA (Catholic United Services Association), later becoming school canteen

1953

Large property purchased by parish, including Skellatar House. High School

St Mary’s Mt Providence established, closing 1967

1956

Two storey brick classrooms built

1972

Mercy administration ended

1973

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph came to reside in convent and staff schools, also travelling out to St Joseph’s Aberdeen

Sister M Ursula Kauter as Principal, seven sisters and six lay staff.

To alleviate crowding at St James, infants moved to Skellatar House, as St Mary’s Infants School

1975

St Mary’s Infants School students transferred back to St James Primary School

1980

Committee set up to consider new site for a new school

1983

New school opened on section of the original homestead property, four blocks of classrooms – separate kindergarten, infants and two primary blocks, library, administration block and a canteen, multipurpose hall and chapel arranged around a central quadrangle and assembly area

1990

Josephite administration ended

1991

Principal – Mrs Mary Cutjar

2009

Renovations of fencing and driveway, multipurpose hall built, refurbishment of library

2012

New school facilities

Scone ST MARY’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

The traditional custodians of the land the Tulong and Murrain people

Scone

Named after a place in Perthshire, Scotland

Opened 1877

Preceded by 1875 Denominational School

Also opened

1899–1918 St Angela’s Convent School

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Mercy

Motto: Teach Us Wisdom Teach Us Love

Location: 12 Short Street Scone NSW 2337

Parish: Scone

1860

St Mary’s Catholic Church opened

1875

Fr McGrath established a Denominational School, crn Kingdon and Hill Streets

Denominational school, teacher Miss Brigid Callen ‘She rode for some miles on horseback to teach the Catechism and the three R’s (sic) to the young folk of those days.’ ¹

1880

Parochial district of Scone established

1887

Sisters of Mercy arrived to staff school, Principal M Regis Murray, M Xavier Byrne, M Stanislaus McGoldrick, M Patrick Dawn

1889

Mercy convent called St Aloysius, built and opened with ‘select high school’ St Angela’s on convent verandah ‘This venture would have given some financial support to the Sisters when many families could not even afford the small fee of the primary school.’ ¹

1898 –1901

Sisters travelled out to Moobi teaching in private home of Mrs Coffey

1900

Enrolment 106 students

1901

Bishop Murray reported ‘There were more Protestant than Catholic pupils at the convent school in Scone.’ ²

1910

Reported in the Freeman’s Journal, convent school donated beds for Mercy Orphanage in Maitland

1918

St Angela’s convent High School closed

1925

New church opened Our Lady Queen of Peace

1953

New school built and opened on corner of Waverley and Short streets

1966

Two new classrooms built, also storage

student toilets, canteen and shelter

Four ‘demountable’ classrooms added for extra accommodation 1982

First lay Principal, Mrs Gloria Toohey 1986

Opening of new brick building with new extensions and alterations completed, ‘demountables’ replaced 1993

Sisters of Mercy left the school with the retirement of Sr Fidelis

Classrooms built, new library, staff and office facilities

Five new classrooms built with 1953 building refurbished for library, office and staff rooms

Construction of shade structure and external and internal refurbishments

Multi-purpose hall and associated works

Moobi CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL

Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarura and Gamilaroi peoples

Moobi Origin unknown

1880

Parochial district of Scone established

1887

Mercy sisters arrived in Scone

1889

Mercy convent St Aloysius built and opened in Scone

1898

School operated in Mrs Coffey’s house in a room separated from the kitchen by a partition

‘The sisters taught to the accompaniment of the rosary recited in Gaelic.’ ¹

‘As there was only enough work for one teacher, a lay teacher sat in the buggy shed during the day doing some sewing for the community.’ ¹

Sisters travelled out to Moobi teaching in a private home

Early companions – M Angela Fenelon, M Monica Doherty, M Assisium Kennedy, M Alacoque Lynch, M Benignus Moy

1899

St Michael’s Church opened in a small wooden church / school, built on land donated by Daniel Sullivan

‘There were so many changes in the Staff there, that Fr McGrath got disgusted and he one day remarked, ‘ I had one sister there who could teach and wouldn’t teach and another who would teach if she could and a third who wouldn’t if she could.’ ¹

1901

School closed

Murrurundi ST JOSEPH’S

PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

The traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people

Murrurundi

Aboriginal word for ‘five fingers’, referring to the five peaks surrounding the town

Opened 1879

Preceded

Within the Diocese of Maitland

1841

Stone church built in Murrurundi, district originally known as Haydonton

1860

Denominational School / National School opened, first lay teacher Mr McDonald

1869

Parochial district of Murrurundi established

1878

Sisters of Mercy from Singleton Foundation arrived to staff school, first sister Mother Bernard Gavin

1879

Murrurundi Mercy convent established, in row of houses along Mayne Street

St Joseph’s school conducted in old slab building divided into 2 rooms with a verandah, facing Victoria Street ‘The school bell in these years was hung from an old apple tree. It ceased to be when lightning struck it. It was later situated in the small school building.’ ¹

1880s

Convent built on land donated by Haydon family, additions in 1901

1881

Upon closure of Blandford Mercy school, the students were accommodated here

1887

Primary school built, demolished for building of new school in 1941

1890

‘Select’ St Mary’s High School opened in convent, officially opened 1912, for Catholic and non-Catholic students in front room of convent. Also taught were music, painting and needlework.

‘When a baby was brought to be baptised on a school day, Fr [Forde] would quickly call at the school to select a sponsor for the infant. Shy pupils would excuse themselves as “not having brought their hat”. ‘Borrow one!’ he would say, and, picking a hat would plonk it on a girls head and march that girl off to the church to be godparent to the infant – an enormous responsibility!’ ¹

1908

Enrolment 72 students

Students travelled to school, some from many miles distant ‘… some came on the luggage train whilst others walked through a tunnel –a dangerous practice.’ ¹

c1917

‘Select’ St Mary’s High School closed

1931

New brick school building opened, old school buildings now Kindergarten and typing room

‘It had two large class rooms divided by a folding door and a fire place at each end. … It was a most modern building at the time. … It had a spacious verandah. ... The old wooden school facing Victoria Street was used as a play room on rainy days. … Book keeping, business principles and typing were taught after school and on Saturday morning.’ ¹

1941

New school built

1970

Mercy administration ended and convent closed

St Joseph’s Primary and Infants schools closed, students travelled to St Mary’s Scone

1975

Convent became known as Murrurundi House

Murrurundi House opened as an Education Centre, renovated and upgraded for group accommodation, administered by the Catholic Education Office, transferred to parish administration in 1986

2001

Murrurundi House sold to private buyer

Blandford HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL

On Country

The traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people

Blandford

Named after a place in England, birthplace of W.H.Warland, early settler in nearby village of Harben Vale

Opened 1879

Preceded by

1866 Catholic Denominational School

1879–1918 St Stanislaus School

Known as

1918 Holy Rosary School

Closed 1931

Location

Blandford NSW 2285 out of Murrurundi

1866

Slab built school / church

‘The original Catholic School at Blandford was reputed to have been made of slabs and was in the far corner of the … Blandford Church property, adjoining Harben Vale. It was opened in 1866.’ ¹

Denominational School opened, first lay teacher, Mr Dennis (Daniel) Murphy

1867

“General muster of Catholics to meet new Bishop.”(Dr. Murray) ¹

1875

‘A grand concert and quadrille party in aid of the funds for the Blandford Catholic School was held in the Mechanics Institute on Monday evening week, and proved the most enthusiastic and generously attended entertainment held in this town for a long time past.’ ²

1879

Convent for Sisters of Mercy established in Murrurundi

‘The Roman Catholic Denominational School at Blandford – Mr V. Ellery – is to be examined next week.’ 2

Sisters of Mercy opened a little school, St Stanislaus School, first sister Mother M. Stanislaus

1881

Closure of Denominational School

1890

Recorded 50 pupils at Blandford ³

1918

With another section added on to form a T school reopened, now known as Holy Rosary School

Sisters of Mercy travelled from Murrurundi

1923

‘Two sisters travelled from Murrurundi in a horse drawn buggy driven by men and boys from the town. The boys attended themselves and then drove back to Murrurundi at the school’s end. The sisters had some hair raising escapes (unprintable), but survived.’ 4

1931

School closed very suddenly 1 April, students accommodated at Murrurundi

School Opened Closed Staff Years

Denominational St Stanislaus Holy Rosary 1866 1879 1918 1881 1931 Lay Teachers Mercies 15 52

References

1 Maitland Mercury 22/10/1867

2 Singleton Argus and Upper Hunter General Advocate 28/07/1875

3 Australasian Catholic Record 1890

4 Australian Town and Country Journal 20/08/1890

On Country

Merriwa ST JOSEPH’S

PRIMARY SCHOOL

Traditional custodians of the land the Gamilaroi people

Merriwa

Aboriginal name for ‘plenty of grass seed’

Opened 1883

The Convent School

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Actions Not Words

Location: Marquet Street Merriwa NSW 2329

Parish: Merriwa

1860

Opening of St Matthias Church

1874

Parochial district of Merriwa established

1879

Trustees appointed for the land set aside for Roman Catholic Church and Presbytery Original school site ‘... humble slab building in the town opposite the Post Office.’ 1

1881

New St Anne’s Church blessed and opened

1883

Catholic School opened, enabled by financial commitment of Catholic community

Lay teacher employed Miss Cooper as second lay teacher

People of the district agreed to pay ten pounds per month

1885

Merriwa, first Branch house opened by the Diocesan Josephites, fifteen months after establishment of Lochinvar

Purchase of a small wooden house for convent, Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived from Lochinvar convent. ‘… the Sisters were taking over existing Catholic schools, previously staffed by lay teachers.’ 2

First sisters M Aloysius Cahill Superior, M Josepha Comerford and M Magdalen McNamara. ‘To get there, the Sisters travelled by train to Muswellbrook where they were met by Fr Kearns – Merriwa’s Parish Priest – and driven in a special coach to Denman. There they had a late dinner,

hosted by a Catholic parishioner, Mrs Doyle. Finally they continued onto Merriwa and arrived at 6 o’clock, met by welcoming Catholics. Not pausing to rest or settle in, they opened the school on Wednesday.’ 2

1886

‘There were 38 boys and 39 girls enrolled at the school.’ 2

1896

‘First St Patrick’s Day Sports held on Merriwa Common’ 3

1908

Convent established in McCartney street, Marquet Street convent sold and removed

1918

Convent replaced with a traditional colonial style sandstone building, gift from parishioners

1928

New school opened in Marquet Street, ‘spacious plot of over eight acres of grassy slopes beside the town’2

1954

Infants classroom opened ‘it was a modern building … it had central heating.’ 2

Junior Secondary school established by the Sisters, Principal M Francesca Balton

1961

Additional block of classrooms opened, initially used for the high school students

1968

Junior Secondary closed

1979

First acting lay Principal, Miss Louise Outram

1980

Multi-purpose building opened, canteen, covered shelter, storage area and toilet facilities

1985

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1986

First permanent lay Principal, Michael Stanwell

2006

Refurbishment and extension of administration, staff facilities and library

2009

Construction of covered outdoor learning area shade structure and refurbishment of student amenities

2020

Restoration of 55 kilogram bell in tallowwood tower. Known to have existed close to well, in front of school building prior to 1920, possibly intended for installation in church 1889 Proceeds to R.C. belfry funds.1

Wingen ST PATRICK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people Wingen

Aboriginal word for ‘fire’ Burning Mountain is close by this district Opened 1896

Convent

‘The good Sisters of St Joseph, Wingen, are putting a fine addition to their convent, so as to be able to open a boarding school after the school holidays; and indeed, so far as health is concerned, it would be difficult to find a more suitable situation for a scholastic establishment in the colonies. The little township of Wingen is situated at the extreme end of the Hunter River,…nestling cosily at the foot of hills, which shelter its two sides, with the beautiful green valley of the Hunter spread out before it like a grand panorama.’

Freeman’s Journal, 2/9/1899, p.8

Parochial district of Scone established

1893

Church built, St Patrick’s

1896

Convent established in two room cottage opposite the church Church / school opened

First Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived to staff school, M Agatha Bussell Principal, M Vincent Webber, M Cecilia Hillier ‘As soon as the train stopped, three ladies wearing the habit of the Sisters of St Joseph, were seen issuing from one of the carriages. They were taken in charge by the ladies in waiting and accompanied with a vehicle, and a start was made for the pretty little church of St Patrick in the valley. As soon as all were seated in the church, a very nice address of welcome was read.’ ¹

1898

‘The Sisters of St Joseph, who have only been established at Wingen since January 1896, have made wonderful progress in their scholastic labours. The effect this community of religious teachers had on that thriving village was such as to draw nearly the whole attendance from the local Public School, with the result that the Institution had to be closed by the authorities …’ ²

1899

‘The good sisters of St Joseph, Wingen, are putting a fine addition to their convent, so as to be able to open a boarding school after the Christmas holidays.’ 3

Sisters would conduct Catechism classes on Sunday afternoon for both children and adults

Additions to convent, two new rooms

1900

Boarding School relocated to new convent rooms

1908

Enrolment 41 students

1952

New church opened

1958

Last Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, Principal M Alexius Boyle, M Regis Moylan, M Ninian Mc Rae

School closed

1959

Convent closed 11 January later sold

1996

Last mass at St Patrick’s parish church, 19 May

Aberdeen ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

ST JOSEPH’S BOYS BOARDING SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people who had close links with the Gamilaroi people who may also have occupied the area

Aberdeen

Named after George Gordon 4th Earl of Aberdeen, by Thomas McQueen for his 1828 Land Grant

Opened 1896

Also opened

1913–1971 Convent Boarding School

Closed 1971

1896

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph invited by Bishop Murray to staff school

Day school opened by 4 sisters, taking in a few boys from outlying districts as boarders

Sisters M Aloysius Cahill, M Stanislaus Tobin, M Genevieve Luney, M Bernard Wood

School opened in rented cottage adjacent to St Thomas church grounds overlooking the Hunter River

1899

Brooderlin’s property purchased at rear of church grounds for convent and boarding accommodation

1908

Primary school opened for boys and girls

1913

Boarding school established for only boy boarders under 12

‘The cook at school in my time was Sister Aiden. She was a tall skinny thing but was very kind. She was a Connelly from Maitland. One of the other non teaching nuns was Sister Declan and she had a laugh like a kookaburra and could be heard all over the place. Her laughter always set us off.’ ¹

1940

Convent extended

1949

Brick building built as quarters for boy boarders

‘Polishing the floors of the Dormitory was a fun task which we performed on Saturday mornings. After we’d dropped some polish on the floors we would get old blankets and cloths and have ‘chariot races’ around the dormitory: one boy pulling while another boy sat on the end of the blanket and got whizzed around the floor.’ ¹

1962

Pool completed

1967

Additional classrooms built

Named St Joseph’s Boys College

1971

Primary and Boarding schools closed

1972

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph transferred the ownership of the school to the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Aberdeen ST JOSEPH’S REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people who had close links with the Gamilaroi people who may also have occupied the area

Aberdeen

Named after George Gordon 4th Earl of Aberdeen, by Thomas McQueen for his 1828 Land Grant

Opened 1972

Preceded by

1896 St Joseph’s Primary

Also opened

1913 Convent Boarding School

School today kindergarten to year 2

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Care for Justice Act with Integrity

Location: Segenhoe Street Aberdeen NSW 2336

Parish: Muswellbrook

St Joseph’s Regional High 1972 1980 Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers 7 41

References

St Joseph’s Aberdeen 1896–1996 (1996) parish publication

1972

Opened as co-educational St Joseph’s Regional High School

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, first Principal, M Rosalie Jurd rsj

1976

New science laboratories opened Convent closed

1977

First year for students sitting the Higher School Certificate

1979

Diocesan Josephite administration ended 1981

First lay Principal, Mr T Colum McGovern ‘One of our greatest assets is the picturesque grounds on which our school is situated. The extensive views of green fields, cattle grazing, the Hunter River and distant mountains provide a relaxed and informal atmosphere for the school, which reinforces the creation of an ordered and studious environment within the school.’ ¹

Extensive building programme commenced

Construction and opening of new multipurpose Moylan Hall

Improved canteen facility and creation of specialist language laboratory

School celebrated Centenary

Construction of library, refurbishment of classrooms and administration area

Dedicated music area established

Construction of shade structure known as ‘The Shed’

Construction of fencing and formal entrance gateway

Upgrade of electrical reticulation

Refurbishment of Science Laboratories

Saint Mary MacKillop Trade Training Centre – metal, engineering, construction and agricultural science area

Construction of library, classrooms and staff facilities

Significant upgrade to existing buildings –1949 boarding school buildings demolished to allow construction for two new buildings with modern 21st Century learning spaces

Completion of building program with significant refurbishment of facilities

Wybong | Upper Wybong ST BERNARD’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua and Gamilaroi peoples

Wybong

Aboriginal name for ‘dead fire’

Opened 1901 (both schools)

School

Primary Classes

Closed

1908 Upper Wybong, 1915 Wybong

Location

Sandy Hollow Road (originally known as the Merriwa Road) Wybong NSW 2328

1872

First church at Denman built on southern end of Palace Street

1877

Parish of Muswellbrook established

1888

St Thomas Aquinas Church blessed and opened in Wybong

1901

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived to newly built four-roomed convent, built by Mr Hogan

First sisters arrived to staff school, M Columba Heagney, M Patrick Comerford, M Gabriel Hawley, M Baptist, M Baptist Dugan

School also took in boarders

1902

Two sisters travelled 6.5 kms daily to Upper Wybong in a hooded buggy with driver Annie Hogan who lived in a room adjacent to the convent kitchen

Upper Wybong School was a slab building with a shingle roof, property enclosed by a post and rail fence

The Lochinvar Silver Jubilee Book explains:

‘Only a few children attended at each place, the locality being too mountainous and too remote to admit of any considerable population. But if the convent is quiet, and the field of labour small, the kindness of the priest and the people, and the knowledge that even one soul’s salvation is worth looking for, are ample compensation for any little sacrifice entailed. The scenery surrounding the convent is extremely picturesque. The two little buildings nestle in the hollow between two high steep hills, to climb one of which, if not equal to Alpine climbing, is decidedly good exercise. The sisters have a neat little garden, in which they often surprise a wallaby. Mass is celebrated weekly at Wybong, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament given fortnightly.’ ¹

1908

Enrolment Wybong 13 students, Upper Wybong 13 students

Upper Wybong school closed

1915

Wybong school closed, students accommodated at St Joseph’s Denman

1916

Wybong school and convent buildings moved to Denman

Denman school St Joseph’s opened as primary school and girls boarding school

1919

Parish of Denman established

School Opened Closed Staff Years

References 1 Lochinvar Jubilee Book

‘Only a few children attended at each place, the locality being too mountainous and too remote to admit of any considerable population. But if the convent is quiet, and the field of labour small, the kindness of the priest and the people, and the knowledge that even one soul’s salvation is worth looking for, are ample compensation for any little sacrifice entailed. The scenery surrounding the convent is extremely picturesque. The two little buildings nestle in the hollow between two high steep hills, to climb one of which, if not equal to Alpine climbing, is decidedly good exercise.’

On Country

Denman ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua and Gamilaroi peoples

Denman

Named after Lord Thomas Denman, Lord Chief Justice of England, and grandfather of Lord Denman, Governor General of Australia 1911–1914

Opened 1916

Preceded

School today kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Growing in Christ

Location: 80 Palace Street Denman NSW 2328

Parish: Denman

1851

National School established at Merton ( early name for Denman), serving Catholic children of the area

1872

First church St Bernard’s built at southern end of Palace Street

1877

Parish of Muswellbrook established

1884

Church moved to northern end of Palace Street, built as church/school originally known as St Bernard’s

1901

Catholic education began in the Denman area with schools at Wybong and Upper Wybong

1915

Denman school opened in old St Bernard’s church, second site at northern end of Palace Street

Upon closure of Wybong schools, students accommodated at St Joseph’s Denman or St Joseph’s Aberdeen

1916

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph moved convent building from Wybong to Denman

New school opened as St Joseph’s primary and girls boarding school

1919

Parochial district of Denman established

1954

New weatherboard school opened close to main road, built by parishioners with local community support

1955

Hunter River floods necessitated a relocation of school

1956

New separate school built by parishioners

1963 –1964

Boarders apartments were incorporated into school facilities, later utilised as infants classrooms

1968

Girls’ boarding school closed

1971

‘The whole school, which was originally set adjacent to the Merriwa Road, was lifted and moved roughly 150 metres back to its present site which has lowered noise from the busy roadway nearby and extended the playground.’ ²

School moved from highway site to near old boarders dormitory

1980

School utilised old church building for school hall and canteen

St Bernard’s church opened

1982

Denman convent closed, sisters moved to Muswellbrook convent, travelling daily to Denman

1983

First lay Principal, Miss Louise Outram

1984

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1994

Classrooms for senior students, library, staffroom and administration area –buildings relocated from Waratah ‘From there on things moved quite swiftly–buildings were transported to the site …. Bernie Casey tendered successfully to erect, modify and assemble the structure. … All of these buildings have airconditioning installed, and the entire area is carpeted in brilliant emerald green.’ 1

2009

Refurbishment of buildings and grounds, data and communication infrastructure

Construction of library, administration, staff amenities, refurbishment of classrooms

2011

Opening of new school facilities

Gunnedah – Diocese of Armidale

ST MARY’S COLLEGE

On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Gamilaroi people

Gunnedah

Aboriginal word for ‘many white stones’

Opened 1879

Preceded by

1862 Denominational School

Also opened

1879 Select School, 1879–1987 Boarding School

School today Diocese of Armidale

St Mary’s College Co-educational High School

Charism: Mercy

Motto: Virtue is a Way of Life

Location: 151/153 Bloomfield Street Gunnedah NSW 2380

St Xavier’s Primary School

School: Kindergarten to year 6

Location: 150 Bloomfield Street Gunnedah NSW 2380

1847

Within the Diocese of Maitland

1862

Denominational school established with lay staff, A Cullen and Mrs O’Leary

1866

Parochial district of Gunnedah established

1875

New Church built in 1875

1879

Mercy order establish their first Branch House at Gunnedah

Sisters of Mercy arrive to staff school, first sisters M Ignatius O’Brien and M Aloysius

Upon arrival, the primary school was located in the gallery of the new church ‘Three acres of land had been purchased for the Sisters of Mercy quite close to the church land.’ ¹

Convent rented from Mr G Cohen, small wooden house of four rooms in Maitland

Street, which proved to be a flood prone area

Convent also used as a ‘select’ high school ‘… with its average of fifteen and a Primary School of over one hundred children’ ¹

Primary school was located in the gallery of the church built in 1875

1880

New convent built, small two storey brick structure in Bloomfield Street

Convent blessed and opened ‘To celebrate the occasion a Tea and Quadrille Party was held in the large schoolroom on the ground floor. The Tea Party was most enjoyable. The festivities commenced at 8pm and dancing continued until daybreak. Over one hundred and fifty persons were present.’ ¹

1887

Gunnedah excluded from Diocese of Maitland, included in Diocese of Armidale

‘Four professed Sisters and one postulant from Singleton Convent of Mercy were ‘given to Gunnedah’ to form the nucleus of the new Congregation.’ ²

School today

Diocese Of Armidale ST MARY’S COLLEGE

CO-EDUCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Charism: Mercy

Motto: Virtue is a Way of Life

Location: 151/153 Bloomfield

Street Gunnedah NSW 2380

1887

First Mercy superior of the new Foundation at Gunnedah, Mother M Aloysius O’Drisco

Closure of boarding school

2002

Transfer of governance from Sisters of Mercy to Diocese of Armidale

Coonamble – Diocese of Bathurst ST

BRIGID’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

The traditional custodians of the land the Gamilaroi people

Coonamble

Name derived from Aboriginal work for ‘amazing site’.

Proclaimed a town in 1861

Opened 1883

Known as

1883 St Bernard’s School, 2003 St Brigid’s Primary School

Also opened

1889 Boarding School

School today Diocese Of Bathurst

St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School

School: Kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Brigidine

Motto: Strength and Gentleness

Location: 8 Tooloon Street, Coonamble NSW 2829

School Opened Staff Years

St Bernard’s St Brigid’s 1883 Brigidines Lay Teachers 4

Originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney, then in 1866 within the Diocese of Maitland

1855

Church services in the home of Michael McMahon, priest Fr Callaghan McCarthy from Mudgee

1870

Catholic church built

1876

First resident priest Fr Meagher

1883

Community of Brigidine sisters arrived establishing their First Foundation in Australia

School opened in church building, first sister Mother Mary John Synan

‘The Foundress Mother Mary John Synan, a woman of great faith and wide intellectual culture and possessed of unususal organising ability, immediately opened a school in the Church of the day until a school building made from pit sawn timber could be erected.’ ¹

1887

Diocesan boundary change, Coonamble excluded from Diocese of Maitland, included in Diocese of Bathurst

School today Diocese Of Bathurst

ST BRIGID’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL

1865

Diocese of Bathurst established

1887

Diocesan boundary change, Coonamble excluded from Diocese of Maitland, included in Diocese of Bathurst

1889

School continued as K–12, being the first Brigidine school in Australia

Brigidine Novitiate opened

1901

Novitiate relocated to their Sydney Foundation, Randwick

2003

School renamed St Brigid’s Primary School

Quirindi – Diocese of Armidale ST

JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country

The traditional custodians of the land the Gamilaroi people

Quirindi

Aboriginal word with various meanings ‘nest in the hills’, ‘place where fish breed’,’dead tree on a mountain top’

Opened 1885

School today Diocese Of Armidale

St Joseph’s Primary School

School: Kindergarten to year 6

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Come! Share the Spirit

Location: 18 Thomas Street Quirindi. NSW 2343 References

St Joseph’s 1885

Originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney

1866

Parish of Gunnedah established 1869

Diocese of Armidale established 1885

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph invited by Bishop Murray to establish a school in Quirindi First sisters, Imelda Flood, Patrick Comerford, Evangelist Hyde

1887

With the change of boundaries, Quirindi excluded from the Diocese of Maitland, now included in the Diocese of Armidale.

Diocesan Josephites withdrawn from school, returning to their foundation in Lochinvar.

School today Diocese Of Armidale

ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

1887

Congregational Josephites invited by Bishop Torreggiani to continue staffing the established school

1888

Four sisters arrived to staff the existing school School continued with an enrolment of 67 students

1895

Mother Mary MacKillop was present at the opening of the new convent (Canonised 2010 as St Mary of the Cross MacKillop)

Glossary

Also opened

Denoting a school opened in conjunction with main school, often in convent building or on verandah.

Denominational Schools

Operating from 1833 to 1883. Open to all children, controlled by a Denominational Schools Board (DSB). Each faith operated its own Board – Church of England, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Methodist, retaining the power to appoint and dismiss teachers, pay salaries and conduct inspections.

Josephites

Congregational Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, affectionally known as ‘Brown Joeys’.

Founded from Penola South Australia, Mother House and administration at North Sydney. Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, affectionately known as ‘Black Joeys’. Founded from Bathurst, Mother House and administration at Lochinvar.

Lay teacher

Teacher not belonging to a religious congregation and in receipt of a salary.

National Schools

Operating from 1848 to 1866. Open to all children, forerunner to present state schools, operated by the National Board of Education (NBE) who managed school staffing, paid salaries, conducted inspections. Renamed Public Schools in 1867.

Preceded by

Existing school continuing, often with change to religious staff, change in location or change of name.

Provisional Schools

Operating from 1867 to 1957, these were emerging National schools prior to certain practical conditions being met, such as enrolment numbers

Select schools

Initiated by some religious orders in answer to a demand for higher levels of education. These schools provided religious congregations with a different clientele, extended scope for their endeavours and were a means of financial support.

Began Teaching Location

Sisters of the Good Shepherd (Good Samaritans) 1864 West Maitland

Dominican Sisters 1867 West Maitland

Mercy Sisters 1875

Congregational Josephites 1880

Diocesan Josephites 1883

Brigidine Sisters 1883

Patrician Brothers 1884

Marist Brothers 1898

Daughters of Charity 1993

St John of God Brothers 1947

Further Orders providing Pastoral Care Support

Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth

Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Singleton

Cooranbong

Lochinvar

Coonamble

Campbells Hill

Campbells Hill, Newcastle, Maitland

Mayfield

Morisset

Index of Schools

ABERDEEN

227 St Joseph’s Primary

227 St Joseph’s Boys’ Boarding School

228 St Joseph’s Regional High

ABERMAIN

60 St Joseph’s Primary

60 Francis Xavier’s Church School

60 Holy Spirit Infants

ADAMSTOWN

104 St Columba’s Primary

118 St Pius X College/High School

120 St Anne’s High

BELLBIRD

57 St Joseph’s Primary

BELMONT

134 St Joseph’s / St Francis Xavier’s Primary

136 St Joseph’s High

BLANDFORD

223 St Stanislaus / Holy Rosary

BOOLAROO

127 Our Lady Help of Christians Primary

BOORAGUL

152 St Paul’s High / Catholic College

BRANXTON

49 St Brigid’s Primary

76 Rosary Park Catholic School

BROADMEADOW

99 St Laurence O’Toole Primary

99 St Laurence Flexible Learning Centre (EREA)

BROOKFIELD

64 St Joseph’s School

BULAHDELAH

170 St Brigid’s / St Joseph’s Primary

170 St Joseph’s Intermediate High

CAMPBELLS HILL

38 Sacred Heart College

40 Sacred Heart Primary / Infants School

41 Our Lady of Mercy Home Science High

42 Bishop Murray Memorial Home for Girls / Monte Pio Orphanage for Girls

CARDIFF

128 St Joseph’s Primary / St Kevin’s Primary

CARRINGTON

182 St Joseph’s / St Francis Xavier’s Primary

CESSNOCK

54 St Joseph’s School / Mount St Joseph’s Primary (South Cessnock)

55 Mount St Joseph’s High

56 St Patrick’s Primary

CHARLESTOWN

130 St Joseph’s Primary

CHISHOLM

74 St Aloysius Catholic Primary

78 St Bede’s Catholic College

CLARENCE TOWN

62 Catholic Denominational School –Refer Dungog

COONAMBLE

232 St Brigid’s Catholic Primary

COORANBONG

125 National School / Catholic School

CUNDLETOWN

158 Brigidine Catholic School

158 St Joseph’s Primary

158 St Joseph’s Girls Boarding School

158 St Joseph’s Boys Boarding School

DENMAN

232 St Joseph’s Primary

232 St Joseph’s Girls Boarding School

DUNGOG

62 St Joseph’s Primary

EAST MAITLAND

32 St Joseph’s Primary

EASTVILLE

36 St Vincent’s Primary / Infants

EDGEWORTH

146 St Benedict’s Primary

FORSTER

172 St Joseph’s / Holy Name Primary

GARDEN SURBURB

114 St James Primary

GATESHEAD

149 St Paul’s Primary

150 St Mary’s Catholic College

GLENDALE

138 Holy Cross Primary

139 Holy Cross Girls’ High

GLENDONBROOK

52 St Joseph’s Primary

GLOUCESTER

160 St Joseph’s Primary

GRETA

50 St Mary’s

68 Migrant Camp Catholic School

GUNNEDAH

234 St Mary’s College

HAMILTON

94 Sacred Heart Primary

96 St Aloysius High

98 St Francis Xavier Regional Primary School for Boys

100 Marist Brothers High / St Francis Xavier High School for Boys

102 St Francis Xavier’s College

KENDALL

167 St Joseph’s Primary

KILABEN BAY

133 St Joseph’s Primary

KNOCKFIN

48 St Joseph’s Primary

KOTARA SOUTH

116 St James’ Primary

KRAMBACH

157 St Joseph’s / St Bernadette’s Primary

KURRI KURRI

58 St Joseph’s / Holy Spirit Primary

LAMBTON

90 St John’s Primary

LARGS

66 St Benedict’s Primary

66 St Joseph’s Primary

LOCHINVAR

44 St Joseph’s / St Patrick’s Primary

46 St Joseph’s College and Boarding School

46 All Saints College – St Joseph’s Campus

MAITLAND

24 St John the Baptist Primary

26 St Mary’s Dominican Convent and Boarding School / St Mary’s High

28 St John’s Boys’ Primary

28 Maitland Marist Brothers / St Peter’s High

30 All Saints’ College – St Mary’s Campus / St Peter’s Campus

MAYFIELD

192 San Clemente High

194 St Joseph’s / St Columban’s Primary

196 Murray – Dwyer Orphanage / St Vincent’s Boys Orphanage

196 Sancta Maria Primary

198 St John’s Infants

188 St Dominic’s Centre

MAYFIELD WEST

199 St John’s / Christ the King Primary

MEDOWIE

204 Catherine McAuley Catholic College

MEREWETHER

106 St Joseph’s Primary

108 St Joseph’s High

MEREWETHER BEACH

112 Holy Family Primary

MERRIWA

224 St Joseph’s Primary

224 St Joseph’s Intermediate High

MILLERS FOREST

176 St Patrick’s Primary

MOOBI

221 Catholic Primary

MORISSET

144 St John Vianney Primary

MORISSET / KENDALL GRANGE

148 St John of God Training Centre

MORPETH

35 St Bede’s Primary

35 St Francis Xavier’s Primary

MURRURUNDI

222 St Joseph’s Primary

222 St Mary’s Select High School

222 Murrurundi House

MUSWELLBROOK

218 St James’ Primary

218 St Mary’s Infants

217 St Mary’s High

NELSON BAY

202 St Michael’s Primary

NEWCASTLE

84 St Mary’s Primary

84 St Mary’s School for Boys / Marist Brothers

86 St Mary’s Dominican Convent School

86 St Mary’s Star of the Sea Primary

86 St Thomas’ Boarding School for Boys

88 Institute for the Deaf and Dumb

NEW LAMBTON

110 St Therese’s Primary

NULKABA

53 St Patrick’s Primary

QUIRINDI

236 St Joseph’s Primary

RAYMOND TERRACE

178 St Brigid’s Primary

RUTHERFORD

72 St Paul’s Primary

SCONE

220 St Mary’s Primary

220 St Angela’s Convent School

SHORTLAND

200 St Joseph’s / Our Lady of Victories Primary

SINGLETON

208 St Francis Xavier’s Primary

212 St Catherine’s College & Girls’ Boarding School

212 St Catherine’s Catholic College

210 Catholic Junior / St Francis Xavier’s Infants

216 Mercy Orphanage

SOUTH SINGLETON

214 St Augustine’s Primary

STOCKTON

180 St Peter’s Primary

SWANSEA

137 St Patrick’s Primary

TAREE

162 St Joseph’s Primary

162 St Joseph’s Girls Boarding School

164 Rosary High School/ Taree Catholic High / St Clare’s High

TARRO

70 Our Lady of Lourdes Primary

TENAMBIT

37 St Mary’s Primary

TIGHES HILL

190 St Patrick’s Primary

191 St Pius X Boy’s Primary / St Pius X Boys’ High

TORONTO

132 St Joseph’s Primary

WALLSEND

92 St Patrick’s Primary

WARATAH

186 Institute for Deaf and Dumb / Catholic Centre for Education of the Deaf

184 Rosary Convent School

184 Corpus Christi Primary

WARNERS BAY

140 St Mary’s Primary

WEST WALLSEND

126 St Joseph’s Primary

WINDALE

142 St Pius X Primary

WINGEN

226 St Patrick’s Primary

WINGHAM

168 St Joseph’s Primary

168 St Joseph’s Intermediate High

WYBONG and UPPER WYBONG

230 St Bernard’s Catholic School

Bibliography

Board of Education Correspondence (NSW) State Records

Colonial Secretary – letters, RC clergy Mitchell Library Archives Box No 4/2270.1 quoted by W.A Wood, W. (26/5/1964) article St Joseph’s East Maitland

Council of Education Colonial Secretary Correspondence Inspector / Murray / Donnellan 1876–1883 Department of Public Instruction, State Records

Hunter, C. Historical Assessment (2001) St Patrick’s Millers Forest Catholic Schoolhouse

Mother Mary MacKillop 1895 diary entries used with kind permission from the Congregational Archives of the Sisters of St Joseph, North Sydney

Observation Book of New Lambton School 1926, 1927, 1928, 1938

Port Maitland Allotments the Property of James King 10/1840 National Library of Australia

NEWSPAPERS MAGAZINES

Australasian Catholic Record (1850–932)

Australian Town and Country Journal (1870–1919)

Journal of The Royal Australian Historical Society (1906)

The Catholic Press (NSW) (1895–1942)

The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder (1913–1978)

The Freemans Journal. New South Wales Australia (1850–1932)

The Maitland Mercury (1843)

The Newcastle and Hunter District Historical Society (1936)

The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel: official organ of the diocese of Maitland (1931–1968)

The Newcastle Chronicle & Hunter River District News (1858–1876)

The Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate (1876–1954)

The Singleton Argus and Upper Hunter General Advocate (1874–1880)

The South Maitland Recorder (1913–1978)

The Sun-Herald (1953–1954)

BOOKS

Benjamin, A. O'Grady, S. (Ed.). (2020). Not Forgotten: Australian Catholic Educators 1820–2020. Biographical Dictionary of Australian Catholic Educators (Vol. 1). Coventry Press.

Blyton, G. (2012). Aboriginal guides of the Hunter region 1800 –1850: A case study in Indigenous labour history. History Australia 9, no. 3. 89–106.

Burford, K. E. (1991). Unfurrowed fields: a Josephite story, NSW, 1872–1972. St. Joseph's Convent.

Campbell, H. (1966). The Diocese of Maitland, 1866–1966. Dimmock Press.

Cavanagh, A. (2013) The Lochinvar Story Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar

Clouten, K. (1967). Reid's mistake: the story of Lake Macquarie from its discovery until 1890, Lake Macquarie Shire Council. Speers Point, N.S.W.

Como, P. (2011). Laughter Love and Loyalty: One Hundred Years of Mercy Education at St Catherine’s College, Singleton 1875–1975. Broadway NSW.

D’Orsa, J. (1999) Monsignor John Slowey. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

Doyle, A. (1972) The History of the Marist Brothers in Australia 1872–1972. E.J. Dwyer Drummoyne.

Dunlop, R. (2016). Planted in Congenial Soil: The Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar 1883 – 1917. Lochinvar NSW.

Dunn, M. (2020). The Convict Valley: The Bloody Struggle on Australia’s Early Frontier. Allen & Unwin.

Egan, M. (1975) History of Catholic Deaf Education in Australia 1875

Etherington, B. (2011). Good Christians and Good Citizens: Marist Schools 1872–2010. The Hermitage NSW.

Foale. M.T. (1989). The Josephite Story: Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph 1866–1893. St. Joseph's Convent.

Fogarty, R. (1959). Catholic Education in Australia 1806–1950: Catholic Schools and the Denominational system (Vol.1). Melbourne University Press.

Fogarty, R. (1959). Catholic Education in Australia 1806 – 1950: Catholic Education under the Religious Orders (Vol.2). Melbourne University Press.

Gogarty, S. (Ed.). (2011). Tuncurry: tapestry of a town. Great Lakes Historical Cooperative Society Ltd.

Kavanagh, A. & Palliser, L. (2014). Will Catholic Schools be Catholic in 2030: Exploration of issues that are of essence in the unfolding story of Catholic schools, and of Church, in Australia. Province of Patrician Brothers.

Kelly, C. (1997) A Journey … Through Light and Shadow: Sisters of Mercy Singleton 1875–1995. Hamilton NSW.

Kerr, B. (2009). The Congregational School. NSW

Luttrell, J. (1996). Worth the Struggle: Sydney Catholic Schools 1820 – 1995. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

Luttrell, J. (2003) The Inspector Calls. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

MacGinley, R. (2009). Ancient Tradition – New World: Dominican Sisters in Eastern Australia 1867–1958. St Pauls Publications Strathfield.

MacKillop, M. (1895). Mother Mary MacKillop: Diary entries used with kind permission from the Congregational Archives of the Sisters of St Joseph.

Maher, B. (1997). Planting the Celtic Cross: Foundations of the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn. Union Offset Company.

McGee, C. (2012) The Forgotten Beginnings of Catholic Education in New South Wales. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

McGee, C. (2012) The Forgotten Ones: Teachers in the Catholic Schools of NSW before 1880. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

McGee, C. (2017). People of Faith and Generosity: The Catholic Teachers of New South Wales before 1883. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

O’Brien, J. (1975). Men of ’38 and Other Pioneer Priests. Lowden Publishing.

O'Farrell, P. (1992). The Catholic Church and Community: An Australian history. New South Wales Univ. Press.

Ryan, M. J. (2006). Religious Education in Catholic Schools: An Introduction to Australian Students. David Lovell Publishing.

Sternbeck, M. (1985). With hearts and hands and voices: the centenary history of the Sacred Heart Parish, Hamilton, 1884–1984. Sacred Heart Parish Hamilton.

Sweetman, S. (2009). Go Into the Vineyard: A History of the Patrician Brothers’ Australian and New Guinea Province 1883 – 2008. Patrician Brothers' Provincialate.

Williams, G. (1998). On the Shoulders of Giants: The Story of the Marist Brothers in the Hunter Region 1898 – 1998. Drummoyne.

Zimmerman, B. (2000). The Making of a Diocese: Maitland, its bishop, priests and people 1866–1909. Melbourne University Press.

OTHER SOURCES / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Diocesan and school websites

Dominican Archivist Elizabeth Hellwig OP Brigidine sisters, Kathleen Butler OSB

Congregational Sisters of St Joseph, Jo Robertson, Sally Camilleri RSJ

Diocesan Josephites, Marie Hughes rsj

Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea Archives – Kaitlyn MacDonnell

St John of God Brothers, John Clegg OH

THANKYOU

“ To those who have worked so generously and devoted their time and effort in developing and furthering the presence of Catholic Education and the Lakes Region, we say thank you. And also to those who have worked so generously over time and have contributed your knowledge to produce this book.”

2021 John France