Snapshot In Time

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME

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

FRANCES DUNN MARIE HUGHES rsj ELIZABETH LATHAM

CA T H O L I C SC H OO LS

Our regions

Quirindi

Gunnedah

(1887 Armidale Diocese)

(1887 Armidale Diocese)

Kendall

Coonamble

Laurieton

(1966 joined Lismore Diocese)

Murrurundi

(1887 Bathurst Diocese)

MANNING REGION

Blandford

Wingen

Wingham

Scone

Cundletown

Taree

Moobi

UPPER HUNTER REGION

Aberdeen

Merriwa Upper Wybong

Gloucester

Muswellbrook

Krambach

Wybong

Forster

Denman

Dungog

Glendonbrook

South Singleton

Greta

Brookfield

Knockfin

Singleton

Bulahdelah

Largs

Branxton

Rutherford

Clarence Town

Campbells Hill Lochinvar Morpeth Maitland Tenambit East Maitland

Greta Camp

Eastville

Tarro

Abermain Nulkaba

Cessnock Bellbird

Closed Schools Upper Hunter Region Current Schools All Saints Region Current Schools Manning Region Current Schools North Region Current Schools

ALL SAINTS REGION

* For a more detailed map of each regions with school names refer to regional information pages.

Medowie Raymond Terrace

Kurri Kurri

Stockton

South Cessnock

Booragul Kilaben Bay Morisset

LAKES REGION

Warners Bay Belmont Swansea Edgeworth Glendale Cardiff Charlestown Gateshead Windale

Nelson Bay

NORTH REGION

Black Creek

Central Region Current Schools Lakes Region Current Schools

Chisholm

CENTRAL REGION West Wallsend Boolaroo Toronto Glendale Cooronbong Morisset

Mayfield (3) Waratah Shortland

Millers Forest Raymond Terrace Carrington Tighes Hill Mayfield (4)

Garden Suburb (8) Wallsend Newcastle (8) Lambton Wallsend Hamilton Merewether (2) Adamstown Adamstown Lambton New Lambton Broadmeadow Hamilton (5) Merewether Kotara South Broadmeadow Merewether Beach

Contents Introduction.......................................................................................4 Acknowledgement of Country.......................................................... 6 A Focus on Catholic Education 1820 – 1865...................................................................................... 8 1866 –1880.....................................................................................10 1881–1961......................................................................................12 1962 –1989.....................................................................................16 1990 – 2021.....................................................................................18 Schools by Region All Saints.........................................................................................20 Central............................................................................................80 Lakes............................................................................................122 Manning........................................................................................154 North.............................................................................................174 Upper Hunter................................................................................206 Glossary........................................................................................237 Index of Schools............................................................................238 Bibliography..................................................................................240

Published by Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle 841 Hunter Street, Newcastle West 2300, NSW Australia

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

Cover Image: Mercy Convent, Hamilton, 1895

Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved.

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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.

Old St John’s Boy’s School, 1916

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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

BETWEEN 1833 AND 2021 135 SCHOOLS WERE OPENED 58 SCHOOLS OPEN TODAY For each and every school we have sought to:

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

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

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 5

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.

Prepared by Aboriginal people for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Alice Springs in 1986 Artwork Punaal, Ponte-Boone, Biamie by E Heath

6 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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

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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

Photo: St John the Baptist Cathedral, the church in West Mailtand claimed by Murray in 1866 as his Cathedral

8 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1820

1841c

1852

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

Denominational School will continue as St Mary’s to 1873

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

Fr John Therry

1831

NSW Legislative Council

Richard Bourke, appointed Governor of New South Wales

Newcastle

Black Creek

1841

1856

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

St John the Baptist Victoria Street, continuing 1833 Denominational school

Newcastle

West Maitland

West Maitland

Sydney

1842

1857

1833

Denominational school opens, will continue as St Patrick’s

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

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

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

1832

Australian Catholic Church

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

NSW Legislative Council

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

Parochial district established within the Archdiocese of Sydney

Lochinvar

Morpeth

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

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

1847

East Maitland

Maitland Diocese established as Titular See within the Archdiocese of Sydney

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

Rome

1848

NSW Legislative Council

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

Australian Catholic Teachers Association First meeting

Maitland

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

1849

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

Denominational school will continue as St Patrick’s

Gunnedah

Singleton

1850 NSW

Convict transportation to NSW ends

Raymond Terrace

Denominational school opens, will continue as St Brigid’s

1851

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

Raymond Terrace

Denominational school will continue as St Brigid’s

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 9

A FOCUS ON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

1866 –1880 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

1868

1875

Rev James Murray installed as Bishop in Diocese of Maitland

St Patrick’s, continuing as St Xavier’s

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

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

Singleton Largs

Denominational school, will continue as St Joseph’s

1871

Newcastle

Singleton

Mercy Order arrives from Ennis Community Ireland establishes Foundation

Singleton

St Catherine’s Catholic College

Lambton

Denominational school, will continue as St John’s

Glendonbrook

Provisional school, will continue as Catholic School

Scone

Denominational school, will continue as St Mary’s

1876

Wallsend

Denominational school, will continue as St Patrick’s

Hamilton

Denominational school, will continue as Sacred Heart

1872

Hamilton

End of state aid to all church schools

Merewether

Denominational school, will continue as St Aloysius High

NSW Legislative Council

1873

Denominational school, will continue as St Joseph’s

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

1877

Newcastle

Mercy Orphanage

Newcastle

St Convent School

Singleton

1878

Newcastle

St Mary’s Primary School

Campbells Hill

1874

Sacred Heart College

Newcastle

St Mary’s Dominican Convent School

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Photo: 1885 Merriwa – Sisters of St Joseph arriving accompanied by priest

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.

1885 St Joseph’s Merriwa

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

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A FOCUS ON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

1881–1961 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.

– 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.

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.

St Joseph’s College Lochinvar frontage 1923

St Joseph’s School AD 1923

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

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Lochinvar School Crest 1923

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.

Sacred Heart School 1895, Hamilton

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1881

1885

St Patrick’s, continuing 1851 Denominational school

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

Raymond Terrace

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 St Joseph’s Convent – Cundletown advertisement

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

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

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

1887

Wingen

Armidale Diocese established

1898

Armidale

Gunnedah

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

Quirindi

Included in Diocese of Armidale, excluded from Diocese of Maitland

St Patrick’s

Campbells Hill

Marist Brothers arrive from Sydney Foundation to staff existing schools

Newcastle

St Mary’s Marist Brother’s

St John’s, continuing 1871 Denominational school

Nulkaba

1899

Wallsend

Stockton

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

Included in Diocese of Bathurst, excluded from Diocese of Maitland St Patrick’s 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

Sacred Heart Primary

1889

Merewether

Institution for the Deaf and Dumb

Hamilton

St Joseph’s High School

Maitland

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

14 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

St Joseph’s

Brookfield

Moobi

Lambton

Charlestown Music Students 1933

East Maitland

Institute for the Deaf and Dumb

Coonamble

Patrician Brothers arrive from Ireland, establish Foundation

Mother Mary O’Driscoll rsm

Sydney

Waratah

Waratah Largs

St Joseph’s, continuing 1868 Denominational school

Catholic School

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

1906

1916

1928

1944

1956

St Joseph’s / Mount St Joseph’s

St Joseph’s Primary

Restructuring of Catholic secondary education

Our Lady of Lourdes Primary

Holy Family Primary

Cessnock

Cundletown

St Joseph’s Primary and Girls Boarding School, continuing 1899 Catholic school

1907 Waratah

Rosary Convent School, continues as Corpus Christi Parish School

Denman

1917 Mayfield

San Clemente High

Mayfield

St Columban’s Primary

Diocese Maitland

Hamilton

St Francis Xavier College, continuing St Francis Xavier Regional

Hamilton

St Francis Xavier Primary School

Tarro

Merewether Beach

1945

1957

City of Maitland declared – East, West and Morpeth amalgamated

St Pius X Primary

Maitland

SECOND WORLD WAR ARMISTICE

Tighes Hill

Rutherford

St Paul’s Primary

St Joseph’s / St Kevin’s Primary

1929

1918

Lock Out from the mines, dismissal of 8,500 workers, brought on by looming depression

Morisset

Shortland

Abermain

Holy Spirit Infants

FIRST WORLD WAR ARMISTICE

Kurri Kurri

Blandford

1930

1950

1958

Unemployment 32% taking the economy ten years to recover

St Joseph’s Catholic School

Cessnock

Greta Migrant Camp Catholic School

1908

Cardiff

Holy Spirit Primary

School opened

1909

1919

Sacred Heart Primary

St Joseph’s

Campbells Hill

Gloucester

1910

1921

Bishop Murray Memorial Home for Girls (Monte Pio)

Conference of Diocesan Teachers

Campbells Hill

1911

NSW legislation

Reorganisation of secondary schooling in NSW. Introduction of Intermediate and Leaving Certificates

1912

NSW Legislative Assembly

Establishment of Bursary Endowment Act (NSW)

West Wallsend

St Joseph’s Primary

1913

Lochinvar

St Joseph’s College

1914

FIRST WORLD WAR DECLARED

1915 Mayfield

Opening of heavy industry – BHP Steel Works

Hamilton

St Aloysius High

Waratah

1922 Sydney

Catholic Teachers’ Federation formed

1923 Taree

St Joseph’s Primary

1926

Maitland (West)

Teacher Training College for Dominican Sisters is founded

New Lambton

St Therese’s Primary

Boolaroo

Our Lady Help of Christians

Taree

St Joseph’s High continues as St Clare’s Regional High

1927

Hunter Coalfields

Depression

Mount St Joseph’s High School

1932

Merewether

St Joseph’s High

1933 Mayfield

Murray-Dwyer Orphanage

1947 St John of God Boys Boarding School

Toronto

St Mary’s Primary

1959

St Francis Xavier’s Primary

1952

Holy Cross Primary

Windale

St Pius X Primary

Mayfield

Forster

Swansea

1961

Sancta Maria School St Patrick’s Primary

Kendall

Holy Name Primary

Adamstown

Corpus Christie Primary parish school, continuing Rosary Convent School

St Joseph’s will continue as St Joseph’s Community School. Within the Diocese of Lismore

1934

1953

Eastville

Government Public Instruction Act

Waratah

Morisset

Campbells Hill

St John of God Training Centre

Our Lady of Mercy Home Science High

1935

Muswellbrook

Wingham

St Joseph’s Primary

St Mary’s High

1954

1937

Merriwa

St John’s Infants

St Francis Xavier College continuing St Francis Xavier Regional Primary

Mayfield Bellbird

St Joseph’s Primary

Cessnock

St Joseph’s High

Hamilton

1939

Maitland (West)

SECOND WORLD WAR DECLARED

Following the devastating Hunter Valley floods, the Dominican Teacher Training College is relocated to Sydney

Sydney

Bulahdelah

First Catholic Schools Office in Roma Street Priest and School Inspector – Fr Tom Pierse

St Pius X High

Garden Suburb St James Primary

St Vincent’s Primary resulting from Wyndham Report – wide range of subjects to be made available, one year added to school attendance, School Certificate and Higher School Certificate achievement levels, teacher training and qualification requirements

Kotara

St James Primary

Glendale

Holy Cross Girls High

1955

Hamilton

St Joseph’s Primary

Warners Bay

Belmont

MAITLAND FLOODS

Charlestown

Our Lady of Victories Primary

Glendale

St Patrick’s Primary Nulkaba relocated to Cessnock

Meeting to discern establishment of district school for boys

St Joseph’s High

Greta

South Singleton St Augustine’s

Belmont

Severe flooding throughout the Hunter Valley

St Brigid’s / St Joseph’s Primary

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 15

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.

16 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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.

Sister Cabrini loading Mercia 1962

School Church Garden Suburb 1961

Photo opposite: Sister Cabrini rsj, guiding children across Main Road Edgeworth 1962

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

1972 Singleton

Catholic Junior School

Aberdeen

St Joseph’s Regional High

1973

Government

Morisset

St John Vianney Primary

Edgeworth

St Benedict’s Primary

Nelson Bay

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

1974 All States

St Michael’s Primary

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

1963 Rome

Second Vatican Council

1978

Kotara South

St James Primary

1964

Commonwealth Government

Grants for science laboratories and technical training

States Grants Act

Per capita grants made available

Tenambit

St Mary’s Primary

1979 Waratah

Rosary Convent School for Deaf Girls, ceased in this form

1984

Diocese Maitland

St Paul’s Primary

Further reorganisation of secondary education

Gateshead

Booragul

St Mary’s Catholic College

St Paul’s Catholic College

1966

Kilaben Bay

Gateshead

St Joseph’s Primary

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

1985 Maitland

St Peter’s High

1986

Adamstown

Mayfield

St Anne’s Girls High

Catholic Centre for Education of Deaf opens

1967

1989

Recognition to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

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

Commonwealth Referendum

Newcastle Earthquake

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 17

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.

18 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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.

St Aloysius Catholic Primary School, Chisolm

St Bede’s Catholic College,Chisolm

Photo: Medowie,Catherine McAuley Catholic College

1992

2015

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

St Aloysius Catholic Primary

Maitland

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

Chisholm

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

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

2021

2007

Catherine McAuley Catholic College

Medowie

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

19

C A T H O LIC SC H OO LS 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

St Mary's Maitland home of the first Religious Congregation in Maitland Diocese

20 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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.

ALL SAINTS REGION MAP Closed Schools

The first home of the Pioneer Sisters, Lochinvar

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.

Current Schools

Sacred Heart College Sacred Heart Primary School Bishop Murray Memorial Home for Girls OLMC Home Science High School

Provisional School, Primary School

Knockfin

Greta

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.

Rosary Park Catholic School St Brigid’s Primary School

Lochinvar

Denominational School Clarence Town St Joseph’s Primary School Denominational School

Rutherford

St Paul’s Primary School

Campbells Hill

Maitland East Maitland

St Joseph’s Primary School

Abermain Cessnock

Brookfield

Largs

Migrant Camp School St Mary’s Infants School St Patrick’s Primary School St Joseph’s College Catholic Denominational School

Nulkaba

St Joseph’s Primary School

St Joseph’s Primary School

St Joseph’s

Branxton

St Patrick’s Primary School

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

Dungog

Glendonbrook

Holy Spirit Infants School

Morpeth Tenambit

Catholic Denominational School St Francis Xavier’s Primary School

Chisholm

St Aloysius Catholic Primary School St Mary’s Primary School St Bede’s Catholic College

Eastville

St Vincent’s Primary School

Tarro Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School

Kurri Kurri

Holy Spirit Primary School

St Patrick’s Primary School Mount St Joseph’s Primary School Mt St Joseph’s High Bellbird St Joseph’s Primary School

St John the Baptist Primary School All Saints College Catholic Denominational School St Mary’s Campus St Peter’s Campus Catholic Denominational School St John’s Boys School (Parochial) St Peter’s High School St Mary’s Boarding School St Mary’s High School

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 21

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

22 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

St Mary's 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.

Morpeth St Bede’s Church/School circa 1861 (photo above from the 1980s)

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

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 23

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 School

Opened

Staff

Denominational St John the Baptist

1833 1864 1867 1984

Lay Teachers Sisters of the Good Shepherd Dominicans Lay Teachers

Years 30 2 116 37

24 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney, administered from East Maitland

1835

1862

1833

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

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

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

Parochial district of East Maitland established, within Archdiocese of Sydney

1864 –1866

1838

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

1834

Parish established in West Maitland

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

Fr Edmund Mahoney and Fr John Lynch arrive in East Maitland

1839 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

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

1956

2009

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

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

Refurbishment of facilities, removal of classrooms

1887 Lot 22 Land and cottage purchased adjacent to boys school – Bishop Murray

1892

1960s Rigney building demolished, replaced with two storey brick building – assembly hall on ground floor, classrooms on upper

1970s

Enrolment girls 113 infants 115

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

1908

1971

Enrolment girls 100, infants 105

1910 Further large additions, and reuse of existing areas

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

1983 Dominicans resigned from principalship of school

1936

1984

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

First lay Principal, Mr Max McGinty

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’

1985 Opening of major refurbishments, extensions and car park

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

1990

Marist Brothers 1898–1984 Commemorative Booklet

Recycled church became school library

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

The Newcastle and Hunter Valley Historical Society Journal 1985 Vol I No 1

1955

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

Renovations made following Maitland Floods

The Australian 14/12/1832

Maitland Mercury

Photos (top to bottom): St John's Pro Cathedral Maitland, St John the Baptist students in playground, 2018

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 25

Maitland ST MARY’S HIGH SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Maitland

1866

1869

1883

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

Two cottages were purchased from the Bishop, in Victoria Street

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

1870

1894

Long connecting building constructed linking cottages to convent

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

1867

Named after Sir George Maitland, Under Secretary for the Colonies

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

Opened 1867

Dominican convent and chapel built

Known as Dominican Convent School, West Maitland

Also opened 1868–1975 St Mary’s Boarding School

Closed 1991 Location 16 Grant Street Maitland NSW 2320 School

Opened

St Mary’s High St Mary’s Boarding

1867 1868

Closed

Staff Dominicans

Years 108

1975

References

1871 Two cottages in Victoria Street demolished, new convent built, architect Edward Gell of Bathurst

Implementation of three tiered system – primary, secondary and tertiary

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’

Enrolments increased, extensive additions completed

1932

1872

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

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

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

1868 St Mary’s Boarding School, for secondary students opened in the convent, primary students welcomed in 1871

1877

1934 Commercial school opened

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

1963

1878

St Mary’s Boarding School closed

Three acres of adjoining land purchased, high enclosing wall built

1 Maitland Mercury, 19/10/1867 2 MacGinley, R. (2009). Ancient Tradition–New World: Dominican Sisters in eastern Australia 1867–1958. St Pauls Publications.

Board of Education Correspondence

26 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1900s

Photos: St Mary's High School, Maitland

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

1989

1992

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

All Saints College formed to include

1990

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

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

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

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

1991 St Mary’s High School closed in its current form

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 27

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

1838

1905

Enrolment 166 in primary, 64 secondary students

St John’s Boys School established, lay staff

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

1920

1839

as St John’s Boy School

Parish established in West Maitland

1915

Preceded by

1844

1838 St John’s Boys School (Parochial)

Land purchased in Free Church Street for church

Known as

1874

1917 St John’s High School 1920 Marist Brothers Maitland 1985 St Peter’s High School

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

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

1884 –1888

1917–1920

Closed 1991

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

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

1898

1918

School

Opened

St John’s Boys School St John’s Parochial School

1838 1874 1884 1889 1898 1985

Marist Brothers Maitland St Peter’s High School

Closed

Staff

1888 1897 1984 1991

Lay Teachers Lay Teachers Patricians Lay Teachers Marist Brothers Lay Teachers

Years 45 4 8 86 6

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

Maitland Marist Brothers High School Commemorative Booklet 1898 – 1984

28 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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

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

1919 First Leaving Certificate class

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)

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

1960

1970 or 1975

1986

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

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

1961

1970s

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

Wyndham Scheme introduced, and first lay teachers appointed

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

1963 Formation of Parents and Friends Association

1971

1964

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

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

1965

1971–1984 Dominican sisters joined the staff, M Diana Mary Maher, M Lucy Davey

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

1984

1970

1985

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

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

1990 Decision to amalgamate the three Catholic High Schools in the Maitland region

1992 All Saints College formed to include: ll Saints College St Mary’s Campus, A Maitland, co-educational Years 11 and 12 ll Saints College St Peter’s Campus, A Maitland, co-educational Years 7 to 10 All Saints College St Joseph’s Campus, Lochinvar, co-educational Years 7 to 10

Marist Brothers administration ended

First lay Principal, Mr Mark Bailey

Photos: Marist emblem, Leaving Certificate Class 1919, Marist Brothers High School 1935.

29

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

1990

Opened 1992

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

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

1992 All Saints College formed to include

Charism: Dominican

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

Preceded By: St Mary’s High School (1867–1991) Location: 16 Grant Street Maitland NSW 2320

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

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

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

ST MARY’S CAMPUS

ST PETER’S CAMPUS

2003

2008

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

Stage 1– Construction of library and refurbishment of science laboratories

2005 Several ‘demountable’ classrooms replaced with new buildings

2007 Lift installed

2009

Charism: Marist

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

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

Construction of trade training centre

Location: 9 Free Church Street Maitland NSW 2320 Motto: You Are Christ

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

2013 Hospitality teaching facility completed

School

Opened

Staff

All Saints’ College St Mary’s MCampus St Peter’s Maitland

1992

Lay Teachers

Years 29

30 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photo: All Saints' College, Maitland

31

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

1829

1840

1925

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

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

Extensions to the school opened

1832

1882

Confusion in terminology noted for Maitland

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

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

1834

Preceded by

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

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

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

Opened

Staff

Denominational St Joseph’s

1838 1885 1991

Lay Teachers Mercies Lay Teachers

Years 46 105 30

References 1 Gov Gazette 1838 p 806 2 McGee, C. (2012) The Forgotten Beginnings of Catholic Education in New South Wales. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

3 The Maitland Mercury 25/02/1843 4 Freemans Journal 8/2/1896 5 Levy, L. (1985) St Joseph’s Parish East Maitland 150 Years 1835–1985 Wood, W. (26/5/1964) St Joseph’s East Maitland article St Joseph’s Church East Maitland 50 Years of Celebration 1933–1983 (1983) Journal of Maitland and Hunter District Historical Society (1985) article E Guilford Kelly, C. (1997) A Journey Through Light and Shadow: Sisters of Mercy Singleton 1875–1995. Hamilton NSW. McGee, C. (2012) The Forgotten Ones: Teachers in the Catholic Schools of NSW before 1880. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

32 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1957 New primary school built and opened

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

1967

East Maitland Mercy convent established, ‘Select School’ opened

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

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

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

1969

Parochial district of East Maitland established, within Archdiocese of Sydney

1896

1835

1838

School

1885

1934

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

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

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

1970 St Joseph’s now primary school for the district Years 3–6

1905 New school opened in rooms attached to convent

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

Photo: St Joseph’s Primary School, East Maitland / Former Convent of Mercy

1982 Library housed in a ‘demountable’ building

1986 Further ‘demountable’ classroom added

1991

building for staff and administration facilities, library Lift installed, library extended, classroom refurbishment and playground improvements

2009

First lay Principal, Mrs Maureen May Taylor

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

1999

Refurbishment of school buildings and library

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

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

Refurbishment of historic old convent

33

34 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Morpeth

ST FRANCIS XAVIER'S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Morpeth St Bede’s Church/ School circa 1861 (photo above from the 1980s)

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

Opened 1883

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

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

1923

St Bede’s School opened

Enrolment 110 students

1875

1969

Parochial district of Morpeth established

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

1800s –1885 Boxtree Catholic Denominational School operated with lay staff, teacher Miss Joanna Carey

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

1842

Closed 1869

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

Location Princess Street Morpeth NSW 2321

1842 1883

1836 Land purchased for church and school in Hunter Street Hinton, sold in 1973

Known as

Denominational St Francis Xavier’s

1898

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

1841

1842 Denominational School Morpeth 1880s Denominational School Boxtree

Opened

1861

James Street wooden chapel erected

Preceded by

School

Within the Archdiocese of Sydney, administered from East Maitland parish

Closed

Staff

1970

Lay Teachers Mercies

Years 40 87

References 1 Pilgrim, K. (1998) Tomorrow Belongs to You parish publication 2 Board of Education correspondence

1847 Parish of East Maitland transferred to Diocese of Maitland

1854 Enrolment 129 students

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

St Bede’s used as church hall

1883

1980

1970 St Francis Xavier Infants classes closed, children travelled on the bus to St Mary’s Tenambit

Morpeth Mercy convent established

Mercy Convent closed

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

1994

1883 –1898

St Bede’s church property sold for private residence

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

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

Photos: Original St Joseph’s Church, East Maitland, Map of East Maitland settlement, showing land donated for a school by Patrick Reilly, Students in front of former Mercy Convent now School Administration

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 35

Eastville ST VINCENT’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

1835

1970

Eastville

Parochial district of East Maitland established

Named being located east of the village of East Maitland

1885

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

Opened 1961

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

School Kindergarten to Year 6

1980

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

First lay Principal, Miss Kathy Gracz

St Vincent’s School opened Kindergarten to Year 6

Location

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

Fieldsend Street East Maitland NSW 2323

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Vincent Primary

1961 1980

2002

Mercies Lay Teachers

Years 18 22 Photo: Eastiville school playground 1960

References St Joseph’s Church East Maitland 50 years of Celebration 1933–1983 (1983) Levey, L. (1985) St Joseph’s Parish East Maitland 150 Years 1835–1985

36 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Mercy administration ended

1960 1961

Closed 2002

1979

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

Tenambit ST MARY’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

1835

1965

Tenambit

Parochial district of East Maitland established

Two sisters of Mercy travelled from East Maitland convent

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

1885

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

Opened 1964

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

First Principal, M Laboure Gannon

1964

School

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

Opened as Kindergarten to Year 3, 1970 Infants

Closed 2002 Location

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

Tenambit NSW 2323

Opened as Kindergarten to Year 3

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Mary’s Primary

1964 1983

2002

Mercies Lay Teachers

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

Years

2002

18 19

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

References 1 Levey, L. (1985) St Joseph’s Parish East Maitland 150 Years 1835–1985

Photo: Original building St Mary’s, Tenambit

Levey, L. (1983) St Joseph’s Parish East Maitland 50 Years of Celebration 1933–1983

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 37

Campbells Hill SACRED HEART COLLEGE On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

1870 –1875

1884

1898

Residency of the Maitland clergy

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

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

1875

Campbells Hill

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

Named after a settler Patrick Frederick Campbell

Opened 1875

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

School 1878 Boys Day School and Boys Secondary Boarding School

1878

Closed 1905

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

Location Crn New England Highway and Dwyer Street Campbells Hill NSW 2320

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

School

Opened

Sacred Heart College

1878 1984 1889 1898

Closed

Staff

1904

Dio Clergy & Lay Teachers Patrician Diocesan Clergy Marist

Years 6 4 9 6

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

2 Freemans Journal 04/07/1891 3 O'Farrell, P. (1992). The Catholic Church and Community: An Australian history. New South Wales Univ. Press.

Zimmerman, B. (2000). The Making of a Diocese: Maitland, its bishop, priests and people 1866–1909. Melbourne University Press.

38 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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

1888

Marist Director Br Gonzaga Brown

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

Enrolment – 18 boarders and 37 dayboys

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

1899 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

Sacred Heart Children, 1939

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 39

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 New England Highway Campbells Hill NSW 2320

Opened

Closed

Staff

Sacred Heart Primary

1909

1980

Mercies

1910

1972

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

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

School conducted as an Infants School

1909

1919

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

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

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

Location

School

1909

Years 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

40 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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

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

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

1870 –1875

1910

1953

Opened 1953

Residency of the Maitland clergy

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

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

1898

Known as

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

Junior Secondary Home Science

1905

Also opened

Marist Brothers left Campbell’s Hill, residing in Maitland

1910 Sacred Heart Primary School 1910 Monte Pio Orphanage

1909

Closed 1962

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

Location

1910 – 1972

New England Highway Campbells Hill NSW 2320

Bishop Murray Memorial Home for Girls, birth – 16 years

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Our Lady Mercy Home Science High

1953

1962

Mercies

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

Years 9

References 1 The Newcastle and Hunter District Historical Society 10/1993

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 41

Campbells Hill BISHOP MURRAY MEMORIAL HOME FOR GIRLS On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

1909

1936

1956

Fr Victor Peters ‘began planning for the orphanage.’

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

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

1942

Orphanage Licence reduced to accommodate 76 girls

1910

Government assistance transferred to Commonwealth

1950 – 60

Orphanage for girls

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

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

Renewed criticism from child welfare professionals

Known as

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

1945

1912

Major building project commenced

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

In residence 56 girls, 1917 in residence 92 girls

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

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

1924

1949

Old weatherboard building, eventually renovated for use by the girls

In residence 64 girls

Sisters billeted flood evacuees from lower areas of Maitland

1961

1950s

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

Campbells Hill Named after a settler Patrick Frederick Campbell

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

Opened 1910 School

Monte Pio Orphanage

Also opened 1909 Sacred Heart Primary School, Campbells Hill

Closed 1973

1926

Location

Government assistance assured from State Child Endowment provisions

New England Highway Campbells Hill NSW 2320 School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Bishop Murray Memorial Home for Girls

1910

1973

Mercies

Years 63

References The Newcastle and Hunter District Historical Society Bulletin 10/1933 Campbell, Harold, (1966) The Diocese of Maitland 1866–1966 Dimmock Press

42 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Additions and renovations

1960s

‘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.’

1910 Monte Pio Orphanage, Campbells Hill

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 Mercure – Monte Pio Hotel and Conference Centre

Photos (R-L clockwise): Monte Pio present day, Monte Pio Orphanage, Catherine McAuley foundress of the Religious Sisters of Mercy, Monte Pio present day

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 43

Lochinvar ST PATRICK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

1841

1865

Named after a Loch in Southern Scotland

Slab and shingle church / school built by Dean Lynch

Opened 1883

1842

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

Lochinvar

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

Preceded by 1842 Denominational School

1847

Known as

Originally within the Parish of West Maitland

1850

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

Denominational St Patrick’s

1842 1883 1996

Lay Teachers Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 41 113 25

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

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

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

Enrolment 80 students

1908

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

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

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

1911

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

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

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.

44 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photo: St Patricks school and students 2019

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

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 45

Lochinvar ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE Jubilee Concert at Lochinvar 1908. The Bishop Murray Memorial Orphanage as it looked at the time of esablishment

On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Lochinvar Named after a Loch in Southern Scotland

1847

1913

1980

Originally within the Parish of West Maitland

Secondary classes officially commenced, boarding facilities provided

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

1883

Opened 1883 as school with boarding facilities

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

Preceded by

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

1842 Denominational School 1883 St Joseph’s Primary School

1893 Convent built, architect Menkens. Old convent vacated and used for increasing number of boarders

School today years 7 to 12 co-educational

1900

Charism: Josephite

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

Motto: Strength in Difficulties Location: New England Highway Lochinvar NSW 2321 Parish: Lochinvar

1905

School

Opened

Staff

St Joseph’s College

1913 1990

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 76 31

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

46 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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

Parochial district of Lochinvar established

Extensions for primary section, staffroom and library

1911

1975

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

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

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

Students in the grounds of St Joseph’s, Lochinvar

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 47

Knockfin ST JOSEPH’S SCHOOL

‘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?

On Country Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnaruai people

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

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

School Primary

1847

Opened 1886

1872

Originally within the parish of West Maitland

Provisional school established, becoming a public school

Closed 1900

1883

Location

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

Luskintyre Road Knockfin NSW 2321

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

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Joseph’s

1886

19000

Diocesan Josephites

Years 14

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

48 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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

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 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.’ ¹

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

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

1841

1888

1967

Slab church built at Black Creek

New Branxton church built allowing school to use buildings

Following rationalisation of small schools, former school building demolished

Improvements made of two additional classrooms

‘Select school’ opened to provide secondary education for girls

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

1908

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

‘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

Opened 1886 Preceded by

1852 –1857

1852–1857 Black Creek Denominational School

Denominational school at Black Creek

Also opened

1879

1898 Select school as secondary

Parish of Branxton established

1886 –1987

School

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

Kindergarten to Year 6, 1967 Year 3 – Year 6

1886

Closed 2010

1898

Enrolment 52 students

1915 Former 1886 church building considerably extended

1916 Renovated church section used for infants classes, new section housed primary classes

1978 1987 Branxton convent closed

2011 St Brigid’s Primary and St Mary’s Greta closed, Rosary Park Catholic School replacing them

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.

Station Street Branxton NSW 2335

Mercy Administration ended

First lay Principal, Mr Walter Pleasant

Mercy school opened in newly built brick church.

Location

1977

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

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Years

Denominational (Black Creek) St Brigid’s

1852

1857

Lay Teachers

5

2011

Mercies Lay Teachers

90 35

References

1886 1978

1 First Directory of Australian Church / Annual Report of the Department of Public Instruction 2 The Maitland and Newcastle Catholic Sentinel 06/1967 Bendeich, F. (1986) Centenary of the Sisters of Mercy Branxton – Greta Parish 1886 – 1986 Luttrell, J. (2003) The Inspector Calls. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 49

Greta ST MARY’S SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

1879

1892

1960

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

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

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

Opened 1886

1882

1900

New brick veneer church of St Catherine’s opened

St Mary’s Church opened

Known as

1886

1963

1967 – St Mary’s Infants’ School

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

‘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.

Greta Thought to be named after a small river in England.

Named when town was surveyed in 1842.

School Kindergarten to Year 2

Closed 2010

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

Location

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

Branxton Street Greta NSW 2334

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

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Mary’s

1886 1982

2010

Mercies Lay Teachers

Years 101 28

References 1 Keating, C. (1997) A History of the Army Camp and Migrant Camp at Greta New South Wales 1939–1960 2 Maitland Mercury 19/4/1892 3 St Mary’s in Review – school article Bendeich, F. (1986) Centenary of the Sisters of Mercy Branxton-Greta Parish 1886–1986

50 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1900 School moved from church into a separate and new building, used also as community hall

1950 –1960

One building was purchased from Greta Migrant Camp for school use

1962

Parochial district of Greta established

1967 New primary school opened at Branxton

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

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

1953

1980

Principal M Evangelist McBride

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

1955 New building opened 24 April, three classrooms

1982 First lay Principal, Miss Heather Tully

2000 Amalgamation of infant and primary school discussed

2007–2008 Play equipment installed

2010 St Mary’s Greta Infants School closed

2011 Rosary Park Catholic School opened at Branxton, replacing St Mary’s Greta and St Brigid’s Branxton schools.

Photos: Student activities St Mary’s, Greta

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 51

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

1870 Parish of Branxton established

Preceded by

1871

1871 Provisional School

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

Opened 1900

1883

School Kindergarten to Year 6

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

Closed 1920

1889

Location

1900

St Paul’s weatherboard church opened

Main Road Glendonbrook NSW 2330

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Provisional St Joseph's

1871 1900

1920

Lay Teachers Diocesan Josephites

Convent built

Years 29 20

References 1 Ingle, K. (1989) Valley Echoes History of Gresford Catholic Parish 2 Dunlop, R. (2016). Planted in Congenial Soil: The Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar 1883–1917. Lochinvar NSW.

52 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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 North Cessnock Convent and school children

On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

Nulkaba Aboriginal word meaning ‘place of iron stone’

1886

School Primary

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

Opened 1887

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

Also opened

1887

1906 Mount St Joseph’s High School Cessnock

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

1937 St Joseph’s School Bellbird

Closed 1937 Location

1889

Wine Country Drive Nulkaba NSW 2320 (1927 renamed Pokolbin)

New convent built

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Patricks

1887

1937

Diocesan Josephites

1893 Years

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

1909

1905

1929

Parochial district of Cessnock established

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

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

Additions made to convent to accommodate boy boarders

1924 Enrolment 58 students

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

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

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

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 53

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

Parochial district of Cessnock established

1906

Known as

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

1935, Mount St Joseph’s Primary

Closed 1966 Location Millfield Street, Cessnock, NSW 2325

St Joseph’s (South Cessnock) Mount Joseph’s Primary

1906 1935

1887 1905

Opened 1906

Opened

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph opened convent at Nulkaba

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

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

School

1886

Closed

Staff

Years

Diocesan Josephites 1966

Diocesan Josephites

60

References 1 Catholic Press 07/ 1906 2 Bloomfield, W.A.G. (1954) Cessnock 1826–1954 3 The Catholic Press 12/5/1921, page 33

54 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

‘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 Girl's High School, 1933

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

1931

1959

1968

‘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

Junior Secondary School finally established at Mount St Joseph

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

1936

Announcement made to close at end of 1967 school year

Land purchased in Wollombi Road

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.

1958 First and second year classes moved to St Patrick’s Primary School, now on Wollombi Road, Cessnock

Closed 1967 Location Millfield Street Cessnock NSW 2325

1967 Enrolment 97 girls

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.

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Mount Joseph’s Primary

c1930

1967

Diocesan Josephites

Years 37

References 1 Bloomfield, W. (1954) Cessnock 1826–1954 2 Cessnock Eagle 22/12/1931 3 The Catholic Sentinel 07/1967 Centenary of 100 Years of Service in Cessnock Sisters of St Joseph (1986)

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 55

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’

1905

1936

1966

Parochial district of Cessnock established

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

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

1906

Opened 1937

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

Preceded by

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

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

School today kindergarten to year 6

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

1921

Charism: Josephite

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

Motto: Loyalty and Virtue Location: 155 Wollombi Road Cessnock NSW 2325 (originally known as West Cessnock) Parish: Cessnock

1929 School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Patrick's

1937 1980

1979

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 42 41

References 1 Centenary of 100 Years of Service in Cessnock Sisters of St Joseph (1986)

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

Bloomfield, W. A.G. (1954) Cessnock 1826–1954

56 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photo above: Cessnock staff 1973

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

1970 New brick school built, then ‘demountables’ added

1980 Diocesan Josephite administration ended First lay Principal, Mr George Jackson

1996

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

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

1937–1957

2004

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

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

1923

1940

1978

Bellbird church opened in parochial district of Cessnock

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

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

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

1958

1981

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph travelled from Cessnock convent

Principal, M Joseph Bolger

1938

Kindergarten to Year 6

Opened 1938 Closed 1958 Location Crn Ruby and Hetton Streets Bellbird NSW 2325

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Joseph’s Primary

1938

1958

Diocesan Josephites

Years 20

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.’ ¹

Lots 2 and 4 sold to Basil Millington

Lot 26 sold to Brian Kerwin

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,

Enrolment 80 students

References 1 Centenary of 100 years of Service in Cessnock Sisters of St Joseph (1986)

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 57

Kurri Kurri HOLY SPIRIT PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people ‘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

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

Opened 1908

1903

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 Parish: Kurri Kurri

Opened

Staff

Holy Spirit Infants

1908 1983

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

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

Location: Barton Street Kurri Kurri NSW 2327

School

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

Years 74 38

References 1 Delaney, J. (1988) City of Cessnock 1788–1988 2 Freemans Journal 26/11/1904

58 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1908

1963

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

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

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

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

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

Photos (L-R clockwise): Kurri Kurri Kinder, 1962, Kurri Church School Hall, 1905, Former convent used for School Administration, Kurri Kurri pupils 1933

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 59

Abermain HOLY SPIRIT INFANTS SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

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

Opened 1908

‘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

1920

1998

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

Upgrade of school facilities

1902

1935

Construction of administration, staff library classrooms and store

Additions made creating two separate classrooms

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

as St Joseph’s Primary School

Known as

1904

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

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

School

Opened

Staff

Holy Spirit Infants

1908 1981

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 70 40

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.

2004 2007

1940

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

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

2009

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

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

2010 Refurbishment of multi-purpose hall, student hall and shade structure

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

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

60 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos (L-R clockwise): Abermain 2020 Entrance and historical class photos

61

Dungog ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Worimi people

1856

1889

1957

Chapel built in Clarence Town

Dungog

1860

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

St Joseph’s Brookfield School students accommodated in Dungog

Aboriginal name for ‘clear hills’

Parochial district of Dungog established

Opened 1888

1863

Preceded by

1864

1864 – 1873 Catholic Denominational School at Clarence Town

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

St Patrick’s Church built in Clarence Town

School today kindergarten to year 6

Denominational school lay staff, J.M. McConnell

Charism: Josephite

1870

Location: 49 Brown Street Dungog NSW 2420

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

1888

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Denominational (Clarence Town) St Joseph's

1864

1873

Lay Teachers

9

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

97 35

1888 1986

Years

New convent built in Brown Street

1892 Enrolment 93 students, former convent rooms used for school

1913

Motto: God is Love Parish: Dungog

1891

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

New brick school built and opened

1923

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

Extensions made to old school room

2004

1952

Construction and refurbishment of classrooms and canteen

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

2009 Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal, construction of shade structure Construction of sports storage area, refurbishment of play areas

References 1 Dunlop, R. (2016). Planted in Congenial Soil: The Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar 1883–1917. Lochinvar NSW. 2 Souvenir of the Silver Jubilee 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.

62 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1976

Photos: Former convent now administration, St Joseph’s Dungog students

63

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

1888

1892

1976

Closed 1957

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

Newly built commodious schoolroom

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

1889

Enrolment 43 students

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

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

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Joseph’s

1889

1957

Diocesan Josephites

Years 68

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

1908 1928 New brick school

1957 Last Principal, Sr M Peter Parrott

1981 Convent sold

2011 Former Brookfield convent for sale.

‘Clochare’ a Williams Valley property ²

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

Part of the convent was used as a schoolroom ‘Church school opened on Monday 4 November with 45 pupils.’ ¹

References 1 Souvenir of the Silver Jubilee 2 The Newcastle Herald 26/02/2011

64 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photo: Former Convent and school buildings, Brookfield

65

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

1835

1884

1909

Parish of East Maitland established

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

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

1889

1910

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

Church of the Holy Family built

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

1892

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

1873

1893

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

Brick convent built, neat four bedroom cottage and chapel

1868

Until 1884 St Benedict’s Catholic School

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

Opened 1889

School stood on corner block

School

‘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

Kindergarten to Year 6

Closed 1968 Location Cnr John and Church Streets Largs NSW 2320 School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Denominational St Joseph's

1868 1889

1968

Lay Teachers Diocesan Josephites

Years 20 79

1880 ‘The RC schoolhouse was thoroughly repaired and painted also the teacher’s residence.’ 1

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

1899

1930 New school built and opened

1968 1969 Convent closed becoming residence of Fr Gleeson

2005 Convent offered for sale after extensive renovations by Nationwide Hunter Valley

Convent was a small cottage adjoining the school Sisters continued to teach in the church

References 1 Maitland Mercury 4/9/1880 2 Russell. The Cedar Ground 3 Freeman’s Journal 1/1/1874

66 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photo: Students in front of Convent, Largs 1933

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 67

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

Parish of Branxton established

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

1939

School Kindergarten to Year 6

Opened 1950 Closed 1959 Location

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

Camp Road Greta NSW 2334

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

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Migrant Camp School

1950

1959

Diocesan Josephites

Years

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

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

1958 Sister of St Joseph on staff, M Chanel Garaty 1959 M Thaddeus Coleman

9

References 1 Keating, C. (1997) A History of the Army Camp and Migrant Camp at Greta New South Wales 1939–1960 2 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 09/1951 3 Lavery, J. (1950) Australia’s New Interest – Our ‘New Australians. Chaplain of Greta Immigration Centre

68 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photo: Students and Sisters at Catholic School, Greta Migrant Camp

69

Tarro OUR LADY OF LOURDES PRIMARY SCHOOL Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Tarro

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

1922

1962

1977

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

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

First lay Principal, Mrs Nancy Smythe

1944 Sisters of Mercy opened school in church, originally travelling daily from East Maitland convent

Motto: For the Greater Glory of God Location: Anderson Drive Tarro NSW 2322

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

Parish: Beresfield

1947 Parochial district of Tarro established, originally called Beresfield

1958 School

Opened

Staff

Ou Lady of Lourdes Primary

1944 1977

Mercies Lay Teachers

Years 32 44

References 1 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 10/1962

70 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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

1969 Two new classrooms, office and staff rooms

1970s – 80s Five ‘demountables’ added and school administration area built

1976 Mercy administration ended

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.

1962 Opening of Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School Tarro

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 71

Rutherford ST PAUL’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua people

1955

1962

1999

Rutherford

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

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

1957

1965

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

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

‘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

Charism: Mercy

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

1966

Motto: Stand Firm in Faith

Enrolment 64 students

Location: 90A Gillies Street Rutherford NSW 2320

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

Named after an early settler George Shaw Rutherford

Opened 1957 School today kindergarten to year 6

Parish: Rutherford

1958 Sr M Boniface Bowe appointed Principal Enrolment 102 students

School

Opened

Staff

St Paul’s Primary

1957 1979

Mercies Lay Teachers

Years 21 33

References

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

1 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 09/1961 2 St Paul’s Rutherford History (1957) school publication

72 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos: St Paul’s Rutherford, students, St Paul’s School in St Patrick’s Day March Past, High Street, Maitland

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

2004 Major redevelopment of the school began Construction and refurbishment of classrooms, administration facilities, staff and library

St Paul’s continued operating as a primary school

2008

1978

Opening of new school premises

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

2009 Construct shade area, refurbishment of schools facilities, Information Technology equipment and infrastructure Construction of classrooms and library and covered linkways

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 73

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

School

Opened

Staff

St Aloysius Catholic Primary

2015

Lay Teachers

Years 6

74 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

2013

2015

2018

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.

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.

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.

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.

2019

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

Photo: St Aloysius Primary School, Chisholm

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.

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 75

Branxton ROSARY PARK CATHOLIC SCHOOL On Country 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

1840

1960s

2009

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

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

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

1967

2010

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

New construction on parish land opposite St Brigid’s Primary

Private school ‘There are two schools in Maitland and one at Black Creek conducted

by Mr Hyatt.’ ¹

1977

2011

First lay Principal, Mr Walter Pleasant

1852 –1857

1987

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

Denominational school at Black Creek

Branxton Mercy convent closed

1870

2009

Parish of Branxton established, St Brigid’s

Construction of security fence, procurement of furniture and equipment

1841

Preceded by

Wooden structure built for church / school

1852 Denominational School 1886 St Brigid’s Primary School

1841

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

1886

Parish: Branxton

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

Branxton Mercy convent Our Lady of Lourdes established, architect Menkens

School

Opened

Staff

Rosary Park Catholic

2011

Lay Teachers

Years 10

References

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

1 Bendeich, F. (1986) Centenary of the Sisters of Mercy Branxton - Greta Parish 1886 – 1986

76 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photo: Rosary Park Catholic School, Branxton

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 77

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 Location: 24A Heritage Drive Chisholm NSW 2322 Parish: Morpeth

Opened

Staff

St Bede’s College

2018

Lay Teachers

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

Motto: Shine with Christ’s Glory

School

2013

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

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

2021

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

Forward construction program will see the Dominic Building completed

2022 The McAuley Building will be completed

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

2023

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

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

The Marion Building will be completed

Years 3

78 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photo: St Bede's Catholic College, Chisolm

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.

79

C A T H O LIC SC H OO LS 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.

80

Driscoll Girls, Merewether 1920s

CENTRAL REGION MAP Closed Schools

Current Schools

Wallsend St Patrick's Primary School Denominational School

Lambton 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

St John’s Primary Denominational School

New Lambton

St Therese’s Primary School

Adamstown Garden Suburb St James School

St Columba’s Primary School St Pius X High School St Anne’s Girls High School

Broadmeadow St Laurence Flexible Learning Centre St Laurence O’Toole Primary School

Kotara South

St James’ Primary School

Hamilton

St Francis Xavier College Denominational School Newcastle Sacred Heart Primary School St Mary’s Star of the Sea Primary School St Aloysius Select St Mary’s Dominican Convent School St Aloysius High School St Francis Xavier Regional Primary School St Thomas’ Boarding School for Boys Institute for the Deaf and Dumb Denominational School St Mary’s Primary School St Mary’s School for Boys St Joseph’s Primary School St Mary’s Marist Brothers School Denominational School St Joseph’s High School

Merewether

Merewether Beach

Holy Family Primary School

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 81

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

Merewether Convent and school children 1933

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.

Footnotes

1. NSW Mining – History of Mining Accessed Website June 2021 https://www.nswmining.com.au/mining – history 2. Kennedy, K (1974) ‘The Australian Agricultural Company’ University of Newcastle Accessed from Living Histories @UON 3. Ibid p.4 4. The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 04/1066 5. Kingswell, G.H. (1890) The Coal Mines of Newcastle, N.S.W. Their Rise and Progress Newcastle Herald 6. “Greater Newcastle Act 1937 – Proclamation (5)”. Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 14 January 1938. p. 82. Retrieved 31st July 2021 – via National Library of Australia.

Photo: Opening of Holy Family School, Merewether Beach 1956

82 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

83

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

1838

1855

1898

Parochial district of Newcastle established, within the Archdiocese of Sydney

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

Lay Principal, Mr Gerald Maher with assistant Mr Street

c1841

1866

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

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

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.

1847

1852 Perkins Street

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

Known as

1852

1898 – 1918 St Mary’s School for Boys, Perkins Street 1919 – 1927 St Mary’s Marist Brothers School School

Opened

Denominational St Mary’s St Mary’s School for Boys St Mary’s Marist Brothers

c1841 1873 1888 1898

Closed 1874 1928

Staff Lay Teachers Dominicans Lay Teachers Marist

Catholic school transferred to former presbytery / temporary church built

Years 32+ 1 10 30

1853 Lay teachers John Breslan then Mrs Keck ²

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

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

1888–1898 Lay staff at St Mary’s, Mr J.B. Callaghan, Mr McCannon, Mr & Mrs Gribben ²

References 1 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 04/1966 2 McGee, C. (2012) The Forgotten Beginnings of Catholic Education in New South Wales. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

84 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Doyle, A. (1972) The History of the Marist Brothers in Australia 1872–1972. E.J. Dwyer Drummoyne. Page 431

Photo: St Mary’s Church and School, Newcastle

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.

C 1841 Denominational School, Newcastle

85

Newcastle ST MARY’S DOMINICAN CONVENT SCHOOL ST MARY’S STAR OF THE SEA PRIMARY SCHOOL 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

On Country

Location

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

Traditional owners of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

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

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

Newcastle

Known as

Named after England’s famous coal port.

Also known as Coal River and King’s Town.

St Mary’s Star of the Sea Primary School

Also opened

Opened 1874

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

Preceded by c1841Catholic Denominational School

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

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

School

Opened

St Mary’s Star of the Sea St Mary’s Dominican Convent School St Thomas Boarding for Boys

Closed

Staff

Years

1873 1961 1874

1968 1960

Dominicans Diocesan Josephites Dominicans

87 7 86

1903

1960

Dominicans

57

References 1 McGinley, M. (1958) Ancient Tradition New World: Dominican Sisters in Eastern Australia 1867–1958. St Paul’s Publication.

2 Maitland Mercury 19/04/1892 3 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 04/1966 Sternbeck, M. (1985) With Hearts and Hands and Voices; The Centenary History of the Sacred Heart Parish Hamilton 1884–1984. Sacred Heart Parish Hamilton.

86 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1892 ‘1,2 and 3 infants and 109 other pupils enrolled in the two schools run by the Dominican Sisters at Newcastle.’ ²

1903

1968

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

St Mary’s Star of the Sea Primary School closed

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.

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

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

St Thomas’s School for Boys, Newcastle

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 87

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.

‘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

Opened 1875 Location Land bounded by Wolfe, Tyrrell, Perkins and Church Streets, Newcastle NSW 2300

Relocated

1873

1875

1888

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

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

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

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

1888 35 Bridge Street Waratah NSW 2298

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

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Institute for the Deaf and Dumb

1875

1888

Dominicans

Years 13

References 1 McGinley, M. (1958) Ancient Tradition New World: Dominican Sisters in Eastern Australia 1867–1958. St Paul’s Publication.

2 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 04/1966 Egan, M. (1975) History of Catholic Deaf Education in Australia 1875–1975.

Bourke, J. (1973) The Dominican Nuns’ School for the Deaf and Dumb New South Wales. Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society.

88 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photo: Helen Keller, the famous American deaf-blind author with M M Rosario OP Waratah 1948

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

Helen Keller

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 89

Lambton ST JOHN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country 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

1864

1892

1976

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

Land purchased in Dickson Street through to Young Street

Mercy administration ended, sisters remained on staff for some years

1908

1977

Enrolment 78 students

First lay Principal, Mr Phillip Maloney

1921

1995

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

Mercy administration ended

1871 St John the Evangelist Church built in De Vitre Street, building used for school on weekdays

1873

Preceded by

Parochial district of Lambton established

1875

1871 Denominational School Also opened 1889 Select School

School today kindergarten to year 6

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

Charism: Mercy

1881

Motto: Love One Another

Denominational school enrolment 130 students

Location: Dickson Street Lambton NSW 2299

1883

Parish: Blackbutt North

Lambton Mercy convent established.

Sisters of Mercy staff school, first sister, M Stanislaus O’Neill

School

Opened

Staff

Denominational St John’s

1871 1883 1977

Lay Teachers Mercies Lay Teachers

Years 11 112 44

1889 ‘Sisters conducting ‘Select School‘ alongside Lambton Primary’ ¹ Enrolment 15 students in ‘Select School’

References 1 Australian Catholic Directory Sternbeck, M. (1985) With Hearts and Hands and Voices; The Centenary History of the Sacred Heart Parish Hamilton 1884–1984. Sacred Heart Parish Hamilton.

Song of the People – A Brief History of the Catholic Parish of St John’s Lambton. (2003) parish publication.

Newcastle Maitland Herald

90 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1929

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

New brick convent built in De Vitre Street

1996

1936

Extensions to school, modifications to former convent

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

2005

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

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

Photos: St John’s Primary School Lambton

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 91

Wallsend ST PATRICK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

First church / school built

Wallsend

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

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

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

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

1908

1871

1873

Opened 1883

‘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

Preceded by 1871 Denominational School

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

Enrolment 101 students

1931 New church opened

1937 Wallsend parish established

School today kindergarten to year 6

1875

Charism: Mercy

1950s

School certification obtained

Motto: Faith Knowledge Respect

1876

Facing Neilson Street, two timber classrooms built with voluntary labour

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

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

Parish: Wallsend-Shortland

1883

School

Opened

Staff

Denominational St Patrick’s

1871 1883

Lay Teachers Mercies Lay Teachers

Years 12 91 46

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

2 1883–1983 St Patrick’s School Wallsend. (1983) parish publication. Newcastle Chronicle

92 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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

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

Photos: St Patrick’s Wallsend, students 2021, Sisters of Mercy administered St Patricks, School for 90 years, School Administration, Original Convent of Mercy

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 93

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

1884

1895

Two acres of land at Hamilton purchased from Australian Agricultural Company

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

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

First church / school built

Opened 1884

1876

Preceded by

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

1876 Denominational School

Certified Catholic Denominational School, enrolment 114 students

Also opened

1878

1884–1915 ‘Select School’ St Aloysius

Enrolment 159 students

Closed 1992

1883 Enrolment 113 students – 66 boys, 47 girls of which 110 were Catholic

Location Hunter Street Hamilton NSW 2303 School

Opened

Denominational Sacred Heart Primary

1876 1884 1982

Closed

Staff

1992

Lay Teachers Mercies Lay Teachers

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

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

Enrolment 228 students

Original school replaced with substantial brick structure, first storey added

1894

1941

Foundation stone laid for new brick school, built in 1895

Air raid shelters were dug in the tennis court

Years 8 97 10

References 1 McGee, C. (2012) The Forgotten Ones: Teachers in the Catholic Schools before 1880. Catholic Education Office Sydney 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 Geddes, M. (1984) St Aloysius Hamilton 1915–1984. Hamilton NSW Tracey, J. (1992) Memories from the Heart 1876–1992.

94 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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

Photos: Sr M Patrick Garaty, Principal St Aloysius High School 1915–1939, and her sister Sr Veronica Gararty, Sacred Heart Primary School Hamilton 1884, First Sacred Heart Church, 1895 School in background.

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 95

Hamilton ST ALOYSIUS HIGH SCHOOL On Country Traditional owners of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Hamilton

1875

1923

1953

Two acres of land at Hamilton purchased from Australian Agricultural Company

Original school replaced with substantial brick structure, first storey added

1884

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

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

1924

1963

'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.

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

Successful Leaving Certificate students

Opened 1915

1899

Preceded by

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

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

1884–1915 ‘Select School’ St Aloysius

1915

Renamed

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

prior to 1928 known as St Aloysius Girls High

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

Closed 1984 Location Parry Street Hamilton NSW 2303 School

Opened

Closed

St Aloysius Select St Aloysius High

1884 1915

1984

Staff

Years

Mercies

100

References 1 Geddes, M. (1984) St Aloysius Hamilton 1915–1984. Hamilton NSW

96 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1918 First Intermediate class sat for public examination

1928 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

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.

1953 St Aloysius High Hamilton

97

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.

1925

1932

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

250 boys enrolled in Primary school

1928 Diocese established a Regional Primary School for Boys on Parkway Avenue site.

Boys were to come from the inner city parishes. ²

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 School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Years

St Francis Xavier Primary

1928

1953

Marist

25

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.

98 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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

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

1884

1957

Parish of Hamilton established, encompassing Broadmeadow

New school building opened

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

1905

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

1978 Mercy administration ended

Sisters of Mercy, walking daily from Hamilton convent

Premises continuing on as office education space including

1908

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

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

‘78 pupils enrolled’ ³

Opened 1905

2019

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

Primary School closed, students accommodated at Rosary Convent School Waratah

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

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

- Christian library opened within this space

1964

1904

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.

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

1955 Principal M Gabrielle

Closed 1978 Reopened 2019 St Laurence Flexible Learning Centre

Location 137 Broadmeadow Road Broadmeadow NSW 2299

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Laurence O’Toole Primary St Laurence Flexible Learning Centre

1905 2019

1978

Mercies Lay teachers

Years 73 2

References 1 Zimmerman, B. (2000) The Making of a Diocese: Maitland, its bishop, priests and people 1866–1909. Melbourne University Press.

2 The Catholic Press 19/01/1905 3 The Maitland Mercury 07/07/1908 McGinley, M (1958) Ancient Tradition New World: Dominican Sisters in Eastern Australia 1867–1958. St Paul’s Publicat

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 99

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.

1925

1931

1957

Land purchased by Diocese from Australian Agricultural Company

‘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

Final primary class, thus ending primary education at Hamilton

1932

Land at Shortland purchased for playing fields, Marcellin Park

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

Opened 1928 Preceded by St Mary’s Marist Brothers School Perkins Street Newcastle

Location Parkway Avenue Hamilton NSW 2303

Continuing St Francis Xavier’s College School

Opened

Marist Brothers High St Francis Xavier’s High

1928

Closed

Staff

Years

Marist

56

1984

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

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

1960s 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

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.

100 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photo: St Francis Xavier’s High School, Hamilton

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

101

Hamilton ST FRANCIS XAVIER’S COLLEGE On Country Traditional owners of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

1925

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

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

as St Francis Xavier’s College

Secondary school restructuring for Newcastle area

Preceded by

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

1928–1983

Renamed St Francis Xavier’s College

1985

School today years 11 and 12

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

Charism: Marist

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

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

Large covered area over main playground erected

Motto: Christ my Light Location: 286 Parkway Avenue, Hamilton NSW 2303 Parish: Hamilton School

Opened

Staff

St Francis Xavier’s College

1985 2018

Marist Lay Teachers

Years 32 4

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

102 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos: St Francis Xavier’s College aerial view, 2021 Senior students

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 103

Adamstown ST COLUMBA’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

1884

1899

1925

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

Parochial district of Hamilton established

Parochial district of Adamstown established

Opened 1890

Wooden church / school built on land purchased in 1899

School today kindergarten to year 6

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

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

Adamstown

Charism: Mercy

1890

First sister, Principal M Regina

Motto: Reach out Location: Lockyer Street Adamstown NSW 2289

1892 Enrolment 63 students

Parish: All Saints Blackbutt

1898 School

Opened

Staff

St Columba’s

1890 1987

Mercies Lay Teachers

Years 96 34

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

1900 New church / school built

1908 Enrolment 84 students

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

References 1 Sydney Morning Herald 11/02/1898 2 Sydney Morning Herald 8/11/1899

104 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos: Entrance to St Columba’s Adamstown and students

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 105

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

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Denominational St Joseph’s

1876 1884 1886 1888

1984

Lay Teachers Mercies Lay Teachers Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

1985

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

Years 8 2 2 96 36

106 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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

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

Freemans Journal

1891 St Joseph’s Merewether

1876

1909

1985

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

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

First lay Principal, Mrs Irena Romero

1926 Convent built Farquhar Street

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

1936 –1973

2000

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

Primary school rented two classrooms from former High school

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

1936 Classes to Year 10 Intermediate Grade

1947 Large Kindergarten building opened

1886 –1887

1956

Lay staff, Mrs E M Dwyer

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

1888 Sisters of St Joseph, first sisters M Imelda Flood, M Alphonsus

1960s

1986

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

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

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

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

1891

1962

2012

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

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

Blessing of the refurbished buildings

1984 Josephite administration ended

Enrolment 124 students

Photo (Left): Original Church / School & Presbytery, St Joseph’s Primary School, Merewether, Ball games team, March past squad

107

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

1876

1936 –1973

1965

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

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

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

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

Preceded by

1891

1884 St Joseph’s Primary School opened, staffed

by Sisters of Mercy

Parochial district of Burwood established

Closed 1984 Kendrick Street The Junction / Merewether NSW 2291

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Joseph’s High

1932

1984

Diocesan Josephites

Years 52

References 1 Merewether. (1966) parish bulletin 25/09/1966 McGee, C. (2012) The Forgotten Beginnings of Catholic Education in NSW. Office Sydney.

Freemans Journal

108 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1940s All available ground floor space in Kendrick Street building converted to Air Raid Shelter using sandbags

1945

‘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

Registration gained to extend classes to Leaving Certificate

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

Convent built on Farquhar Street

1949

1972

1932

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

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

1956

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

1926

Location

Classes to Intermediate Grade

1966

Principal M Germain Cullen

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

1936

1960

Property purchased by parish 24–32 Kendrick Street

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

1981 Reorganisation of secondary schooling in Newcastle area – St Joseph’s High School to close

1983 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

2005 Parish of St Joseph's takes charge of entire school site

Photo (Top):School students in front of Convent 1933, Student leaders St Joseph’s High School 1962, Sr Imelda Flood rsj Burwood 1888

109

New Lambton ST THERESE’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

1873

1955

1982

Originally within the Parish of Lambton

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

Mercy administration ended

St Therese of Lisieux Church / school opened in Royal Street

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

First lay Principal, Mr Terrence Gleeson

Opened 1926

Church / school brick building partitioned to form three classrooms

1956

School today kindergarten to year 6

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

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

Charism: Mercy

1926

1928

Motto: Mercy, Be True Location: Burke Street New Lambton NSW 2305 Parish: Blackbutt North

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

School

Opened

Staff

St Therese’s Primary

1926 1983

Mercies Lay Teachers

Years 56 38

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

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

1983 1994 Administration and staff facilities built and opened

2004 New library as extension to administration building

2009 Refurbishment of school facilities

Extra land facing William Street purchased from Church of England

Construction of classrooms and multipurpose hall

1960

2012

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

Opening of St Therese’s school hall

1966 Library officially opened

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

References 1 St Therese’s, Be True Celebrating 50 Years. (1975) parish publication.

2 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel. 08/1966 3 Newcastle Herald. 11/01/2019 Observation Book of New Lambton School 1926, 1927, 1928, 1938.

110 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos: St Therese’s Primary, New Lambton students, St Therese’s 1961 students

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.

1956 St Therese’s New Lambton

111

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

1939

1983

1998

Parochial district of Merewether South established

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

‘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

Church first in Ridge Street cottage, then in church hall

1952

School today kindergarten to year 2

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

Charism: Josephite Motto: Thy Will Be Done Location: 19 Janet Street Merewether Beach NSW 2291

1956

Parish: Newcastle

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

School

Opened

Staff

Holy Family Primary

1956 1984

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 27 36

1961 Merewether Beach convent opened, crn Janet and Pell Streets New school built with four classrooms and ancillary rooms, later another wing

References 1 Newcastle Herald 19/10/1998

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

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

Convent converted for school and parish use

2 Catholic Education Reporter 12/1987 Boyce, P. (2007) Holy Family Church Merewether Beach 1952–2007.

112 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos: Students Holy Family, Merewether Beach

113

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

1958

1962

1974

Land purchased in Myall Road from BHP

Parish of New Lambton was established

1961

1963

Twenty four acres of land purchased on Vista Parade, Kotara South

School opened Myall Road, Garden Suburb

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

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

Closed 1980 Location

Remainder of Greta hospital relocated for more classrooms and temporary church

Myall Road Kotara / Garden Suburb NSW 2289

Sisters of Mercy arrived, M Cordula Torpey, M Chrysostom Dolahenty travelling from New Lambton convent Classes began for Kindergarten to Year 4

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Years

St James Primary

1961

1977

Mercies

16

Reference 1 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 07/1963

114 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1975 ‘Demountable’ classrooms purchased allowing full school relocation

1977 Mercy administration ended

1978 Infants classes relocated to ‘open plan’ classrooms at new site

1971

1981

School now Kindergarten to Year 6

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.

1961 Garden Suburb

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 115

Kotara South ST JAMES PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Kotara

1961

1978

St James School kindergarten to year 4, originally built on Myall Road Garden Suburb

Infants classes transferred from Myall Road site to present site on Vista Parade. Classes held in new ‘open plan’ building fully funded by parishioners

Sisters of Mercy, first sisters M Cordula, M Chrysostom travelling from New Lambton convent

Aboriginal word for ‘a club’

Opened 1978

1962

Preceded by

Parish of New Lambton established

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

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

Parish: All Saints Blackbutt

Mercy administration ended

School

Opened

Staff

St James Primary

1978

Lay Teachers

Years 43

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

Reference 1 Catholic Education Reporter 12/1981

116 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photo: St James, Kotara South students 2021

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

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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

1959

1964

1984

St Pius X Secondary School for boys opened at Tighes Hill, two First Year classes. School staffed by Diocesan priests.

First Leaving Certificate year

Became a Junior Co-educational High School – name changed from St Pius X College to St Pius X High School

1960

New classroom wing and minor works

1966 1967

First lay Principal, Mr Ray Kelly

originally on Tighes Hill site 1959

Park Avenue Adamstown property purchased from Lustre Hosiery, 16 acres with factory premises

Known as

1961

1970s

until 1983 St Pius X College

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

St Anne’s became co-instructional Senior High School with St Pius X

College Rector Fr J. Newton, priests V. Dilly, L. Cicolini, T. Kennedy

No Year 11 students enrolled – boys transferring to St Francis Xavier’ High School Hamilton

School today years 7 to 10 Motto: To Renew All Things In Christ Location: Park Avenue Adamstown NSW 2289 Parish: All Saints Blackbutt

School

Opened

Staff

St Pius X High

1961 1984

Diocesan Clergy Lay Teachers

Years 22 37

St Anne’s Senior High School for girls opened in the grounds of St Pius X College

2008 St Anne’s Hall renamed Sr Marie Hall, honouring long service to the school by Josephite, Sr Marie Therese Fahey

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

Last Year 12 class

Reference 1 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel. 01/1961

118 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Buildings of St Anne’s School now utilised for St Pius X

Photo: St Pius X, Adamstown students

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

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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

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Anne’s Girls High

1966

1985

Josephites, Mercies, Dominicans

Years

1966

1967

1984

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.’

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

Last Year 11 class enrolled

1985 School closed due to restructuring of Secondary education in the Newcastle area

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

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.

19

References 1 Kelly, C. (1997) A Journey through Light and Shadow: Sisters of Mercy Singleton 1875–1995. Hamilton NSW. p.138 2 The Catholic Sentinel. 02/ 1967, p.1

Photo: St Anne’s Senior High School for Girls – on site at St Pius X College Adamstown Unique as the school staffed through cooperation of the three teaching orders of sisters in the diocese of Maitland-Newcastle Dominican, Mercy and Josephite Sisters.

The original six sisters to staff St Anne’s were Sister M. Raphael (Levey), OP Sister M. Phillipa OP, Sister M. Bartholomew, rsm (Principal), Sister M. Julie, rsm, Sister Jane Frances rsj, and Sister Francis Xavier, rsj Photo from 1967 – religious teaching staff.

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SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 121

C A T H O LIC SC H OO LS 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.

St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s 6 Martinsville Road Cooranbong, mass center for parish of Morisset

122 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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.

LAKES REGION MAP Closed Schools

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.

Current Schools

West Wallsend

St Joseph’s Primary School

Glendale

Holy Cross Primary School Holy Cross Girls High School

St Benedict’s Primary School

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

Boolaroo

Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School

Cardiff

St Kevin’s Primary School

Booragul

Warners Bay

St Paul’s Catholic College

St Mary’s Primary School

Toronto

St Joseph’s Primary School

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.

Edgeworth

Charlestown

St Joseph’s Primary School

Gateshead

Kilaben Bay

St Paul’s Primary School St Mary’s Catholic College

St Joseph’s Primary School

Windale St Pius X Primary School Belmont

St Francis Xavier’s Primary School St Joseph’s High

Swansea

Cooranbong

St Patrick’s Primary School

National / Catholic School

Morisset St John Vianney Primary School St John of God Training Centre

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

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 123

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.

124 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Pilgrimage site – plaques erected 2011 to commemorate the canonization of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop 2010

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’

Cooranbong originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney, Kincumber Parish, Rev. H N Wolfrey OC

1886

1896

Enrolment 98 students

1822–1861

1889

First land grants made in the area, thriving community built around timber industry

Rail link Sydney to Newcastle opened, station built at Morisset thus by-passing Cooranbong

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.

1861

Opened 1861

Community built a humble wooden structure, 17 year lease as National School and Catholic church

Archdiocese of Sydney

Closed 1896

1861–1879

Archdiocese of Sydney

Lay staffed, first teachers Jeremiah and Catherine Cronin, operated by the National Board of Education

Location 6 Martinsville Road Cooranbong NSW 2265

1880

2015

Three ‘Brown Joeys’ arrived, residing close by in a dwelling/convent ‘rent free’, along Mathew Valley Road

Pilgrimage Site for Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop School

Opened

Closed

Staff

National/church Catholic school

1861 1880

1879 1896

Lay Teachers Congregational Josephites

Years 18 16

References 1 Foale. M.T. (1989). The Josephite Story: Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph 1866–1893. St. Joseph's Convent.

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

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

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

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

Enrolment 67 students

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

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 125

West Wallsend ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

‘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

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

Opened 1912

1872

1915

1962

Lambton parish established

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

Sisters of St Joseph travelled to staff St Benedict’s Edgeworth

1931

1979

With the Great Depression and the closure of mines, enrolment now fallen to 50 students

West Wallsend and Edgeworth schools combined, now established at St Benedict’s Edgeworth

1937

1982 –2015

West Wallsend established as parish

Convent used for parish work by both Sisters of Mercy and Sisters of St Joseph

1908

Closed 1978

Wallsend included in Lambton parish

1910 –1911

Location

Convent built, opened 1912

5 Hyndes Street West Wallsend NSW 2286

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

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Joseph’s Primary

1912

1978

Diocesan Josephites

Years 66

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

126 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1955 West Wallsend and Glendale established as parochial district

1960s Infants classes moved to St Benedict’s Edgeworth, primary classes remained

1978 School closed, last Principal Sr Frances Slack rsj

Boolaroo OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

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

Boolaroo Aboriginal word for ‘place of flies’

Opened 1926

1917 Foundation stone laid for first church

Closed 1976

1926

Location Seventh Avenue Boolaroo NSW 2284

Opened

Closed

Staff

Our Lady Help of Christians Primary

1926

1976

Congregational Josephites

Years 49

1 Burford, K. E. (1991). Unfurrowed fields: a Josephite story, NSW, 1872–1972. St. Joseph's Convent.

Enrolment 69 students

1954

1976

Enrolment 145 students

Boolaroo School closed, students accommodated at St Mary’s Primary School

1956 School painted and toilet block commenced

1959 Enrolment 98 students

1961

Congregational Sisters of St Joseph residing at Kincumber convent invited to staff school at Boolaroo.

1966

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 References

1975

Three new classrooms built

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

Sisters lived in the presbytery awaiting the completion of Boolaroo convent

School

1934

Music centre opened in the convent

New church built, Our Lady Help of Christians, enabling extra classroom accommodation in old church, school extended to Year 6

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

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

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

2 The Sisters of St Joseph 1926 unknown author from Archives of Sisters of St Joseph

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Cardiff ST KEVIN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

1873 Parochial district of Lambton established

Cardiff Named after the capital of Wales at the suggestion of settler James Edward in 1889. Area previously known as Winding Creek, then Lymington

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

Opened 1917 St Joseph’s

Also opened 1958 Junior High School

Known as 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 School

Opened

Staff

St Kevin’s Primary

1917

Diocesan Josephites Sisters of Mercy Lay Teachers

Years 66 19 19

1981

‘Gordon Swadling brought umbrellas for us in case it rained.’ ²

School named St Kevin’s, changed in line with parish name

1944

School opened as St Joseph’s, enrolment 70 students

New school building opened. Building of the new school was delayed because building materials were in short supply due to World War 2.

1928

1958

Brick church built, existing buildings in Newcastle Street to be used for school purposes

New convent opened, closed 1980 then reopened 1981

1939

1989 St Kevin’s

… 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

1989 1991 Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1992 Major extensions

Junior High School conducted in addition to primary grades

Cardiff parish established

1969

1942

Extensions were added to the school to cater for increased enrolments

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

1976 –1980 First lay Principal, Mr David Carty

1980

Sisters moved back into the convent as it was unsuitable for school expansion

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 convent was closed

References 1 Diary of Cardiff Parish and School 2 Callaghan, T. (2006) St Kevin’s Cardiff The First 100 Years 1906–2006

128 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos: School students and school entrance

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 …

1942 St Kevin’s Cardiff

129

Charlestown ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

1884

Charlestown

Parochial district of Hamilton established, encompassing Charlestown

Thought to be named after Charles Smith, manager of the Waratah Coal Company

1904

Opened 1927

Church / school Mary Immaculate at 9 Milson Street

1927

School today kindergarten to year 6 Charism: Josephite

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

Motto: Truth in Christ Location: 32 Shelton Street Charlestown NSW 2290 Parish: MacKillop

School

Opened

Staff

St Joseph’s Primary

1927 1982

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, M Benignus Tobin, M Stanislaus Donnelly, M Dominica Chapman

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

1981

1951

2009

Parochial district of Charlestown established

Refurbishment of school facilities external and internal, classroom joinery work

1968 Two prefabricated classrooms added on limited site

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1982 First lay Principal, Mrs Nancy Smythe

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

1973 New school built in Shelton Street, opened 1975, Commonwealth Government Grant

1978 Enrolment of 400 pupils

Years 54 39

References 1 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 08/1936 The Catholic Education Reporter 6/1987

130 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos: School library 2021, Music students 1933, School photo in front of old convent and church / school, Students enjoying play 2021

131

Toronto

ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL Toronto and Boolaroo parishes originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney until 1966

On Country

1903

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Land purchased on the corner of Carey Street and Brighton Avenue by Archdiocese of Sydney, Cardinal Moran

1914

Toronto

Parish of Wyong established, within the Archdiocese of Sydney

Named after champion sculler Edward Hanlan, who hailed from Toronto Canada and arrived in Australia at the time of the sub division

1915 St Joseph’s Church opened on Carey Street site operating as mass centre

Opened 1950

1926

Closed 1983

Toronto parish joined the parish of Boolaroo

1949

Location Carey Street Toronto NSW 2283

School

Opened

St Joseph’s Primary

1950 1956 1973

Closed

Staff

1983

Congregational Josephites Mercies Diocesan Josephites

Years 6 17 10

1 A Brief History of St Joseph’s Parish Toronto (1984) parish publication 2 Burford, 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.

132 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1973

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

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

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.

1974 Residence at 237 Excelsior Parade converted to convent for Sisters of St Joseph

New brick school on quarry site opened in September.

1976

1960s

Three ‘demountable’ classrooms were erected on edge of property, extra ones added in 1979

‘Wonderful news! We were to get two Brown St Joseph Sisters and have our own little school in the church.’ ¹

Lower playground behind church constructed by parishioners

1950

1964

First school opened in church building Carey Street Toronto, Kindergarten to Year 4

Building acquired from Rathmines Airbase, used to accommodate Years 5 and 6

Congregational Sisters of St Joseph, travelled “in the miner’s bus” from Boolaroo convent ²

First lay teacher, Mrs O’Brien

1983

Sisters of St Joseph, M Patricia O’Brien, M Peter Julian, M Geraldine O’Meara, M Enda

1966 Toronto parish transferred to Diocese of Maitland

Decision to widen road outside school made by Department of Main Roads and Lake Macquarie City Council

1952 Sisters of Mercy purchase Convent of Our Lady of the Lake

References

1954

Toronto Mercy convent established

1972 Mercy administration ended

1982 School inspection showed that school facilities were grossly inadequate and limited registration was given

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’

1984

Opened 1984

New site at Kilaben Bay for church, presbytery, school and convent

Preceded by 1950 – 1983 St Joseph’s Toronto

School today kindergarten to year 6

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

Charism: Josephite

First lay Principal, Mr Ian McDonald

Motto: Love One Another

1985

Location: 140 Wangi Road Kilaben Bay NSW 2283

St Joseph’s School opened, with school buses delivering 400 children

Parish: Toronto

2009 Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal and shade structure erected

School

Opened

Staff

St Joseph’s Primary

1984

Lay Teachers

Years 37

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

Reference 1 A Brief History of St Joseph’s Parish Toronto parish publication 1984

Photo: Kilaben Bay students 2021

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Belmont ST FRANCIS XAVIER’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Belmont originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney, parish of Swansea until 1966

1950

Belmont

School opened as St Joseph’s Primary

Named by settler Thomas Williamson, after his home village on the Shetland Islands

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

Opened 1950

First sisters came to staff school, M Virgilius Perkins, M Callista Nolan

Also opened 1957 Secondary school opened

Known as 1950 St Joseph’s Primary 1996 St Francis Xavier’s

School today kindergarten to year 6 Charism: Josephite

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

Motto: Let Your Light Shine Location: 42 Ernest Street Belmont NSW 2280

1956

Parish: East Lake Macquarie

Grey stone cottage adjoining the primary school purchased

School

Opened

Staff

St Francis Xavier’s Primary

1950 1980

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 29 41

1957

1966

Secondary School opened in cottage, first year girls only

Swansea parish transferred from Archdiocese of Sydney to Diocese of Maitland

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

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

Secondary school closed with all buildings available for primary school expansion, students accommodated at St Mary’s Gateshead

Reference 1 Cesell, J. Catholic Education at Belmont (2009) study article

134 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos: Students and school building

135

Belmont ST JOSEPH’S HIGH SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Belmont originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney, parish of Swansea until 1966

Belmont

1952

Named by settler Thomas Williamson, after his home village on the Shetland Islands

School opened as St Joseph’s Primary in Ernest Street, wooden building of three classrooms

Opened 1957

1956 Grey stone cottage adjoining the primary school purchased

Closed 1963

1957

Location

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

Ernest Street Belmont NSW 2280

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Joseph’s High

1957

1963

Diocesan Josephites

Years 6

Reference 1 Cesell, J. Catholic Education at Belmont (2009) study article

136 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1958

1966

High school expanded to second year students

Swansea parish transferred from Archdiocese of Sydney to Diocese of Maitland

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

Parish of Belmont established, incorporating Swansea parish

Swansea ST PATRICK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Swansea and Belmont originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney until 1966

Swansea

1941

Named from its resemblance to a seaport in Wales, by Captain R N Talbot, pioneer of the ship building trade.

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph purchased a property in Northcote Avenue, for sisters requiring rest and care

Opened 1952

1952

School today kindergarten to year 6

Sisters asked to staff new school St Patrick’s in Wood Street Swansea. Opening enrolment 30 students

Charism: Josephite

School building construction began

Motto: Grow in Hope

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

Location: 213 Northcote Avenue Swansea NSW 2281 Parish: East Lake Macquarie

School

Opened

Staff

St Patrick’s Primary

1952 1985

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Reference

Years 32 36

1954 Swansea parish, separated from Belmont parish, both within Archdiocese of Sydney

1966

1996

Swansea and Belmont parishes transferred to Diocese of Maitland

Sisters moved to adjacent site allowing school to expand

1971

Two ‘demountables’ added for library and classrooms

New school extensions opened in Wood Street, acclaimed for its modern amenities

2005 –2006

1977 –1978

Old school demolished, new school built, also administration and staff facilities

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

2007

1984

2009

New school facilities officially opened

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

Refurbishment of school facilities, external construction completed

1985

Construction of multi-purpose hall

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

1 Sisters of St Joseph archives, anecdotal

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 137

Glendale HOLY CROSS PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Several acres of land gradually acquired

Glendale

Parish of Glendale established, Diocese of Maitland

1957

Name is Scottish in origin, ‘glen’ for valley between hills, ‘dale’ also meaning ‘valley’

1958 Sisters of Mercy, originally travelling from Lambton convent

Also opened

Sisters taught in newly erected church hall / school

1961–1967 Girls High School

School today kindergarten to year 6

First sisters, M Gonzaga Lantry, M Jacinta O’Connor

Charism: Mercy

1958

Motto: We Dare We Share

Kindergarten to year 4, opening enrolment 105 students

Location: 326 Lake Road Glendale NSW 2285

1960

Parish: Sugarloaf

School Holy Cross Primary

New primary and secondary schools and convent built

Opened 1958

Staff Mercies Lay Teachers

Years 25 34

Closure of high school enabled wooden style buildings to be used for primary classrooms

1974 First lay Principal Mrs June Bickle

School opened in ‘the Green Cottage’, a brick veneer structure of four rooms

Opened 1958

1968

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

1961

2001

Primary and secondary opened, buildings transported from Wangi Power Station and Greta Migrant Camp

Construction of classrooms and student facilities

Glendale Mercy convent established

2009

1 Catholic Education Reporter 12/1986

1961 –1967

Refurbishment of school facilities, internal works, IT equipment and infrastructure

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

Girls High School operated

Construction of multi-purpose hall and refurbishment of library

References

Catholic Education Reporter The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel

Photo: Glendale students 2021

138 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Glendale HOLY CROSS GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Several acres of land gradually acquired

1957

Glendale

Cottage of four rooms, brick veneer structure

Name is Scottish in origin, ‘glen’ for valley between hills, ‘dale’ also meaning ‘valley’

Parish of Glendale established, Diocese of Maitland

Opened 1961

1958 Mercy sisters taught in church / hall, Kindergarten to Year 4

Closed 1967

1961

Location

Glendale Mercy convent established

326 Lake Road Glendale NSW 2285

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Years

Holy Cross Girls' High

1961

1967

Mercies

7

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.’ ¹

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

References 1 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 10/1960 Kelly, C. (1997) A Journey … Through Light and Shadow: Sisters of Mercy Singleton 1875–1995. Hamilton NSW. Catholic Education Reporter

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 139

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.

ST MARY’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

1976 St Mary’s Warners Bay

On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Warners Bay and Boolaroo originally within Archdiocese of Sydney until 1966

Warners Bay

1957

Named after Johnathan Warner, residing on his original Land Grant of 1280 acres, once called Awaba Bay

School Building Committee formed

1958

Opened 1958

Congregational Sisters of St Joseph opened a new school at Warner’s Bay, officially opened March

School today kindergarten to year 6

Two roomed school on parish land opened for Kindergarten and First class, enrolment 41 students

Charism: Josephite Motto: To Jesus Through Mary Location: 2 Bayview Street Warners Bay NSW 2282 Parish: Boolaroo–Warners Bay

Closed

Staff

St Mary’s Primary

1958 1982

1981

Congregational Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 23 39

St Mary’s became Infants School for the parish, Boolaroo continued to cater for primary classes

1969

1959

1976

1960 School extended, now Kindergarten to Year 6

References 1 Hunter School Newspaper Competition 40th Anniversary article 2 Burford, K. E. (1991). Unfurrowed fields: a Josephite story, NSW, 1872–1972. St. Joseph's Convent.

The Sisters of St Joseph 1926 unknown author from Archives of Sisters of St Joseph

140 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1968

Sisters travelled daily from Boolaroo convent

Enrolment 70 students

Opened

Warners Bay and Boolaroo parishes transferred to Diocese of Maitland

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

First sister, M Monica Joseph

School

1966

Photos: Warners Bay students 2021 and aerial of school

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

141

Windale SAINT PIUS X PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

Windale originally within Archdiocese of Sydney, parish of Belmont until 1966

Windale

1959

Named after an early settler Vere James Winn.

Town was gazetted in 1951

School classes began in church-hall building, enrolment 77 students

Opened 1959

Convent opened for Sisters of St Joseph.

Convent had been built under auspices of Archdiocese of Sydney

School today kindergarten to year 6

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

Charism: Josephite Motto: Awake Aspire Learn Location: 2 Lake Street Windale NSW 2306 Parish: East Lake Macquarie

1966 School

Opened

Staff

St Pius X Primary

1959

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers Sister of Mercy

Years 21 31 9

Reference 1 Starkey, A. School reminiscences

142 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Lakes Parishes transferred to Diocese of Maitland

1967

1986

Parochial district of Windale established

Enrolment 135 students

1969 –1976

Administration facilities completed

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

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.

1969 St Pius X Primary Windale

143

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

Morisset originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney until 1966

1948 –1959

1970

1914

Parish administered by Fr Dominic O’Gorman OH (Order of John of God) residing at Morisset Park

‘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

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

Location: 60–66 Yambo Street Morisset NSW 2264

1958

Wyong Parish established, encompassing Morisset and Cooranbong

Residence in Park Street (now Kent Street) rented then purchased for convent, refurbished 1961

1929 1930

Parish: Morriset

Building relocated from Bridge Street to Yambo Street for church hall

1947 School

Opened

Staff

St John Vianney Primary

1962 1973

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 10 48

References 1 St John Vianney School Diaries The Congregational Archives of The Sisters of St Joseph, North Sydney Foale. M.T. (1989). The Josephite Story: Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph 1866–1893. St. Joseph's Convent.

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

144 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Land purchased 11 and 12 Dora Street, now included in school grounds

1926

Land purchased in Yambo Street for church

by Mr Dwyer

Motto: Everyday our Best

1953

Parish of Morisset established, administered from Kincumber parish, Archdiocese of Sydney

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

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

Photos: St John Vianney, Morisset children in the playground and buildings

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 145

Edgeworth ST BENEDICT’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

1960

1964

1994

Land purchased three and a half acres on Main Road

New administration block, three classrooms and canteen

Edgeworth

1962

School and convent officially opened.

Convent was a converted ‘hut’ from Greta Migrant Camp

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

School

Opened

Staff

St Benedict’s Primary

1962 1985

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 22 36

References 1 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 02/1964 2 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 01/1962

146 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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

1972 Convent closed to allow school use of building, sisters resumed travelling from West Wallsend Convent

1978

Construction of 6 new classrooms and library

2009

St Joseph’s School West Wallsend closed

Construction of shade structure, refurbishment of school facilities, external works and upgrade of electrical reticulation

St Benedict’s Edgeworth became full primary school for the area

Construction of multi-purpose hall and classrooms

1980

2011

Extensions to school

Construction of 2 new classrooms and new much needed hall

St Benedict’s became Infants School for West Wallsend and Edgeworth parishes

1984

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived, M Cabrini Boyle, M Anne Mary Hatton, travelling from West Wallsend convent

1985

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

2004

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

First lay Principal, Mr Steve Murray

1987 New administration and kindergarten block

1989 Last religious in the school

Photos (L-R top clockwise) : School site 1962, Sisters at opening 1961, Bus trip to Glenbawn Dam 1968, Sister Cabrini crossing the road with school students in 1961

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 147

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 1947 Also known as

Morisset within the Archdiocese of Sydney until 1966

1948 –1959

1992

1934

Fr Dominic O’Gorman OSJD OH, chaplain for the Brothers, became parish priest of Morisset

Usher Report recommended closure of all large residential facilities Government policy encouraged the development of smaller group homes, but this was not implemented

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

Kendall Grange Special School

1947

Closed 1992

Parish of Morisset established

Location Morisset Park Road Morisset Park NSW 2264

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St John of God Training Centre

1947

1992

Order of St John of God Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 45 2 7

References 1 Brother John Clegg OH St John of God archivist Celebrating 150 Years of Catholic Presence in Cooranbong (2011) parish publication

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

148 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1951

St John of God residential facilities closed

‘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

1993 –2000

1966

1999

Parish of Morisset included in the Diocese of Maitland

1967

Behaviour Management Outreach Program which kept children in their family units was developed

Decision made to not accept new enrolments and to phase out the current in-home Behaviour Management Outreach Program by September

Principal, Br Stanislaus Murray OH

2000

1969

Sept 6 The last children left St John of God and the service closed

Brothers assumed full responsibility for Kendall Grange, after many years of SVDP support

Sept 10 St John of God Family Services commenced

1983 Administration of St John of God Brothers ended

1985 Constable Report recommends that a Board of Management be established

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

1963 Parish of Gateshead established, Diocese of Maitland

Gateshead

Land five and a half acres purchased on Pacific Highway for new high school (originally Buckton Milroy farm)

Named after a town in England, by the first surveyor in the area 1876, Mr W.T. Verge

1964

Opened 1964

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived, first Principal, M Kilian, enrolment 75 students

School today kindergarten to year 6 Charism: Josephite Motto: Love One Another Location: Felton Street Gateshead NSW 2290

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

Parish: MacKillop

New church / school opened in May for Kindergarten to Year 2

School

Opened

Staff

St Paul’s Primary

1964 1985

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

References

Years 20 36

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

1984

1967

2002

St Paul’s School became full primary catering for Kindergarten to Year 6

New premises opened after three years of planning and construction work, at the rear of the same site

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

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1985 First lay Principal, Mrs Mary Young

2001 Construction of classrooms and student facilities

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

Enrolment 355 students

1973 To free up classroom space, parish built a new church

1 Kennedy, R. (1998) History of Gateshead and Redhead Parish 1963–1988 2 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 03/1964

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 149

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 co-educational Charism: Josephite

1963

1969

2009

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.’

Part of convent used for secondary school

Refurbishment of school facilities external, construction of shade structure, upgrade of electrical reticulation

Land Five and a half acres purchased by Sisters of St Joseph on Pacific Highway for new high school

Addition of facilities for home science, technics and change rooms

New school designed by and built by VF Doran & Sons

Motto: Love One Another Location: 47– 49 Pacific Highway Gateshead NSW 2290

1964

Parish: MacKillop

New convent built by Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph

School

Opened

Staff

St Mary’s Catholic College

1964 1985

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 20 36

References 1 Kennedy, R. (1998) History of Gateshead and Redhead Parish 1963–1988

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

1971 School administered by Catholic Education Office

Trade training centre, dust control, fume extraction and agricultural equipment

1981

2011

Enrolment 420 students

Refurbishment of science laboratories

1982 –1983

2018

School began transition to Junior Secondary Co-educational High School

School renamed St Mary’s Catholic College

1983 1984 Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1985 First lay Principal, Mrs Helen Hemphil

1986 Enrolment 940 students

2006 Construction of music rooms, student, science laboratories, senior learning area and TAS

Enrolment 160 students

2 ibid 3 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 03/1964

Photos : St Mary's Catholic College, Gateshead students 2021

150 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Transition to Stage 6 with Year 11

151

Booragul ST PAUL’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE On Country

Booragul originally within Archdiocese of Sydney, parish of Toronto, 1966 transferred to Diocese of Maitland

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal people

1972

Booragul

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

Aboriginal word for ‘summer’

Opened 1984 Known as

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

School today year 7 to 12 Motto: To Live is Christ Location: 70 Primrose Street Booragul NSW 2284 Parish: Booragul

School

Opened

Staff

St Paul’s Catholic College

1984

Lay Teachers

Years 37

References

1985 Stage 1 commenced

1980

1984 St Paul’s Co-educational High School 2018 St Paul’s Catholic College

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

2009 Sports Assembly area and Master Plan developed Refurbishment, external works, upgrade of electrical reticulation, security fence built

2013

1994

Construction of general learning area, specialised library area, administration and covered outdoor learning area

Completion of permanent library

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

1 Catholic Education Reporter 12/1981 2 Catholic Education Reporter 06/1986

152 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Opening of school hall on 25 May

Stage 1 completed – administration block and first permanent classrooms

Land purchased from Housing Commission

Upon opening the school was fully l ay staffed

2004

Trade Training Centre – Construction, Hospitality Commercial kitchens

1999

Opened as St Paul’s co-educational High School

Another parcel of land was purchased

1987

1982 1984

2001

Photos : St Paul's Catholic College, Booragul students 2021

2018 Renamed, St Paul’s Catholic College Completed – new administration wing, classroom block, staff facility, and St Paul’s Chapel

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 153

C A T H O LIC SC H OO LS 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

154 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

MANNING REGION MAP Closed Schools

Current Schools

Kendall St Joseph’s Primary School

Laurieton

(1966 joined Lismore Diocese) St Joseph’s Community School

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.

Wingham

St Joseph’s Primary School

Taree

St Joseph’s Primary School St Clare’s High School St Joseph’s High School

Catholic School St Joseph’s Primary School Girls Boarding School Boys Boarding School

Gloucester St Joseph’s Primary School

Krambach

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.

Cundletown

St Bernadette’s Primary School

Forster

Holy Name Primary School

Bulahdelah St Joseph’s Primary School St Brigid’s / St Joseph’s St Joseph’s Intermediate High School

155

‘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 Students St Joseph’s Cundletown

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.

156 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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. Solling, Max, Town and Country, A History of the Manning Valley, Sydney, 2007, p.11.

2. Empire (Sydney), 16 October 1856, p.2.

3. Solling, p.291.

4. Zimmerman, Beverly. The Making of a Diocese, Melbourne, 2000, pp. 179–180.

5. 50th Anniversary of Our Lady of the Rosary Church Taree 1930–1980, p. 63.

6. Gogarty, Susan, Tuncurry Tapestry of a Town, 2011, p. 112.

Krambach ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Students Krambach 1933

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

Originally the area was part of land belonging to the Australian Agricultural Company

1895

1929

‘By April it had 54 students.’ ¹

Sisters returned the following January

1874

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

1958

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)

Known as

1892

1893 St Joseph’s

Consecration of new Roman Catholic Church St Kilian’s, 18 October (Second church site)

Also opened

1893

1893 Convent Boarding School

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph travelled from Dungog convent, journey of three days by boat and buggy

Renamed

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

1959 St Bernadette’s

Closed 1989 Location 3783 Buckets Way crn Mill Street Krambach NSW 2429 School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Joseph’s

1893

1989

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 88 7

Catholic school opened in church with 32 students, girl boarders accommodated from the early days

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

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

1907

1959

Parish of Krambach established

1908

New school building and church “opened in spacious undulating grounds.” (Second church site) ¹

Enrolment 58 students

1962

1911

Bus service began from Bucca Wauka, transporting children to Krambach

‘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

1963

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 )

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

References 1 Devlin, M. (1993) Centenary Booklet 1893–1993 Lochinvar-Krambach Dunlop, R. (2016). Planted in Congenial Soil: The Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar 1883–1917. Lochinvar NSW

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 157

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

1855 Parochial district of Manning River established, within the Archdiocese of Sydney

1857

Opened 1906

St Patrick’s Church, first Catholic church in the Manning Region established, built of wood

Preceded by

1883

Brigidine sisters opened a Catholic school 19 October, residence leased for sisters ‘Cundle House’ ‘Select’ High school for girl and boy boarders opened

1901

Community of Brigidines arrived in Australia, establishing their first foundation in Coonamble

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

Also opened

1887

1904

1899 Select High School and Boarding school, Brigidine Order 1906 Catholic Primary School and Girls’ Boarding School, Josephite Congregation

Diocesan boundary change, Coonamble excluded from Diocese of Maitland

Enrolment 47 pupils

Closed

Six sisters from Coonamble arrived Cundletown with Bishop Murray aboard the coastal steamer ‘Coraki’

1899 Catholic Primary School opened by Brigidine Order, Coonamble

1923 Girl’s Boarding School transferred to St Joseph’s Taree

1899

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

1905

1909

Brigidine sisters leave Cundletown and move to their Sydney Foundation in Randwick

New church of St Patrick built on River Street. Also built, new boarders’ dining, music and painting rooms

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

158 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

School

Opened

Catholic School St Joseph’s Primary Girls Boarding Boys Boarding

1899 1906 1906 1923

Closed 1926 1922 1969

Staff Brigidines Diocesan Josephites

Years 6 63

References 1 The Catholic Press 09/02/1901 2 Dunlop, R. (2016). Planted in Congenial Soil: The Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar 1883–1917.

Lochinvar NSW. Murray, A. (2006) From Brigidines to Josephites – A History of Cundletown Convent parish publication

‘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

1975 –1976

Convent destroyed by storm

Sisters of Mercy, Aboriginal Apostolate in convent building

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

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

1956 New convent and boarding school built, old convent used for school

1969 January 10 School and Boarding School closed

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 159

Gloucester ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Guringai and Worimi people

1907

Gloucester

1919

Named after the Cathedral City in England

New convent blessed and opened

St Joseph’s wooden parish church built

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived, travelling from Dungog convent

Opened 1919 School today kindergarten to year 6 Charism: Josephite Motto: Reach out in Love Location: 53 Denison Street Gloucester NSW 2422 Parish: Gloucester

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 School

Opened

Staff

St Joseph’s

1919 1987

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 67 34

1987

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

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

Infants moved into school / church

Refurbishment of school facilities internal and external

1969

Construction of multi-purpose hall and refurbishment of parish hall as library

New brick school blessed and opened

1986 Diocesan Josephite administration ended

‘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

Reference 1 Catholic Education Reporter 03/1988

160 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos: Church building above, right students St Joseph’s, Gloucester

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 161

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

1893

1926

1977

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph first came to the district settling in Krambach

St Joseph’s High School established on parish site

1916

1958

Parochial District of Manning River changed to Parochial District of Taree

Brick veneer refurbishment

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

1971

1986

Rosary High School relocated to parish owned land of five acres at Davis Street, Taree

Enrolment 418 students, 20 staff members

Primary school years 3–6 moved into recently vacated secondary school premises

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

Opened 1923

1922

Original location on Wynter Street

Bishop Dwyer laid foundation stone for school, his brother Bishop of Wagga laid foundation stone for convent

Also opened

1923

1923–1926 Girls Boarding School

School today kindergarten to year 6 Charism: Josephite Motto: God is Love

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

Location: 1 St Joseph’s Drive Taree NSW 2430 Parish: Taree

St Joseph’s Cundletown girls’ boarding facilities closed, girls transferred to Taree

School

Opened

Staff

St Joseph’s

1923 1989

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 65 32

1988 1989

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

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 1 The Catholic Church on the Manning 1872–1972 (1972) parish publication 2 50th Anniversary of Our Lady of the Rosary Church Taree 1930–1980 (1980) parish publication

162 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos: St Joseph’s Taree school students, Convent and school Wynter Street Taree

163

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

1923

1961

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived, opened primary school and girl’s boarding school on Wynter Street

Boarding school renovated and extended, closed 1965

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

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

First religious secondary Principal, Sr Columbkille

1970

1930

Relocation to five acres of parish land on Davis Street, chosen site for new Regional Secondary School

Our Lady of the Rosary Church opened, old 1873 church building renovated for high school use

1971

1931 Rosary High School, 1962 Rosary College 1971 Taree Catholic High School, 1986 St Clare’s High School

1931

Opened and renamed Taree Catholic High School

Rosary High School officially opened

Also opened

1942

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

1926 – 1965 Girls Boarding School

School today year 7 to year 12 co-educational Charism: Josephite Motto: All for Christ Location: Davis Street Taree NSW 2430 Parish: Taree

Leaving certificate classes ceased Commercial classes introduced, ceasing 1961

School

Opened

Closed

St Joseph’s High Rosary High St Clare’s Regional High

1926 1931 1990

1989

Staff

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

Years

Diocesan Josephites

63

Lay Teachers

31

References 1 The Catholic Church on the Manning 1872–1972 (1972) parish publication 2 A History of Catholic Secondary Education in the Manning Region 1926–2001 (2001) Parish Publication

164 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos: St Clare's High School 2020

1989

2010

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

Refurbishment of TAS and art classrooms

1990

2012

First lay Principal, Mr Larry Keating

Refurbishment of technical and applied science facilities

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

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 165

166 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Kendall ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL (DIOCESE OF LISMORE) On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Biripi people

Kendall

Originally part of the Diocese of Maitland Parish of Taree

1966

1880

Diocese boundary change – Kendall and the Camden Haven area included in the Diocese of Lismore

First Church of St John the Evangelist in the Camden Haven area opened

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

1891 The village of Camden Heads renamed Kendall

Opened 1952

1918 Opening and blessing of new brick St John the Evangelist Church by Bishop Dwyer

Known as

1939

St Joseph’s Primary School Location: Jackson Street Kendall NSW 2243

Parochial district of Kendall was established

Parish: St John the Evangelist Kendall

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

1952

Relocated

Convent for the Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph opened in the former presbytery

1975 to Laurieton

Sisters opened St Joseph’s Primary School

St Joseph’s Community School

First sisters – Sisters Brendan Ruelle, Veronica O’Connor, Mark Nicey.

Location: 421 Ocean Drive Laurieton NSW 2443

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Joseph’s Primary St Joseph’s Community

1952 1976 1987

1975

Diocesan Josephites Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 23 10 34

References 50th Anniversary of Our Lady of the Rosary Church Taree 1930–1980

Photos: St Clare's High School 2020

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Wingham ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Biripi people

Wingham Named after a village in Kent, England

1901

1961

1986

Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, wooden building opened to serve as church and school

Three secondary classes added

1935

New school opened, original building moved to property on Tinonee Road enrolment 80 students

‘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

St Joseph’s convent opened

Opened 1935

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

Also opened 1961 Secondary classes

1935 –1961

School today kindergarten to year 6

Super primary classed offered

Charism: Josephite

1947 Parochial district of Wingham established

Motto: In All Things Kindness

Extensions made to church/school, verandah and two new rooms

Location: Church Crescent Wingham NSW 2429 Parish: Wingham

1953 New church built allowing school use of entire original 1901 wooden church/school buildings

School

Opened

Staff

St Joseph’s Primary

1935 1985

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 49 36

1955 High School Principal, M Brendan Ruelle

1974 1982 Convent closed, sisters came to reside in Taree convent with two sisters return travelling daily to school

2001 Construction and refurbishment of school facilities

1984

2004

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

Refurbishment of site landscaping, internal and external facilities

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

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

References 1 Catholic Education Reporter 06/1986 2 2009 Year Book school publication

168 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos: St Joseph's, Wingham, school students and building

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.

1986 St Joseph’s Wingham

169

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

1893

1955

1991

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph invited to Bulahdelah to open a new primary school, St Brigid’s

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

St Brigid’s

Catholic education began in the Manning region when Sisters of St Joseph established a convent and school at nearby Krambach

Also opened

1907

First lay Principal, Mr Steve Corrigan

1958 St Joseph’s Intermediate High School, closed 1966

‘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

Sisters M Killian Casey, M Callista Nolan, M Augustine Krelle and M Annette Keyes resided in the former presbytery built in 1927

Opened 1955

School today kindergarten to year 6 Charism: Josephite Motto: Love, Learning and Living like Jesus Location: 26C Bulahdelah Way Bulahdelah NSW 2423

1922

Parish: Myall Coast

Parochial district of Bulahdelah established

School

Opened

St Brigids St Joseph’s Primary St Joseph’s Intermediate High

1955 1992 1958

Closed

1966

Staff

Years

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

36 29

Diocesan Josephites

8

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

1992 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

References 1 Sydney Morning Herald 15/07/1907 The Catholic Education Reporter Mothers Club activities published 06/1987

170 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos: St Joseph's, Bulahdelah School students and building

171

Forster HOLY NAME PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Worimi people

Forster and Tuncurry originally within the parish of Krambach

1952

Forster

Two blocks of land were purchased in Lake Street by the parish

Named after William Forster, the then Secretary of Lands Town founded in 1862

1956

Opened 1959

Parochial district of Forster-Tuncurry established

1957

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

School

Opened

Staff

Holy Name Primary

1959

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

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

Sisters and students needed to cross Wallis Lake on launch ‘Flying Jack’, prior to building of bridge

1978

Bridge linking Forster and Tuncurry completed

1980

1960

New church built on land adjoining the presbytery

Land purchased at 41 Lake Street for present school

1981

1961

Capital Grant enabled extensions to be made for rapidly increasing enrolments

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

1983

1971

1959

Land purchased for school, being Lots 9, 10, 17 and 18

Presbytery built on land next to church hall

1973

Years

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph invited to set up school St Joseph’s in now converted church hall

14 47

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

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

1974

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

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

First lay Principal, Mr David Carty Extra buildings and renovations of infants section to cater for increased enrolments

References 1 Byrne, G. A. (2007) History of Forster-Tuncurry Parish 1957–2007 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel

172 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photo: Holy Name, Forster teacher and students

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 173

C A T H O LIC SC H OO LS 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’.

Dominican Convent / Deaf and Dumb Institute Waratah

174 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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.

NORTH REGION MAP Closed Schools

Medowie

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.

Current Schools

Catherine McAuley Catholic College

Millers Forest Denominational School St Patrick’s Primary School

St Brigid’s Primary School Denominational School

Nelson Bay St Michael’s Primary School

St Patrick’s Primary School St Pius X Primary School St Pius X Secondary School

Shortland

Our Lady of Victories Primary School

Waratah

Corpus Christie Primary School Tighes Hill Deaf & Dumb Institute

Carrington

St Francis Xavier’s Primary School

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.

Raymond Terrace

Stockton

St Peter’s Primary School

Mayfield

St Dominic’s Centre For Hearing Impaired San Clemente High School St Columban’s Primary School Murray-Dwyer Orphanage Sancta Maria School St John’s Infants School Christ the King Primary 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.

175

Millers Forest ST PATRICK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Worimi people

Millers Forest

1844

1880

1955

‘a Catholic denominational school was operating at Millers Forest on the MaitlandRaymond Terrace Road.’ ¹

Lot 13 Vickers Jacob Grant, donated to church by Mr Jack Kearney

Devasting Maitland floods, all thirty students were accommodated in St Brigid’s Raymond Terrace

1847

Named by Vicars Jacobs for his estate of 2,000 acres, presumably associated with cedar cutting industry

1955 –1972 Building used as a place of worship, then as St Vincent de Paul storage

First lay teacher, Thomas O’Brien

Sisters of Mercy staffed Millers Forest, travelling by buggy across on punt from Raymond Terrace Convent

1852 –1881

1887

1852

Preceded by

Lay teachers

1844 Denominational School

1853

Closed 1955

Parochial district of Raymond Terrace established

Location

1857

49 Monkleys Road Millers Forest NSW 2324

School

Opened

Denominational St Patricks Primary

1844 1881

Closed

Staff

1955

Lay Teachers Mercies

‘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

Years 37 74

References 1 Hunter, C (2001) St Patrick’s Millers Forest Catholic Schoolhouse Historical Assessment 1 Osborn, M. (2001). A Forest No More: A Short History of Millers Forest (including Duckenfield). Australia.

2 Benjamin, A. O'Grady, S. (Ed.). (2020). Not Forgotten: Australian Catholic Educators 1820–2020.

Biographical Dictionary of Australian Catholic Educators (Vol. 1). Coventry Press.

Auction notice 2017 McGee,C (2012) The Forgotten Beginnings of Catholic Education in NSW Catholic Education Office Sydney

176 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

School closed

Mercy Convent at Raymond Terrace established

Diocese of Maitland

Opened 1887

1881

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

2001

St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Schoolhouse and chapel opened

Old schoolhouse built in 1887 ‘… must have been in a greatly deteriorated state for a long time.’ ¹

Cedar timber dwelling built by Mr Monaro, local contractor of Italian background

2017

School officially opened by Bishop Murray

Property at auction, after two previous private ownerships and restoration

1889 Enrolment 120 students

1908 Enrolment 78 students

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.’

1860s Denominational school Millers Forest

Photos: Student groups at St Patrick’s Millers Forest, Riding to school on horseback was the practice of the day in the 1800s

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 177

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

1840

1880

1920

In October Bishop Polding visited Hunter Valley, celebrating mass in a tent at Raymond Terrace

‘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

School / church hall built opposite church, in simple brick with ornate entrance façade, extensions in 1953

1851 Denominational School opened in rented four room slab stone cottage with chimney, fronting William Street

Opened 1881

1853

Preceded by

Parochial district of Raymond Terrace established

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

1854 First lay teachers William Vincent Bryan, then John Usher, then Daniel O’Leary

1861 Wooden school built

1862

School

Opened

Staff

Denominational St Brigid’s

1851 1881 1986

Lay Teachers Mercies Lay Teachers

Years 29 104 35

References 1 Department of Public Instruction Correspondence 31/08/1880 State Records 2 Looking Forward, Looking Back 1850–2015 (2015) school publication McGee, C. (2012) The Forgotten Beginnings of Catholic Education in New South Wales. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

178 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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

1955 Following Maitland floods, St Patrick’s Millers Forest school closed, with 30 students accommodated here

1959

Stone school built

Stone school built in 1880 now demolished, new school built on same site

1881

1960

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

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

Photos: St Brigid's students and buildings

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 179

Stockton ST PETER’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Worimi people

1887 School classes began in new St Peter in Chains Catholic Church

Stockton Named by John L Shortland, who discovered the estuary of the Hunter River, while searching for escaped convicts.

Opening enrolment 75 students with lay staff First lay teachers at the school, Miss Pierce and Miss Breen

Opened 1887

1902

School today kindergarten to year 6

New weatherboard school erected, hall of 2 classrooms measuring 19 x 10.5 feet, 40 ft verandah on each side

Charism: Mercy

1903

Motto: Strength in Christ Location: 5 Dunbar Street Stockton NSW 2295 Parish: Stockton

School

Opened

Staff

St Peter’s Primary

1887 1903 1986

Lay Teachers Mercies Lay Teachers

Years 15 82 35

References 1 Smyth, R. (1989) Divine Providence and Shortland Parish parish publication

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

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

Brick school renovated as multi-purpose hall for school and parish use, opened

2004

1939 –1945

Construction of classrooms, administration, staff facilities, library and shade structure

Stockton peninsular heavily fortified owing to fear of Japanese invasion

2009

1952

Refurbishment of school facilities, external and internal

Convent sold to Mark Bailey

Refurbishment of multi-purpose hall and construction of a lift

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

2 School website The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 10/1964 St Peter-in- Chains, Stockton (1987) parish publication

180 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1971

Photo: Stockton students 2020

2017 Parish hall used as a classroom

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 181

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

1887

1889

1956

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

Convent St Joseph’s blessed and opened

Parochial district of Carrington established

1908

1960

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

Fund raising for verandah to make the school cooler, paving of school yard and general painting

1888

1937

Within parochial district of Newcastle

New school built and opened, church no longer used for school

Church building used also for school, sisters lived in rented cottage in Little Gipps Street

Gipps Street Carrington NSW 2294

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived, M Xavier McInerney, M Bernard Taggart, M Clare Murphy

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Francis Xavier’s Primary

1888

1970

Diocesan Josephites

1970 Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph withdrawn, school closed

Name change to St Francis Xavier’s, in line with parish name

Years 82

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

182 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photo: Storytime with Sisters at Carrington 1960s

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 183

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

1875

1917

1963

Dominican Sisters arrived in Australia, invited to staff Star of the Sea School, Perkins Street Newcastle

Parish of Waratah established, Rosary Convent School now a parochial school

‘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

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

Preceded by 1907–1917 The Rosary Convent School

1907

Known as 1918–1933 St Joseph’s Primary School

Renamed 1934 Corpus Christi Primary School

School today kindergarten to year 6 Charism: Dominican

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

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

Years

Rosary Convent Corpus Christi Primary

1907 1934 1988

Dominicans

80

Lay Teachers

33

184 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Rosary Convent School closed, with students relocated here

1979 Rosary Convent closed

1987 Dominican administration ended

1954

First lay Principal – Mr Paul Dangarfield

Reconstructed school opened with second floor completed

Parish: Blackbutt North Staff

1978

Larger school of five classrooms opened, built by parish with a new hall added for school and parish use

Location: Platt Street Waratah NSW 2298

Opened

Enrolment 267 students

1935

Motto: Truth

School

1967

References 1 MacGinley, R. (2009). Ancient Tradition – New World: Dominican Sisters in eastern Australia 1867–1958. St Pauls Publications.

2 Our School History (2013) school publication 3 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 11/1933, p.49 4 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 01/1963

Photos: Waratah Chuch building and students

1988 1989 First primary lay Principal, Mrs Leola Loudon

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'

185

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

Also known as 1963 School for Deaf Girls 1976 Catholic Centre for Education of Deaf

Closed 1992 Location 35 Bridge Street Waratah NSW 2298

1867

1886

1913

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

Four acres of land purchased in Waratah, bounded by Bridge, Lorna, Alfred and Platt Streets

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

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 ‘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

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Deaf and Dumb Institute

1888

1992

Dominicans Lay Teachers

Years 100 4

186 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Decision made to establish a complete and separate Institution for the Deaf and Dumb

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 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

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

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

‘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

1925

1952

1988

Golden Jubilee celebrating the beginning of Catholic Deaf Education in Australia

Dominican administration ended

Lay teachers on staff, M. Bruyn, N. Burke, D Dendle, D. O’Neil, M. and N. Elligate

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

1931

1963

Convent and school buildings leased to Catholic Care of the Aged

Enclosed retreats for ladies began

Now known as 'School for Deaf Girls

1934

1976

North and South wing added to building as industrial school for adult deaf girls, architect Mr H. Agabiti

The Rosary Convent School for Deaf Girls ceased to function in its current form, closing in 1979

1938

Name change to Catholic Centre for Education of Deaf

1927

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

1980 Integration Unit formed within San Clemente High School for hearing impaired and Autism Spectrum Disorder students

1986

1989 First lay Principal, Mrs Leola Loudon

1991 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

Centre open for educational assistance for children with mild and moderate hearing losses

Photos: Dominican Convent / Deaf and Dumb Institute Waratah

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 187

Mayfield ST DOMINIC’S CENTRE On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

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.

Mayfield Named after May, daughter of John Scholey, who bought the area in 1881 and had it subdivided

1976

2009

Opened 1993

The Rosary Convent School for Deaf Girls ceased to function in its current form, closing in 1979.

Preceded by

Name change to Catholic Centre for Education of the Deaf.

Refurbishment of library, school facilities, external and internal, a specialised Information and Communication Technology infrastructure supports

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

1980

2014

1986

Integration Unit within San Clemente High School relocates to St Dominic’s Centre

Centre open for educational assistance for children with mild and moderate hearing losses.

2016

1992 1993

Opened

Staff

St Dominic's Centre

1993

Lay Teachers

Years 28

St Dominic’s Centre, purpose built to reduce ambient noise, opens at Havelock Street, Mayfield, adjacent to San Clemente High School

References School website

188 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Accessibility and special needs upgrade

Integration Unit formed within San Clemente High School for hearing impaired students.

Catholic Centre for Education of Deaf closes at Waratah and moves To Mayfield

School

2012

Photos: St Dominic's, Mayfield students

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

189

Tighes Hill ST PATRICK’ PRIMARY SCHOOL St Patrick's, Tighes Hill

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

1884

1900

1928

Parochial district of Hamilton established, encompassing Tighes Hill

The timber church named the Immaculate Conception completed

1895

‘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

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

Primary School opened in Rosedale Hall used for mass and school purposes

Opened 1895

‘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

Closed 1975 Location

Sisters of Mercy, walked daily from Hamilton convent, later travelled by tram

Bryant Street Tighes Hill NSW 2297

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

School

Opened

Staff

Years

St Patrick's Primary

1895

Mercies

80

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

References 1 Sydney Morning Herald, 20/8/1895, p.5 2.Kelly, Colleen. (1997) A Journey Through Light and Shadow, p.111

190 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1954

1908

Foundation stone laid for new parish church, Immaculate Heart of Mary

Enrolment 130 students

1970s

1912 Enrolment 180 students

St Patrick’s school population was decreasing as young families continue to move to outer suburbs of Newcastle

1914

1975

Brick school built, St Patrick’s Primary School of four rooms, with gradual additions

1921 Parochial district of Tighes Hill established

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 ST PIUS X PRIMARY SCHOOL

Tighes Hill

1954

1955 –1957

1958

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

First principal – Br Faber Turnbull

Decision to open a new Secondary School for boys to be staffed by Diocesan Priests

The plan was to relieve Hamilton of its heavy primary class loading and to allow space for increased secondary enrolments 3

Announcement made that school would become a secondary school

Named after Atkinson Tighe an early resident, who purchased the estate in 1843

Opened 1955 Preceded by Marist Brothers Regional Primary School, Hamilton

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

Closed 1958 Location Union Street Tighes Hill NSW 2297

1955 St Pius X Primary School, staffed by Marist brothers travelling from Hamilton

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Pius X Primary St Pius X High

1955 1959

1958 1961

Marist Diocesan Clergy

Years 3 3

References

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

TIGHES HILL ST PIUS X HIGH SCHOOL

1955 –1958 Marist Brothers

1959

1957

Administration of secondary school passed to priests of the Diocese, overseen by Fr Newton

‘ … 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

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

1 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 11/1954 2 Williams, Gerard. (1998) On the Shoulders of Giants The Story of the Marist Brothers in the Hunter Region 1875–1995 3 Doyle, Allan. (1972) The Story of the Marist Brothers in Australia 1872–1972 p.432–433

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 191

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.

1867

1922

1978

Dominicans arrived in Australia from Kingstown Ireland, invited to staff Denominational School, becoming Star of the Sea School, Perkins Street Newcastle

Major extensions, again in 1947 to accommodate day school students and boarders

School chapel built

1929

Integration Unit formed for the integration of hearing impaired students into general classes

1916 Dominicans invited to established a primary, secondary and boarding school in Mayfield

Opened 1917 School today years 7 to 10 junior secondary co-educational Charism: Dominican Motto: Truth

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

Location: 78 Havelock Street Mayfield NSW 2304

‘Sisters began with a fifty strong enrolment of parochial pupils and a few applicants for their day high school.’ ¹

Parish: Mayfield

1919 School

Opened

Staff

San Clemente

1917 1977

Dominicans Lay Teachers

Years 59 44

References

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

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

1980 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

1 MacGinley, R. (2009). Ancient Tradition – New World: Dominican Sisters in eastern Australia 1867–1958. St Pauls Publications.

192 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos: San Clemente, Mayfield students 2021

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

2018 Construction of hall and adjacent classrooms

2020 Renovations with façade of the school repaired

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 193

Mayfield ST COLUMBAN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country

Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Mayfield

1916

1922

1954

Property purchased by Dominicans crn Bull & Kerr Streets – convent, primary, secondary and boarding schools

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

School name change now St Columban’s

1917

Named after May, daughter of John Scholey, who bought the area in 1881 and had it subdivided.

Parochial district of Waratah established, embracing Waratah, Broadmeadow and Mayfield

Opened 1917

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

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

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

Location: Church Street Mayfield NSW 2304 Parish: Mayfield

1919

School

Opened

Staff

At Columban’s Primary

1917 1984

Dominicans Lay Teachers

Years 66 37

References

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 –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

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

1 MacGinley, R. (2009). Ancient Tradition – New World: Dominican Sisters in eastern Australia 1867–1958. St Pauls Publications.

2 Doyle, M. (1998) The History of St Columban’s Parish School Mayfield 1917–1997

194 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos: St Columban's Mayfield students and buildings

195

Mayfield MURRAY – DWYER ORPHANAGE On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

1917

1936

1950s

Mayfield

Parochial district of Waratah established, embracing Waratah, Broadmeadow and Mayfield

Orphanage extended to include new wing with dormitory, dining-room and play hall

Child migrant policy grant enabled additional dormitory for 30 beds, and extension to 3 classrooms

Named after May, daughter of John Scholey, who bought the area in 1881 and had it subdivided.

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

Opened 1933 Closed 1969

Orphanage named after the first two resident bishops of the Diocese.

Also opened

Orphanage blessed and opened, licenced for total of 65 boys, including 12 boys under 7 years

1952 – 1956 Sancta Maria School

Daughters of Charity (St Vincent de Paul) arrived to staff orphanage

Location

First sisters, M Gertrude Minogue as Superior, M Margaret, M Monica, M Gabriel, M Philomena

Gregson Avenue Mayfield NSW 2304

Members of the SVDP Society asked to contribute to the furnishing of the residence

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Murray-Dwyer Orphanage

1933

1969

Daughters of Charity

36

1961

1969

Catholic Family Welfare

8

1952

1956

Daughters of Charity

4

Sancta Maria School

Years

1933 –1944 Total of boys admitted, 246

1937 Report from government inspector – one dormitory for 28 beds actually accommodated 42 beds

1950 –1960 Renewed criticism from child welfare professionals

1939 –1945

1952

Buildings taken over by the military, 46 boys transferred to Monte Pio Orphanage Campbells Hill

School known as ‘Sancta Maria’, Years 1–5 opened near the entrance to the orphanage

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

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

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

References 1 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 11/1960 The Newcastle and Hunter District Historical Society Bulletin 10/1993

196 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photo: Memorial to former British Child Migrants

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

197

Mayfield ST JOHN’S INFANTS SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

1917

Mayfield

Parochial district of Waratah established, embracing Waratah, Broadmeadow and Mayfield

Named after May, daughter of John Scholey, who bought the area in 1881 and had it subdivided.

1937

Opened 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

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

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St John’s Infants

1937

1952

Dominicans

Years 15

References 1 Murphy, Flo. Mulhearn, Ray. (1989) Snake Gully Hanbury St, Mayfield reminiscences Doyle, M. (1998) The History of St Columban’s Parish School Mayfield 1917–1997 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel

198 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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 Photo: Father P Cotter with staff of St John’s School, Mayfield West.

On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

1917

1957 –1958

1977

Staffed by Dominicans

Mayfield

Parochial district of Waratah established, embracing Waratah, Broadmeadow and Mayfield

First lay Principal Mr Ray Hanley, first Diocesan Primary school to be fully lay staffed

Named after May, daughter of John Scholey, who bought the area in 1881 and had it subdivided.

1952

Daughters of Charity (St Vincent de Paul) took charge of the school

Opened 1957

Sancta Maria School Years 1–5 opened at the entrance to the Murray-Dwyer Orphanage on Gregson Avenue

Preceded by

Sancta Maria School staffed by Daughters of Charity (St Vincent de Paul), coming from the Orphanage

1952 – 1956 Sancta Maria School on Gregson Avenue Mayfield

Known as

1955 Parish of Mayfield West established, Christ the King

until 1971 St John’s Primary School

1956

Closed 1992

Five blocks of land purchased Wilson / Fitzroy Roads establishing Mayfield West Church

Location

Sancta Maria school closed Daughters of Charity administration ended, buildings and hall moved to new site on Fitzroy Street

Fitzroy Street Mayfield West NSW 2304 School

Opened

Closed

Christ the King Primary

1957

Daughters of Charity

15

1970 1977

Dominicans Lay Teachers

6 15

1992

Staff

Years

1957 St John’s School opened accommodating students from Sancta Maria School Mayfield

1959 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

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

Staffed by Dominicans

1971 School name change to Christ the King, in line with parish name

1976 Dominican administration ended

References 1 St John’s Parish Mayfield West Year Book 1964–65 2 St John’s Parish Mayfield West Final Year Book 1957–1992 The Newcastle and Hunter District Historical Society 10/1993

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 199

Shortland OUR LADY OF VICTORIES PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people

Three acre block purchased from Mr Hanson

Mayfield

1949

Named after Lieutenant John Shortland, who in 1797 while searching for escaped convicts, discovered the estuary of the Hunter River

1956

Parochial district of Shortland established

Church / school opened on land purchased by the parish between Sandgate Road and Lovell Street

Opened 1957

1957

Known as

School opened, originally as St Joseph’s School, Kindergarten to Year 4, enrolment 81 students

St Joseph’s School, K to Year 4 1964 Our Lady of Victories Primary School

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph moved in convent – Sisters Marguerite Chapman Principal, M Cecily Keyes, M Matthew Bowe.

School today kindergarten to year 6 Charism: Josephite

Rapid growth in the suburb, owing to the construction of War Service and Housing Commission homes

Motto: Truth Location: 15 Lovell Parade Shortland NSW 2307

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, M Marguerite Chapman Principal, M Cecily Keyes, M Matthew Bowe

Parish: Wallsend-Shortland

School

Opened

Staff

Our Lady of Victories

1957

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

1958

1977

Old church of St Joseph used for school classrooms

First lay Principal, Mr Peter Samuel

Presbytery garage converted to classroom, later meeting room, affectionally called ‘The Academy’

1959

1980 Diocesan Josephite administration ended

2004

Convent extended to accommodate eight sisters

Construction/refurbishment of classrooms, administration, staff facilities, library, toilets, canteen

1964

2009

‘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

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

Years 23 44

Reference 1 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 11/1964 Our Lady of Victories, Shortland Silver Jubilee 1964–1989 (1989) parish publication9

200 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photo: Our Lady of Victories students

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 201

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

1939 –1945

1960

1977

During World War II 30,000 men were stationed between Newcastle and Nelson Bay

Parochial district of Nelson Bay established

First lay Principal, Mr John Van Nus

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

Nelson Bay Mercy convent and hall established, adjacent to presbytery in Victoria Parade

1984

St Michael’s School opened in church/hall in Magnus Street, accommodating three classrooms with enrolment of 42 students

1986

1947

Location: Sproule Street Nelson Bay NSW 2315

St Michael’s church opened

Parish: Nelson Bay

1949 Arrival of migrant families from vacated military camps, and children of personnel at Williamtown Royal Australian Air Force Base

School

Opened

Staff

St Michael’s Primary

1962 1987

Mercies Lay Teachers

Years 24 34

1962

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

1952 –1953

First section of new school opened at the end of Sproule Street, in Wahgunyah Street

Chaplaincy to the migrants began, with Sisters of Mercy attending to instruction of children on Sundays

1970

School extensions opened

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

Two further classrooms added

References 1 Parish of Nelson Bay Chapter 10 unknown date or author 2 Catholic Education Reporter Journal of the Royal Historical Society (1986) ‘A Message from the Principal’

202 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photo: St Michael's, Nelson Bay Students

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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

2015 –2016

School today co-educational high school

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

Charism: Mercy Motto: United in Mercy Location: 507 Medowie Road Medowie NSW 2318

2016

Parish: Raymond Terrace

October 28 unveiling of foundation stone

2021 Upon opening school fully lay staffed

School

Opened

Staff

Catherine McAuley Catholic College

2021

Lay Teachers

Years 1

Opening with Years 7 and 8

2025 Expected to cover education for all classes Years 7 to 12

Photo: Catherine Mcauley Catholic College, Medowie

204 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 205

C A T H O LIC SC H OO LS 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.

Boy pupils, St James Primary School, Muswellbrook 1883

206 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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

UPPER HUNTER REGION MAP Closed Schools

Current Schools

Gunnedah

Quirindi

(1887 Armidale Diocese)

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

(1887 Armidale Diocese)

Coonamble

(1887 Bathurst Diocese) Murrurundi

St Brigid’s Primary School St Bernard’s

Denominational School St Joseph’s School

Blandford Catholic Denominational School Holy Rosary School

Wingen St Patrick’s Primary School

Scone Moobi

St Aloysius

St Mary’s Primary School Catholic Denominational School Angela’s Convent High School

Aberdeen

Merriwa St Joseph’s Primary School St Joseph’s High School

Upper Wybong

St Joseph’s Regional High School St Joseph’s Primary School

Muswellbrook

Catholic School

Catholic Denominational School St James Primary School St Mary’s High School

Wybong St Bernard’s Primary School

Denman

St Joseph’s Primary School

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.

Singleton South Singleton St Augustine’s Primary School

St Catherine’s Catholic College Denominational School St Francis Xavier’s School Mercy Orphanage Catholic Junior School St Francis Xavier’s Infants School

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

207

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

1843

1868

1968

Classes conducted in make shift buildings, stone/brick with shingle roof

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

Original St Xavier’s school opened in 1868 was demolished

Lay teacher Mr J J Walsh

1844 Parochial district of Singleton established

Lay staff including Mr and Mrs Coghlan

1868 St Patrick’s then St Xavier’s

1845

Prededed by

Wooden structure replaced with a weatherboard structure on land donated by John Brown

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,

1868 –1875

1849 Catholic Denominational School began, first lay teacher John Haynes

1857 New school and teacher residence built

1860

Sisters of Mercy took charge of Catholic Denominational School, lay teachers continued until 1882

1972

1951 New buildings added

1952 Blessing and Opening of St Francis Xavier Memorial School by Bishop Gleeson

Closed 2000 Location Cambridge Street Singleton NSW 2330, original entrance on Patrick Street

208 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

School

Opened

Staff

Denominational St Francis Xavier’s

1849 1876

Lay Teachers Mercies Lay Teachers

1971 St Augustine’s Primary School South Singleton closed, primary students transferred to St Xavier’s

Stage 2 school buildings completed

From 1972 Year 3–Year 6

Final stage of building works completed

1876

1965

St Patrick’s Church built

1969

Years 27 116 7

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

Photo: St Francis Xavier’s School, Singleton 1868

References 1 Sternbeck, M. (1909) The Catholic Church in Singleton An Historical Look at its People and Progress Souvenir of the Opening of the Convent of Our Lady of Mercy, Singleton Catholic Education Reporter

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 209

Singleton CATHOLIC JUNIOR SCHOOL / ST FRANCIS XAVIER’S INFANTS’ SCHOOL On Country The traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people

1875

Sisters of Mercy staffed the school, travelling from nearby Mercy Convent

1999

Singleton

Singleton Mercy Convent established becoming the mother house for the Mercy Order in Maitland Diocese

Principal – Sr Delores Kealy rsm

St Francis Xavier Infants School amalgamated into the new St Catherine’s Catholic College K-12

Students from St Augustine’s, South Singleton transferred to Catholic Junior School

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

1951 St Augustine’s now catering for classes Kindergarten to Year 4

1981

Classes continued on Patrick Street site, as transition was managed over to College site

Opened 1972

1971

2012

St Augustine’s Primary School closed

Sr Judith Glaister appointed Principal. She was very talented musically and introduced the Suzuki method of teaching violin in the school

1972

1985

Preceded by St Augustine’s Primary School South Singleton

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

School Opened as Kindergarten to Year 2

Renamed 1991 St Francis Xavier Infants School

Closed 2000 Location Patrick Street Singleton NSW 2330 School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Catholic Junior St Farncis Xavier Infants

1972 1991

2000

Mercies Lay Teachers

Years 13 13

210 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Reference 1 Catholic Education Reporter 08/1986

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

2000

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

211

Singleton ST CATHERINE’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE On Country The traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people

1844

1960

1993

Parochial district of Singleton established

Last Mercy sister on staff, Sr Eva Hassett

Singleton

1875

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

2003

Acquired building became McAuley Hall, demolished 1992

All new school buildings

Six Sisters of Mercy arrived from Ennis Ireland, establishing their first Foundation, Mother M. Stanislaus Kenny as superior

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.

Singleton Convent became the mother house for the Mercy Order in Diocese of Maitland

Opened 1875

St Catherine’s Day and Boarding school established as ‘Select School’

Also opened 1875 day and boarding school for girls Aso opened 1974 co-educational high school

1986 Mercy administration ends

School today kindergarten to year 12

1910

Charism: Mercy

Brick building opened providing extra classrooms and living quarters for boarding

Motto: Harmony Faith Integrity

1913

Location: 30 – 40 Combo Lane Singleton NSW 2330 Parish: Singleton School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Years

St Catherine’s Boarding

1875

1970

Mercies

95

St Catherine’s Day St Catherine’s Catholic College

1875 2001

Mercies Lay Teachers

111 34

References

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

1967

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

2004

First lay teachers in the school

Construction and refurbishment of classrooms

1969

2007

Substantial additions – two storey classroom block, two science rooms, four classrooms, assembly hall, administration facilities

Refurbishment of classrooms and administration facilities, upgrade of electrical reticulation

1970

2009

Boarding school closed

Construction and refurbishment of classrooms

1974

Trade Training Centre, purchase of farm

Beginning of co-educational high school with intake of boys in Year 7

2010

1987

All classes located on St Catherine’s Catholic College site

First lay Principal, Mr Ken Rodwell

1 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 07/1961 Souvenir of the Opening of the Convent of Our Lady of Mercy, Singleton 1909 Sternbeck, M. (1909) The Catholic Church in Singleton An Historical Look at its People and Progress Souvenir of the Opening of the Convent of Our Lady of Mercy, Singleton

212 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos Top left – clockwise): St Xavier’s School 1868 – 1968, Physical culture display, St Catherine’s College K–12, Senior students pose with Stage 1 students, Year 7 boy students 1974, Principal Niamh Marzol with Agricultural students.

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 213

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.

1875

1950

1971

Opened 1927

Singleton Mercy Convent established becoming the mother house for the Mercy Order in Maitland Diocese

School extensions to cater for the southern end of the township

St Augustine’s closed, students transferred to Catholic Junior School and St Francis Xavier Primary School

School

1927

Infants, then Kindergarten to Year 4

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

Closed 1971 Location Bathurst Street South Singleton NSW 2330

Sisters of Mercy staffed the school, travelling from Mercy Convent

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Years

St Augustine’s Primary

1927

1971

Mercies

44

1951 St Augustine’s now catering for classes Kindergarten to Year 4

1953

1972 Reorganisation of Catholic schools in Singleton parish

Enrolment 82 students

Former school building became a parish hall alongside St Augustine’s Church

1954

1974

‘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

‘Cooinda’ Home for the Aged built in the grounds of St Augustine’s Church

References 1 Singleton Argus 29/03/1927 2 Singleton Argus 20/08/1954

214 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos: St Augustine's Hall, Singleton South

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 215

Singleton MERCY ORPHANAGE On Country The traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people

1844

Singleton

1875

‘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

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.

Six Sisters of Mercy arrived from Ennis Ireland establishing their First Foundation, Mother M. Stanislaus Kenny as superior

1910

Parochial district of Singleton established

Singleton Convent became the mother house for the Mercy Order in Maitland Diocese

Opened 1877

1877

Closed 1910

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

Location 30–40 Combo Lane Singleton NSW 2330

1893 Twenty three in residence, ‘a relatively small institution’

1894 0nly ten orphanes

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Years

Mercy Orphanage

1877

1910

Mercies

33

References 1 Kelly, C. (1997) A Journey … Through Light and Shadow: Sisters of Mercy Singleton 1875–1995. Hamilton NSW 2 The Newcastle and Hunter District Historical Society Bulletin 10/1993

216 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1899 Nine orphanes so ‘to fill empty beds eleven women were admitted.’

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 St Mary's High school students 1955

On Country Tradition custodians of the land the Wonnarua and Gamilaroi peoples

Muswellbrook Named after a quantity of mussels were found in the vicinity.

1847

1953

1967

Within the Archdiocese of Sydney, transferred to Maitland Titular See, administered from Singleton

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

Enrolment 49 students

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

Girls were accommodated at St Catherine’s Singleton

1883

Opened 1953

Muswellbrook Mercy convent established, Father Fitzgerald called the area Mount Providence

Preceded by 1883 St James Primary School

Sisters of Mercy arrived and established St James Primary School

Known as

1952

St Mary’s Mount Providence

Large section of new development purchased by parish, including Skellatar House

Motto

The historic homestead Skellatar House had been built in 1883 by the Bowman family

Mary My Hope

School

Decision made to close the secondary school owing to Wyndham Scheme requirements, Mercy administration ended

1968 1977 –1984 Skellatar House used as a Teacher’s Centre, transferring to Sowerby Street Convent School after closure

Years 7–12 Girls

Closed 1967 Location Skellatar House Mount Providence Muswellbrook NSW 2333 School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Years

St Mary’s High

1953

1967

Mercies

14

References 1 Benson, G. (1988) The First 150 Years The History of Education in the Muswellbrook Shire

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 217

Muswellbrook ST JAMES’ PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land, the Wonnarua and Gamilaroi peoples

Muswellbrook

1841

1883

1931

Government grant of land to the church

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

New timber classrooms opened

Named after a quantity of mussels were found in the vicinity

1845

Opened 1883

1847

Preceded by

Within the Archdiocese of Sydney, transferred to Maitland Titular See, administered from Singleton

1861 Catholic Denominational School 1871 St James Convent School

1861

St James Chapel built

Muswellbrook parish established, stone church built in Brook Street, used as Catholic Denominational School

Also opened

Catholic Denominational School in the ‘new stone church’, first lay teacher, Miss M Quinn 1871 Mr Frank Guilfoyle

1973–1975 St Mary’s Infants School

School today kindergarten to year 6

1871

Charism: Mercy / Josephite Motto: Living in Christ Location: Skellatar Stock Route Muswellbrook NSW 2333 Parish: Muswellbrook School

Opened

Denominational St James’ St James’ Primary

1861 1883 1973

Closed

1990

Staff Lay Teachers Mercies Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 22 89 17 30

References 1 Benson, G. (1988) The First 150 Years The History of Education in the Muswellbrook Shire McGee, C. (2012) The Forgotten Beginnings of Catholic Education in New South Wales. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

218 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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

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

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

Photos (Top left – clockwise): St James school students 2018, Junior students in front of original Convent, Senior Girls, Muswellbrook Convent 1933, Old St James School, Muswellbrook

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 219

Scone ST MARY’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country The traditional custodians of the land the Tulong and Murrain people

Scone Named after a place in Perthshire, Scotland

Opened 1877

1860

1900

1972

St Mary’s Catholic Church opened

Enrolment 106 students

1875

1901

Four ‘demountable’ classrooms added for extra accommodation

Fr McGrath established a Denominational School, crn Kingdon and Hill Streets

Bishop Murray reported ‘There were more Protestant than Catholic pupils at the convent school in Scone.’ ²

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

Preceded by 1875 Denominational School

1880

Also opened

Parochial district of Scone established

1899–1918 St Angela’s Convent School

1887

School today kindergarten to year 6

Sisters of Mercy arrived to staff school, Principal M Regis Murray, M Xavier Byrne, M Stanislaus McGoldrick, M Patrick Dawn

Charism: Mercy Motto: Teach Us Wisdom Teach Us Love

1889

Location: 12 Short Street Scone NSW 2337 Parish: Scone School

Opened

Denominational St Mary’s Primary

1875 1887

St Angela’s Convent High

1889

Closed

Staff

1918

Lay Teachers Mercies Lay Teachers Mercies

Years 12 106 39 19

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

References 1 A Journey through Light and Shadow Colleen Kelly RSM 1997 2 A History of the Parish of St Mary’s, Scone parish publication 1975 Catholic Press

Photo: Scone Church and School House 1887

220 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1910 Reported in the Freeman’s Journal, convent school donated beds for Mercy Orphanage in Maitland

1918

1982 First lay Principal, Mrs Gloria Toohey

1986 Opening of new brick building with new extensions and alterations completed, ‘demountables’ replaced

1993

St Angela’s convent High School closed

Sisters of Mercy left the school with the retirement of Sr Fidelis

1925

1998

New church opened Our Lady Queen of Peace

Classrooms built, new library, staff and office facilities

1953

2000

New school built and opened on corner of Waverley and Short streets

Five new classrooms built with 1953 building refurbished for library, office and staff rooms

1966 Two new classrooms built, also storage space, student toilets, canteen and shelter

1969 New convent opened adjacent to school

2009 Construction of shade structure and external and internal refurbishments Multi-purpose hall and associated works

Moobi CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarura and Gamilaroi peoples

Moobi

1880

1899

Parochial district of Scone established

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

1887

Origin unknown

Mercy sisters arrived in Scone

Opened 1898

1889

School

Mercy convent St Aloysius built and opened in Scone

Primary Classes

1898

Closed 1901

School operated in Mrs Coffey’s house in a room separated from the kitchen by a partition

Location

‘The sisters taught to the accompaniment of the rosary recited in Gaelic.’ 1

6.5 kms out of Scone NSW 2337

1901 School closed

‘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

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Years

Catholic Primary School

1898

1901

Mercies

4

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

Photo: Moobi School

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

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 221

Murrurundi ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL Within the Diocese of Maitland

On Country

1841

The traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people

Stone church built in Murrurundi, district originally known as Haydonton

Murrurundi

1860

Aboriginal word for ‘five fingers’, referring to the five peaks surrounding the town

Denominational School / National School opened, first lay teacher Mr McDonald

1869

Opened 1879

Parochial district of Murrurundi established

1878

Preceded by 1860 Denominational School

Sisters of Mercy from Singleton Foundation arrived to staff school, first sister Mother Bernard Gavin

Also opened

1879

1890 – c1917 ‘Select School’ St Mary’s in convent

Murrurundi Mercy convent established, in row of houses along Mayne Street

Closed 1970

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

Location Murrurundi House Polding Street NSW 2285

School

Opened

Denominational St Joseph’s

1860 1879

Closed

Staff

1970

Lay Teachers Mercies

Years 18 91

References 1 Smith, A.C. (1990) St Joseph’s Parish Murrurundi (1990) McGee, C. (2012) The Forgotten Beginnings of Catholic Education in New South Wales. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

222 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1880s Convent built on land donated by Haydon family, additions in 1901

1881

1931

Upon closure of Blandford Mercy school, the students were accommodated here

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

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

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 Photos: Blandford School 1880s and students 1930s

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

1879

1923

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

Convent for Sisters of Mercy established in Murrurundi

Denominational School opened, first lay teacher, Mr Dennis (Daniel) Murphy

Sisters of Mercy opened a little school, St Stanislaus School, first sister Mother M. Stanislaus

‘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

1867

1866 Catholic Denominational School 1879–1918 St Stanislaus School

“General muster of Catholics to meet new Bishop.”(Dr. Murray) ¹

1875

Known as

‘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

1918 Holy Rosary School

Closed 1931 Location

‘The Roman Catholic Denominational School at Blandford – Mr V. Ellery – is to be examined next week.’ 2

1881

1931 School closed very suddenly 1 April, students accommodated at Murrurundi

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

Blandford NSW 2285 out of Murrurundi

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

Denominational St Stanislaus Holy Rosary

1866 1879 1918

1881

Lay Teachers Mercies

1931

Years 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

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 223

Merriwa

ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country

1860

Traditional custodians of the land the Gamilaroi people

1874

Opening of St Matthias Church

Parochial district of Merriwa established

Merriwa

1879

Aboriginal name for ‘plenty of grass seed’

Trustees appointed for the land set aside for Roman Catholic Church and Presbytery

Opened 1883

Original school site ‘... humble slab building in the town opposite the Post Office.’ 1

The Convent School

1881

Also opened 1954 – 1968: Junior Secondary

School today kindergarten to year 2 Location: Marquet Street Merriwa NSW 2329

School

Opened

St Joseph’s Catholic St Joseph’s Primary

1883 1885

St Joseph’s Junior Secondary

1954

Closed

1968

Staff

Years

Lay Teachers Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

2 100 42

Diocesan Josephites

14

References 1 The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 01/196 2 Freemans Journal 16/11/1889 3 Campbell, H. (1981) St Anne’s Church Merriwa 1881–1981

First acting lay Principal, Miss Louise Outram

1896

Multi-purpose building opened, canteen, covered shelter, storage area and toilet facilities

‘First St Patrick’s Day Sports held on Merriwa Common’ 3

Catholic School opened, enabled by financial commitment of Catholic community

1918 Convent replaced with a traditional colonial style sandstone building, gift from parishioners

1928

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,

1979 1980

Convent established in McCartney street, Marquet Street convent sold and removed

Merriwa, first Branch house opened by the Diocesan Josephites, fifteen months after establishment of Lochinvar

Junior Secondary closed

‘There were 38 boys and 39 girls enrolled at the school.’ 2

1883

1885

Parish: Merriwa

1886

1908

People of the district agreed to pay ten pounds per month

Motto: Actions Not Words

1968

New St Anne’s Church blessed and opened

Lay teacher employed Miss Cooper as second lay teacher

Charism: Josephite

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

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

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

Additional block of classrooms opened, initially used for the high school students

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

224 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Photos (Top L-R): Arrival of Sisters 1885, Teachers and students 2020, School groups 1933, Students in front of School entry, School photo in front of Convent, School entry, Restored School Bell 2020

225

Wingen ST PATRICK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

‘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

On Country Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua people Parochial district of Scone established

Wingen Aboriginal word for ‘fire’ Burning Mountain is close by this district

1893 Church built, St Patrick’s

1896

Opened 1896

Convent established in two room cottage opposite the church

Also opened

Church / school opened

1899 Convent Boarding School

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

Closed 1958 Location Madeline Street Wingen NSW 2337

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Joseph’s

1896

1958

Diocesan Josephites

Years 62

References 1 Catholic Press 01/1896 2 Scone News 04/1898 3 Freemans Journal 09/1899 Why we lived where we lived – Wingen Reminiscences (1996) parish publication Dunlop, R. (2016). Planted in Congenial Soil: The Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar 1883–1917. Lochinvar NSW.

226 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

1898

1908

‘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

Enrolment 41 students

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

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 Old Church / 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

1896

1913

1962

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph invited by Bishop Murray to staff school

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

Pool completed

1940

Primary and Boarding schools closed

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

Opened 1896

School opened in rented cottage adjacent to St Thomas church grounds overlooking the Hunter River

Also opened

1899

1913–1971 Convent Boarding School

Brooderlin’s property purchased at rear of church grounds for convent and boarding accommodation

Closed 1971

1908 Primary school opened for boys and girls

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Joseph’s

1896

1971

Diocesan Josephites

1967 Additional classrooms built Named St Joseph’s Boys College

1971

Convent extended

1972

1949

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph transferred the ownership of the school to the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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

Years 75

References 1 St Joseph’s Aberdeen 1896 – 1996 (1996) parish publication

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 227

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

1972

1996

Opened as co-educational St Joseph’s Regional High School

School celebrated Centenary

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph, first Principal, M Rosalie Jurd rsj

1976

2001

Convent closed

Dedicated music area established

1977

2004

First year for students sitting the Higher School Certificate

Construction of shade structure known as ‘The Shed’

1979

2006

Diocesan Josephite administration ended

Construction of fencing and formal entrance gateway

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

Also opened 1913 Convent Boarding School

School today kindergarten to year 2 Charism: Josephite Motto: Care for Justice Act with Integrity

1984

Location: Segenhoe Street Aberdeen NSW 2336

Extensive building programme commenced

Parish: Muswellbrook

1992

School

Opened

Staff

St Joseph’s Regional High

1972 1980

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years

References 1 St Joseph’s Aberdeen 1896–1996 (1996) parish publication

228 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

7 41

Construction of library, refurbishment of classrooms and administration area

New science laboratories opened

1981

1896 St Joseph’s Primary

1999

Construction and opening of new multipurpose Moylan Hall

1993 Improved canteen facility and creation of specialist language laboratory

2009 Upgrade of electrical reticulation Refurbishment of Science Laboratories Saint Mary MacKillop Trade Training Centre – metal, engineering, construction and agricultural science area

2012 Construction of library, classrooms and staff facilities

2014 Significant upgrade to existing buildings – 1949 boarding school buildings demolished to allow construction for two new buildings with modern 21st Century learning spaces

2019 Completion of building program with significant refurbishment of facilities

Photos: Aerial view of St Joseph’s Boarding School, Student and Staff photos St Joseph’s Regional High School 1972, Old Convent, Aberdeen.

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 229

Wybong | Upper Wybong ST BERNARD’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua and Gamilaroi peoples

Wybong

1872 First church at Denman built on southern end of Palace Street

1877

Aboriginal name for ‘dead fire’

School also took in boarders

1902

1908

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

Enrolment Wybong 13 students, Upper Wybong 13 students

1888 St Thomas Aquinas Church blessed and opened in Wybong

School Primary Classes

1901

Closed

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph arrived to newly built four-roomed convent, built by Mr Hogan

1908 Upper Wybong, 1915 Wybong

First sisters arrived to staff school, M Columba Heagney, M Patrick Comerford, M Gabriel Hawley, M Baptist, M Baptist Dugan

Location Sandy Hollow Road (originally known as the Merriwa Road) Wybong NSW 2328

School

Opened

Closed

Staff

St Bernard’s Catholic Uper Wybong

1901 1901

1915 1908

Diocesan Josephites Diocesan Josephites

Years

References 1 Lochinvar Jubilee Book

230 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

14 7

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

Parish of Muswellbrook established

Opened 1901 (both schools)

Upper Wybong School was a slab building with a shingle roof, property enclosed by a post and rail fence

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

‘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.’

1902 St Bernard’s Wybong and Upper Wybong

Photos: Catholic Church, Wybong (photo 2007), Wybong students C.1912

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 231

Denman

ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country Traditional custodians of the land the Wonnarua and Gamilaroi peoples

1851

Denman Named after Lord Thomas Denman, Lord Chief Justice of England, and grandfather of Lord Denman, Governor General of Australia 1911–1914

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

Opened 1916

1877

Preceded by

Parish of Muswellbrook established

1851 National School

1884

Also opened

Church moved to northern end of Palace Street, built as church/school originally known as St Bernard’s

1916–1968 Convent Boarding School for Girls

1901

Known as

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

and moved roughly 150 metres back to its present site which has lowered noise from the busy roadway nearby and extended the playground.’ ²

1963 –1964 Boarders apartments were incorporated into school facilities, later utilised as infants classrooms

1968 Girls’ boarding school closed

1971 School moved from highway site to near old boarders dormitory

1980 School utilised old church building for school hall and canteen

until 1916 St Bernard’s

Catholic education began in the Denman area with schools at Wybong and Upper Wybong

School today kindergarten to year 6

1915

1956

1982

Denman school opened in old St Bernard’s church, second site at northern end of Palace Street

New separate school built by parishioners ‘The whole school, which was originally set adjacent to the Merriwa Road, was lifted

Denman convent closed, sisters moved to Muswellbrook convent, travelling daily to Denman

Charism: Josephite

Motto: Growing in Christ Location: 80 Palace Street Denman NSW 2328 Parish: Denman School

Opened

Staff

St Joseph’s Primary

1916 1985

Diocesan Josephites Lay Teachers

Years 68 36

References 1 Principal’s address at opening of new school additions 11/12/1994 2 Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph archives The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel 07/1954

232 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Hunter River floods necessitated a relocation of school

St Bernard’s church opened

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

Photos (Top left clockwise): School Hall, Denman, Violin students 1968, Girl boarders, St Patrick’s Day Display, Music students, Students at School Entry 2013, Denman Convent and School 1922

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 233

Gunnedah – Diocese of Armidale ST MARY’S COLLEGE On Country

1847

Street, which proved to be a flood prone area

Within the Diocese of Maitland

1862

Convent also used as a ‘select’ high school ‘… with its average of fifteen and a Primary School of over one hundred children’ ¹

Denominational school established with lay staff, A Cullen and Mrs O’Leary

Primary school was located in the gallery of the church built in 1875

Aboriginal word for ‘many white stones’

1866

1880

Parochial district of Gunnedah established

Opened 1879

1875

New convent built, small two storey brick structure in Bloomfield Street

Traditional custodians of the land, the Gamilaroi people

Gunnedah

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

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

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

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

School

Opened

Staff

Denominational St Mary’s College St Xavier’s Primary

1862 1879

Lay Teachers Mercies Lay Teachers Lay Teachers

References 1 Freemans Journal 11/01/1879 2 Carney, J. (2010) Profile of the History of Gunnedah Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy McGee, C. (2017). People of Faith and Generosity: The Catholic Teachers of New South Wales before 1883. Catholic Education Office Sydney.

234 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Years 17 130

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

Originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney, then in 1866 within the Diocese of Maitland

1855

Coonamble

Church services in the home of Michael McMahon, priest Fr Callaghan McCarthy from Mudgee

Name derived from Aboriginal work for ‘amazing site’.

Proclaimed a town in 1861

1870

Opened 1883 Known as 1883 St Bernard’s School, 2003 St Brigid’s Primary School

Also opened 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

St Bernard’s St Brigid’s

1883

Brigidines Lay Teachers

Years

ST BRIGID’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL

1865 Diocese of Bathurst established

1887

Catholic church built

Diocesan boundary change, Coonamble excluded from Diocese of Maitland, included in Diocese of Bathurst

1876

1889

First resident priest Fr Meagher

1883 Community of Brigidine sisters arrived establishing their First Foundation in Australia

1889 Boarding School

School today Diocese Of Bathurst

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

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

1887 Diocesan boundary change, Coonamble excluded from Diocese of Maitland, included in Diocese of Bathurst

4

References 1 Coonamble – publication produced for the Shire of Coonamble edited by Jack Stephens Diocese of Bathurst website

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 235

Quirindi – Diocese of Armidale ST JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL On Country The traditional custodians of the land the Gamilaroi people

Originally within the Archdiocese of Sydney

1866

Quirindi

Parish of Gunnedah established

Aboriginal word with various meanings ‘nest in the hills’, ‘place where fish breed’,’dead tree on a mountain top’

1869

Opened 1885

1885

Diocese of Armidale established

Diocesan Sisters of St Joseph invited by Bishop Murray to establish a school in Quirindi First sisters, Imelda Flood, Patrick Comerford, Evangelist Hyde

School today Diocese Of Armidale St Joseph’s Primary School

1887

School: Kindergarten to year 6 Charism: Josephite

With the change of boundaries, Quirindi excluded from the Diocese of Maitland, now included in the Diocese of Armidale.

Motto: Come! Share the Spirit Location: 18 Thomas Street Quirindi. NSW 2343

School

Opened

Staff

St Joseph’s

1885 1887

Diocesan Josephites Congregational Josephites Lay Teachers

Diocesan Josephites withdrawn from school, returning to their foundation in Lochinvar.

Years

References Websites of school and Diocese of Armidale

236 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

2

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.

Order

Began Teaching

Location

Sisters of the Good Shepherd (Good Samaritans)

1864

West Maitland

Dominican Sisters

1867

West Maitland

Mercy Sisters

1875

Singleton

Congregational Josephites

1880

Cooranbong

Diocesan Josephites

1883

Lochinvar

Brigidine Sisters

1883

Coonamble

Patrician Brothers

1884

Campbells Hill

Marist Brothers

1898

Campbells Hill, Newcastle, Maitland

Daughters of Charity

1993

Mayfield

St John of God Brothers

1947

Morisset

Further Orders providing Pastoral Care Support Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

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.

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 237

Index of Schools ABERDEEN

CAMPBELLS HILL

227 St Joseph’s Primary 227 St Joseph’s Boys’ Boarding School 228 St Joseph’s Regional High

38 40 41

ABERMAIN

42

60 60 60

St Joseph’s Primary Francis Xavier’s Church School 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

Sacred Heart College Sacred Heart Primary / Infants School Our Lady of Mercy Home Science High Bishop Murray Memorial Home for Girls / Monte Pio Orphanage for Girls

CARDIFF 128 St Joseph’s Primary / St Kevin’s Primary

130 St Joseph’s Primary

CHISHOLM St Aloysius Catholic Primary St Bede’s Catholic College

62

64

St Joseph’s School

BULAHDELAH 170 St Brigid’s / St Joseph’s Primary 170 St Joseph’s Intermediate High

MEREWETHER

116 St James’ Primary

106 St Joseph’s Primary 108 St Joseph’s High

EDGEWORTH

KRAMBACH

146 St Benedict’s Primary

157 St Joseph’s / St Bernadette’s Primary

MEREWETHER BEACH

FORSTER

KURRI KURRI

112 Holy Family Primary

St Joseph’s / Holy Spirit Primary

LARGS

St Joseph’s School / Mount St Joseph’s Primary (South Cessnock) Mount St Joseph’s High St Patrick’s Primary

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

238 | SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

204 Catherine McAuley Catholic College

KOTARA SOUTH

GATESHEAD

54

BRANXTON

BROOKFIELD

St Vincent’s Primary / Infants

St Joseph’s Primary

114 St James Primary

CLARENCE TOWN

St Laurence O’Toole Primary St Laurence Flexible Learning Centre (EREA)

36

MEDOWIE

48

CESSNOCK

152 St Paul’s High / Catholic College

99 99

EASTVILLE

KNOCKFIN

90

BOORAGUL

BROADMEADOW

St Joseph’s Primary

199 St John’s / Christ the King Primary

LAMBTON

74 78

St Brigid’s Primary Rosary Park Catholic School

32

MAYFIELD WEST

133 St Joseph’s Primary

58

CHARLESTOWN

49 76

EAST MAITLAND

KILABEN BAY

GARDEN SURBURB

BLANDFORD

127 Our Lady Help of Christians Primary

St Joseph’s Primary

172 St Joseph’s / Holy Name Primary

55 56

BOOLAROO

62

182 St Joseph’s / St Francis Xavier’s Primary

CARRINGTON

134 St Joseph’s / St Francis Xavier’s Primary 136 St Joseph’s High 223 St Stanislaus / Holy Rosary

DUNGOG

St John’s Primary St Benedict’s Primary St Joseph’s Primary

149 St Paul’s Primary 150 St Mary’s Catholic College

66 66

GLENDALE

LOCHINVAR

138 Holy Cross Primary 139 Holy Cross Girls’ High

GLENDONBROOK 52

St Joseph’s Primary

GLOUCESTER 160 St Joseph’s Primary

GRETA 50 68

St Mary’s Migrant Camp Catholic School

GUNNEDAH 234 St Mary’s College

HAMILTON Sacred Heart Primary St Aloysius High 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 94 96 98

KENDALL 167 St Joseph’s Primary

44 46 46

St Joseph’s / St Patrick’s Primary St Joseph’s College and Boarding School All Saints College – St Joseph’s Campus

MAITLAND 24 26 28 28 30

St John the Baptist Primary St Mary’s Dominican Convent and Boarding School / St Mary’s High St John’s Boys’ Primary Maitland Marist Brothers / St Peter’s High 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

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 35

St Bede’s Primary 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 84 86 86 86 88

St Mary’s Primary St Mary’s School for Boys / Marist Brothers St Mary’s Dominican Convent School St Mary’s Star of the Sea Primary St Thomas’ Boarding School for Boys Institute for the Deaf and Dumb

NEW LAMBTON 110 St Therese’s Primary

NULKABA 53

St Patrick’s Primary

QUIRINDI

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

236 St Joseph’s Primary

TORONTO

RAYMOND TERRACE

132 St Joseph’s Primary

178 St Brigid’s Primary

WALLSEND

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

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

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

WEST WALLSEND

SOUTH SINGLETON

WINGHAM

214 St Augustine’s Primary

168 St Joseph’s Primary 168 St Joseph’s Intermediate High

STOCKTON

126 St Joseph’s Primary

WINDALE 142 St Pius X Primary

WINGEN 226 St Patrick’s Primary

180 St Peter’s Primary

WYBONG and UPPER WYBONG

SWANSEA

230 St Bernard’s Catholic School

137 St Patrick’s Primary

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME – Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle | 239

Bibliography Board of Education Correspondence (NSW) State Records

The Singleton Argus and Upper Hunter General Advocate (1874–1880)

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

The South Maitland Recorder (1913–1978)

Council of Education Colonial Secretary Correspondence Inspector / Murray / Donnellan 1876–1883 Department of Public Instruction, State Records

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

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Kelly, C. (1997) A Journey … Through Light and Shadow: Sisters of Mercy Singleton 1875–1995. Hamilton NSW. Kerr, B. (2009). The Congregational School.

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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

02 4979 1200 841 Hunter Street Newcastle West 2300 NSW Australia www.mn.catholic.edu.au Published 2022