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RELIGIOUS SISTERS OF MERCY |
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| CONGREGATIONAL FOUNDATIONS | |||||
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| ADAMSTOWN | BRANXTON | HAMILTON | LAMBTON | NEW LAMBTON | |
| TARRO | WARATAH | ||||
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| 1954 | ADAMSTOWN | 1971 |
| THE MERCY CONNECTION TO ADAMSTOWN GOES BACK OVER 100 YEARS TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST CHURCH / SCHOOL IN 1890. ALTHOUGH FALLING WITHIN THE PARISH OF BURWOOD (MEREWETHER) IT WAS THE SISTERS OF MERCY AT HAMILTON WHO WERE ASKED TO STAFF THE NEWLY OPENED CHURCH / SCHOOL. FOR SIXTY-FOUR YEARS THE SISTERS MADE THE TRIP FROM HAMILTON TO ADAMSTOWN TO TEACH UNTIL IN 1954 THE PARISH PURCHASED A HOUSE FOR THEM TO USE AS A CONVENT. NAMED MARIAN HOUSE IT SERVED AS A HOME FOR THE SISTERS UNTIL 1971. WITH THE RATIONALISATION OF COMMITMENTS FOCED ON THE ORDER BY DECLINING NUMBERS THE MERCY SISTERS WITHDREW FROM ADAMSTOWN IN THAT YEAR ALTHOUGH THEY CONTINUED TO PROVIDE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE SCHOOL UNTIL 1983, REVERTING TO THE DAILY TRAVEL WHICH HAD BEEN THEIR LOT FOR MOST OF THE SCHOOL'S LIFE. IN THE 1990's WHEN THE PARISH PUT THE FORMER CONVENT PROPERTY UP FOR SALE IT WAS DECIDED TO PURCHASE IT ALONG WITH THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AND DEVELOP THE SITE AS INDIVIDUAL UNITS FOR THE ACCOMODATION OF SISTERS RESIDING IN NEWCASTLE AS SEVERAL DO TO THIS DAY. MARIAN HOUSE | ||
 | MARIAN HOUSE |
| THE ADAMSTOWN CONVENT OF MERCY, NAMED MARIAN HOUSE, WAS BOUGHT BY THE PARISH IN 1954. LOCATED OVER THE STREET FROM THE SCHOOL IT WAS AN ATTRACTIVE FEDERATION STYLE BUNGALOW BUILT IN THE EARLY 1900's. IN 1972 FOLLOWING THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE SISTERS IT FUNCTIONED AS A GROUP HOME FOR THE GIRLS OF THE FORMER MONTE PIO ORPHANAGE AT MAITLAND. THERE, FOLLOWING NEWER IDEAS ON FOSTER CARE, THEY WERE LOOKED AFTER BY A MARRIED COUPLE IN A MORE DOMESTIC STYLE SETTING. TODAY THE FORMER CONVENT IS PART OF A UNIT COMPLEX OWNED AND USED AS PRIVATE HOMES BY THE SISTERS. NEXT |
| THE CONVENT AS IT WAS WHEN STILL IN USE BY THE SISTERS. | PART OF THE UNIT COMPLEX SURROUNDING THE CONVENT TODAY. |
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| A VIEW OF THE MODERN COMPLEX SHOWING THE OLD CONVENT ON THE RIGHT AND THE NEWER UNITS ON THE LEFT. | |
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| ST COLUMBA'S PRIMARY SCHOOL | |
| ST COLUMBA'S PRIMARY SCHOOL |
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| THE ORIGINAL SCHOOL OPENED IN 1890 WAS LOCATED IN THE WOODEN CHURCH BUILT IN THAT YEAR. NINE YEARS LATER A SEVERE STORM DESTROYED THE CHURCH, FORTUNATELY WITHOUT ANY INJURIES. IN 1900 A NEW CHURCH / SCHOOL WAS BUILT AND THIS SERVED AS THE SCHOOL UNTIL 1930 WHEN THE PRESENT BRICK BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED. BUILT IN THE STYLE TYPICAL FOR SCHOOLS OF THE MID-20th CENTURY ST COLUMBA'S WAS STAFFED BY THE SISTERS UNTIL 1971 AND HAD A RELIGIOUS PRINCIPAL UNTIL 1983. ALTHOUGH TODAY FULLY LAY-STAFFED, IT CONTINUES ITS WORK OF EDUCATION IN THE SPIRIT OF THE MERCY SISTERS WHO FOUNDED IT JUST OVER 100 YEARS AGO. |
| TOP SCHOOL WEBSITE CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION |
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| 1886 | BRANXTON | 1986 |
| ON SUNDAY JULY 4 1886 A SMALL GROUP OF SISTERS ACCOMPANIED BY THE REVEREND MOTHER TRAVELLED BY BUS FROM SINGLETON TO THE TOWNSHIP OF BRANXTON TO MAKE A NEW FOUNDATION. THE SISTERS WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE NOT ONLY FOR THE PARISH SCHOOL OF ST BRIGID BUT ALSO FOR ST MARY'S SCHOOL AT GRETA ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY BOTH OF WHICH OPENED THE FOLLOWING DAY. FOR ALMOST EXACTLY ONE HUNDRED YEARS THE SISTERS WOULD TEACH IN THE SCHOOLS, SOME MAKING THE DAILY TRIP TO GRETA AND OTHERS CROSSING THE ROAD TO ST BRIGID'S. A LOVELY CONVENT WAS ERECTED FOR THE SISTERS IN 1889 AND REMAINED THEIR HOME UNTIL THE SISTERS WITHDREW. THE WORK OF THE SISTERS WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AND BRANXTON PARISH PROVIDED MANY VOCATIONS TO THE RELIGIOUS LIFE. BY THE LATE 20th CENTURY HOWEVER THE IMPACT OF DECLINING NUMBERS WAS HAVING ITS EFFECT AND THE SCHOOLS WERE GRADUALLY TAKEN OVER BY LAY STAFF AND LAY LEADERSHIP. IN 1986 THE FEW REMAINING SISTERS WITHDREW FROM THE CONVENT. CONVENT OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES | ||
 | CONVENT OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES |
| OUR LADY OF LOURDES CONVENT WAS BUILT IN 1889 FOLLOWING DETERMINED BUT PERHAPS NOT ALWAYS ETHICAL METHODS TO INDUCE THE OWNER TO SELL (A TIN BOX OF SAINTS AND HOLY MEDALS WAS APPARENTLY BURIED ON THE LAND). THE TWO-STORY BUILDING WAS DESIGNED BY F.B. MENCKENS, THE ARCHITECT OF THE MERCY CONVENTS AT SINGLETON AND HAMILTON ALSO. A STATUE OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES STOOD IN THE GARDENS (PART OF THE PEDESTAL REMAINS) ALONG WITH A SMALL STATUE OF ST BERNADETTE GIVEN BY J BERCINI IN MEMORY OF HIS WIFE. AFTER THE SISTERS WITHDREW IN 1986 THE CONVENT WAS SOLD AND WAS CONVERTED INTO A PRIVATE RESIDENCE ALTHOUGH THE MERCY SHIELD STILL GRACES THE FRONT GATE AS A REMINDER OF THE HOME'S PAST. NEXT |
| THE CONVENT IN 1925 COMPLETE WITH PROTECTIVE SCREENS. | THE MERCY SHIELD INCORPORATED INTO THE FRONT GATE. |
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| ST BRIGID'S SCHOOL | |
| ST BRIGID'S PARISH SCHOOL |
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| THE ORIGINAL SCHOOL OPENED IN 1886 COINCIDENTALLY WITH THE DECISION TO BUILD A NEW CHURCH. ACCORDINGLY THE SCHOOL WAS HELD IN THE OLD CHURCH BUILDING WHICH WAS EXTENDED IN 1888 TO ACCOMODATE THE GROWING NUMBER OF PUPILS. IN 1916 A MAJOR ADDITION WAS MADE TO THE OLD CHURCH BUILDING WHICH HENCEFORTH BECAME THE INFANT'S SECTION WHILE THE NEW EXTENSION BECAME THE PRIMARY SECTION. BY 1967 THE BUILDING HAD BECOME UNSAFE AND IN THAT YEAR A NEW SCHOOL WAS CONSTRUCTED ON THE SAME SITE AS THE OLD. THIS BUILDING WITH THE ADDITION OF A SEPARATE HALL BUILT LATER CONSTITUTES THE SCHOOL TODAY. HISTORY |
 | (LEFT) THE FIRST DEDICATED SCHOOL BUILDING CONSTRUCTED IN 1916. THE INFANT'S SECTION IS AT RIGHT AND THE PRIMARY SCHOOL AT LEFT. NEXT |
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| (RIGHT) THE NEW SCHOOL ERECTED IN 1967 AND STILL IN USE TODAY IS A PLAIN BRICK BUILDING TYPICAL OF THE FUNCTIONAL STYLE OF THE 60's. NEXT |  |
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| THE MAIN CLASSROOM BLOCK NOW BEAUTIFIED WITH LOCAL FLORA. | THE ATTRACTIVE LITTLE SCHOOL HALL AND THE LADY GROTTO. |
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| TOP SCHOOL WEBSITE ST MARY'S SCHOOL | |
 | ST MARY'S SCHOOL, GRETA |
| ST MARY'S SCHOOL AT GRETA, NAMED FOR THE ORIGINAL CHURCH BUILDING IN WHICH IT WAS HELD, COMMENCED ON THE SAME DAY IN 1886 AS ST BRIGID'S AT BRANXTON. TWO SISTERS WERE DRIVEN DAILY DOWN TO GRETA TO TEACH IN THE SCHOOL AND RETURNED EACH AFTERNOON. IN 1900 AT THE BEHEST OF BISHOP DWYER A SEPARATE SCHOOL BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED. THIS BUILDING REMAINED IN USE UNTIL 1962 WHEN IT WAS DEMOLISHED. NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS WERE ERECTED IN 1955 AND REMAIN THE CORE OF THE SCHOOL TODAY. ORIGINALLY GRETA LIKE BRANXTON TAUGHT BOTH INFANT'S AND PRIMARY PUPILS BUT FOLLOWING THE REAMALGAMATION OF THE TWO LOCATIONS GRETA BECAME THE INFANT'S SCHOOL AND BRANXTON THE PRIMARY. NEXT |
| (LEFT) THE 1955 SCHOOL BUILDING AND (RIGHT) THE EX-MEETING HALL OF THE GRETA YOUNGER SET LATER USED AS THE SCHOOL LIBRARY. | |
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| TOP SCHOOL WEBSITE CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION | |
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| 1884 | HAMILTON | 1990 |
| THE SISTERS OF MERCY ARRIVED IN HAMILTON IN 1884, THE YEAR THE PARISH WAS FOUNDED. UNTIL THAT TIME THERE HAD ONLY BEEN A LAY-STAFFED DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOL FOUNDED BY BISHOP MURRAY IN 1873 THERE. THE FIRST SISTERS IN FACT LIVED IN THE FORMER HEADMASTER'S COTTAGE NEXT DOOR TO THE NEWLY BUILT CHURCH/SCHOOL UNTIL THE CONVENT WAS BUILT IN 1889. HAMILTON QUICKLY BECAME THE HUB OF THE ORDER'S EDUCATIONAL APOSTOLATE IN NEWCASTLE WITH SMALL GROUPS OF SISTERS TRAVELLING DAILY TO SCHOOLS AT TIGHES HILL (1894), ADAMSTOWN (Ca 1890), BROADMEADOW (1904), NEW LAMBTON (1926), STOCKTON (1900) AND FOR A SHORT WHILE AT BURWOOD (LATER MEREWETHER) (1885-86). AT HAMILTON ITSELF IN ADDITION TO STAFFING THE PARISH SCHOOL THE ORDER ALSO RAN A SELECT SCHOOL AND A CO-EDUCATIONAL (LATER GIRL'S ONLY) SECONDARY SCHOOL DEDICATED, UNUSUALLY, TO ST ALOYSIUS. IN LINE WITH THE DECLINING VOCATIONS COMMON TO MANY ORDERS IN THE LATE 20th CENTURY AS WELL AS SHIFTS IN THE LOCAL DEMOGRAPHICS WHICH SAW MORE PEOPLE MOVING OUT TO THE SUBURBS, BOTH THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS WERE SADLY CLOSED IN 1990 AND THE CONVENT TURNED OVER TO THE DIOCESE. FOR A BRIEF PERIOD THE CONGREGATIONAL ADMINISTRATION WAS LOCATED AT HAMILTON BEFORE BEING MOVED TO TIGHES HILL WITH ONLY A SMALL MERCY PRESENCE BEING MAINTAINED IN THE PARISH. NEXT | ||
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| THE HAMILTON COMPLEX AS SEEN FROM THE AIR IN THE MID 1970's SHOWS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT THE CHURCH, THE CONVENT, SACRED HEART SCHOOL AND SOUTHERN CROSS HALL (ON THE SITE OF THE ORIGINAL PRESBYTERY). AT THE REAR IS ST ALOYSIUS HIGH SCHOOL. CONVENT OF THE SACRED HEART |
 | CONVENT OF THE SACRED HEART |
| FOR FIVE YEARS AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL IN HAMILTON THE SISTERS MADE USE OF THE FORMER HEADMASTER'S COTTAGE AS THEIR TEMPORARY CONVENT. THIS BUILDING WAS LATER CONVERTED INTO THE PRESBYTERY IN WHCIH CAPACITY IT FUNCTIONED TILL ITS DEMOLITION IN 1970. IT WAS SOON CLEAR THAT A LARGER BUILDING WAS REQUIRED AS THE NUMBER OF SISTERS INCREASED TO HANDLE THE GROWING DUTIES OF THE COMMUNITY. A SITE WAS DECIDED ON CLOSE TO THE THEN FENCELINE OF THE PROPERTY WHICH RAN BETWEEN THE PRESENT CHURCH AND THE CONVENT AND THE FIRST WING WAS OPENED IN 1889. WITH THE CORRESPONDING DECLINE IN NUMBERS IN THE LATE 20th CENTURY THIS GEM OF 19TH CENTURY COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE WAS GIFTED TO THE DIOCESE AND HAS SINCE BEEN REFURBISHED AS THE DIOCESAN CENTRE. HISTORY |
| HISTORY |  |
| WITH HAMILTON BECOMING THE HUB OF THE ORDER'S ACTIVITIES IN NEWCASTLE THE BUILDING OF A LARGER CONVENT BECAME ESSENTIAL AND IN 1889 THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE PRESENT CONVENT BUILDING WAS LAID BY DR MURRAY, BISHOP OF MAITLAND. THE ARCHITECT WAS FREDERICK MENKENS WHO ALSO DESIGNED THE CONVENTS AT SINGLETON, GUNNEDAH AND BRANXTON. THE DESIGN WAS A TWO STORIED BRICK BUILDING WITH CEDAR FITTINGS AND HIGH CEILINGED ROOMS AND A LOVELY WROUGHT IRON BALCONY. THE CONVENT WAS OPENED IN SEPTEMBER, 1889. IN 1916 A SECOND WING DESIGNED BY ANDREW BURGEN AND SONS WAS ADDED. THIS SECTION WAS CONSTRUCTED TO MATCH THE EXISTING WING WITH A CENTRAL "TOWER" TO JOIN THE TWO SECTIONS. FURTHER NECESSARY ADDITIONS WERE MADE IN 1923. THE MAGNIFICENT CONVENT STANDS TODAY AS A MEMORIAL TO THOSE SISTERS WHOS SERVED THE PARISH FOR SO MANY YEARS. NEXT |
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| THE CONVENT AS IT APPEARED IN 1916 AFTER THE ADDITION OF THE SOUTHERN WING AND THE CENTRAL "TOWER". THE FENCE MARKING THE EDGE OF THE PARISH PROPERTY CAN BE CLEARLY SEEN IN FRONT OF THE CONVENT. THE 1916 ADDITIONS ALSO INCLUDED A CHAPEL. NEXT |
 THE MAGNIFICENT CENTRAL 'TOWER' OF THE CONVENT ALSO CONTAINS THE ATTRACTIVE STAINED GLASS WINDOW SHOWN ON THE RIGHT. NOW PART OF THE DIOCESAN CENTRE NAMED BISHOP CLARKE HOUSE (CENTRE), THE SOUTH WING (RIGHT) CONTAINS THE TOOHEY DINING ROOM AND THE MURRAY CONFERENCE ROOM. |  NEXT |  |
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| IN 1923 A WEST WING PARALLEL TO MAITLAND RD WAS ADDED TO ACCOMODATE THE INCREASING NUMBER OF BOARDERS. THIS SEVERELY PRACTICAL BUILDING IS IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE ITALIANATE STYLING OF THE REST OF THE CONVENT. AFTER 1995 A NEW ENTRANCE WAS CONSTRUCTED AND THE BUILDING CONVERTED INTO THE DIOCESAN HEADQUARTERS OF THE CATHOLIC DEVELOPMENT FUND. THE CONVENT CHAPEL |
| THE CONVENT CHAPEL | |
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| <<<< THE BEAUTIFUL CONVENT CHAPEL WAS COMPLETED IN 1916 AT THE TIME OF THE EXPANSION OF THE CONVENT. IT WAS LOCATED ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE NEW WING AND THE LOVELY STAINED GLASS WINDOW DEPICTING JESUS AND ST JOHN GIVEN BY FR JOSEPH DONOHUE IS STILL THERE. IN THE 1960's THE CHAPEL WAS RELOCATED AND REDONE IN A MODERN YET STILL ATTRACTIVE STYLE. >>>> THE MUSIC ACADEMY | |
| THE MUSIC ACADEMY | ||
 |  | IN 1940 THE LITTLE LODGE WAS REPLACED WITH A DEDICATED MUSIC ACADEMY DESIGNED BY THE BROTHER OF THE ARCHITECT OF THE CATHEDRAL. TODAY IT SERVES AS THE DIOCESAN CHANCERY. |
| ONE OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS TAUGHT BY THE SISTERS TO EKE OUT THEIR FINANCES WAS MUSIC. IN 1905 A SMALL TWO ROOMED BRICK BUILDING AT THE BACK OF THE PROPERTY CALLED 'LOYOLA' ERECTED IN 1880 WAS CONVERTED INTO MUSIC ROOMS. SACRED HEART PARISH SCHOOL | ||
 | SACRED HEART PARISH SCHOOL |
| THE MAIN PURPOSE FOR THE INVITATION TO THE MERCY SISTERS TO ESTABLISH A FOUNDATION IN HAMILTON WAS OF COURSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PARISH SCHOOL. ALTHOUGH NOT FOUNDED BY THE SISTERS THEY ADMINISTERED AND STAFFED THE SCHOOL OVER THE 100 YEARS OF ITS EXISTANCE. THE ORIGINAL CHURCH/SCHOOL WAS ERECTED IN 1873 WHEN BISHOP MURRAY OBTAINED LAND FOR THAT PURPOSE. IN 1894 THE BISHOP LAID THE FOUNDATION STONE (BELOW) OF A LARGE TWO-STORIED ITALIANATE BUILDING WHICH WAS OPENED AND BLESSED AS THE SACRED HEART PARISH SCHOOL BY CARDINAL MORAN IN 1895. WITH EXTENSIONS THIS SERVED AS THE SCHOOL UNTIL THE LATE 1980's. NEXT | |
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| OVER THE YEARS SEVERAL ADDITIONS WERE MADE TO THE SCHOOL TO ACCOMODATE THE INCREASED NUMBERS OF STUDENTS. THE WINGS ON BOTH SIDES WERE EXTENDED, VERANDAHS ADDED EVENTUALLY AN ADDITIONAL STORY WAS BUILT INCLUDING THE REMODELLING OF THE UPPER TOWER AS SEEN IN THIS PHOTO. WITH THE TRANSFER OF THE DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATION TO HAMILTON AND THE CLOSURE OF THE CONVENT AND SCHOOL MOST OF THE BUILDINGS WERE CONVERTED TO DIOCESAN USE. FOR THE SACRED HEART SCHOOL THIS INVOLVED A MAJOR REMODELLING. THE SCHOOL'S EXISTING WINGS WERE DEMOLISHED LEAVING ONLY THE CENTRAL 'TOWER' AND TWO MODERN GLASS FRONTED WINGS ADJOINING THE FOMER CONVENT WERE ERECTED (SEE BELOW). ONCE COMPLETED THE BUILDING BECAME THE OFFICES OF THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE AND THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE WELFARE AGENCY, CATHOLIC CARE FOR THE AGED. ST ALOYSIUS SECONDARY SCHOOL |  |
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| ST ALOYSIUS SECONDARY SCHOOL | |
 | AS WAS A COMMON PRACTICE WITH THE MERCY SISTERS A SMALL SELECT SCHOOL WAS OPENED ABOUT TEN YEARS AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL IN HAMILTON. THESE SCHOOLS FOR WHICH A FEE WAS CHARGED PROVIDED A SMALL INCOME FOR THE SISTERS TO HELP EKE OUT THEIR SCANTY FINANCES AND THUS SERVED TO INDIRECTLY SUBSIDISE THE FREE PARISH SCHOOLS. IT WAS IN KEEPING WITH THIS TRADITION THAT IN 1911 THE SISTERS ESTABLISHED THE FIRST CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL IN NEWCASTLE WITH THE FOUNDING OF ST ALOYSIUS. INITIALLY THE SCHOOL SHARED A FOUR ROOM WOODEN BUILDING WITH THE SELECT SCHOOL BUT THIS LATTER WAS CLOSED SHORTLY AFTER. IN 1923 THE ORIGINAL BUILDING WAS DEMOLISHED AND REPLACED WITH A BRICK BUILDING. FOLLOWING THE OPENING OF THE MARIST BROTHERS' BOY'S COLLEGE IN 1924, THE BOYS WERE GRADUALLY PHASED OUT OF ST ALOYSIUS, THE LAST LEAVING IN 1928. |
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| ^^^^ ST ALOYSIUS IN 1930, >>>> IN 1934 AND BELOW IN 1957 AND TODAY. | |
| 1923 SAW THE ERECTION OF A PURPOSE BUILT BRICK BUILDING TO HOUSE THE SCHOOL. THIS SINGLE STORY FOUR-ROOMED BUILDING LASTED A MERE ELEVEN YEARS BEFORE SUCCESS SAW IT OUTGROWN BY ITS ENROLLMENTS. IN 1934 A SECOND STORY WAS ADDED AND WITH THE INFLUX OF MIGRANTS AFTER WORLD WAR II STRETCHING THE FACILITIES TO THE LIMITS CAME A THIRD STORY IN 1957. NEXT | |
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| IN THE LATE 1950's ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS WERE ERECTED TO COPE WITH THE GROWTH IN STUDENT NUMBERS. (SEE ABOVE) BUT DUE TO THE CONSTRICTED CAPACITY OF THE SITE AS WELL AS THE CHANGES BROUGHT IN BY THE WYNDHAM SCHEME THE SENIOR YEARS WERE MOVED TO THE NEW ST ANNE'S SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN TIGHES HILL (LATER ADMASTOWN) DURING THE 1960's. ST ALOYSIUS CONTINUED UNTIL 1979 AS A 7-10 SCHOOL BEFORE FINALLY CLOSING. TODAY IT IS LEASED FOR USE AS A PRIVATE ART GALLERY. ST LAURENCE O'TOOLE SCHOOL | |
| ST LAURENCE O'TOOLE PARISH SCHOOL, BROADMEADOW | |
 | ST LAURENCE O'TOOLE SCHOOL WAS COMMENCED IN 1904 WHEN A CHURCH / SCHOOL WAS BUILT IN BROADMEADOW. IT WAS REPLACED IN 1956 BY A BRICK SCHOOL (LEFT). IT WAS STAFFED UNTIL THE LATE 1970's BY MERCY SISTERS TRAVELLING DAILY FROM HAMILTON. NEXT |
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| THE SCHOOL AT BROADMEADOW OPENED WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS AND BY THE 1930's HAD AN ENROLLMENT OF 200 STUDENTS AND A STAFF OF FOUR SISTERS. IT WAS EVEN HOPED THAT A CONVENT MIGHT BE BUILT AS THE PROVISION FOR A NUN'S CHANCEL IN THE ORIGINAL PLANS OF THE PRESENT PARISH CHURCH INDICATE. SADLY HOWEVER THE POST-WAR PERIOD SAW A STEADY DECLINE IN ENROLLMENTS AND THE SCHOOL CLOSED IN THE 1970's. IT HAS SINCE BEEN TAKEN OVER BY THE SCHOOLS OFFICE AS A RESOURCE CENTRE (BELOW RIGHT). | |
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| TOP CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION | |
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| 1883 | LAMBTON | |
| LAMBTON WAS THE SIXTH FOUNDATION MADE BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY FROM SINGLETON AND THE FIRST OF THEIR FOUNDATIONS IN NEWCASTLE, PRECEDING HAMILTON BY JUST ONE YEAR, BEING OPENED IN 1883. LIKE THE LATTER, LAMBTON WAS OPENED AT THE REQUEST OF DR MURRAY TO TAKE OVER THE STAFFING OF THE PARISH SCHOOL IN THE WAKE OF THE STATE EDUCATIONAL REFORMS IN 1880. ALSO LIKE HAMILTON, IT BECAME A MAJOR CENTRE OF MERCY ACTIVITY WITH SISTERS GOING OUT FROM THE CONVENT TO TEACH IN WALLSEND (1883), NEW LAMBTON (1940) AND GLENDALE (1958) AS WELL AS AT LAMBTON ITSELF. AT ITS HEIGHT, THE CONVENT HOUSED 18 SISTERS AND MANY WERE FORCED TO SLEEP ON THE CLOSED IN VERANDAH. BY THE 1960's HOWEVER EACH OF THESE OUTSTATIONS HAD CONVENTS OF THEIR OWN AND THE NUMBER RESIDING AT LAMBTON CONSEQUENTLY DROPPED. IN 1976 THE SISTERS WITHDREW FROM THE MANAGEMENT OF ST JOHN'S SCHOOL AND CONCENTRATED ON VARIOUS APOSTOLATES IN THE PARISH AND THE WIDER CHURCH. THE DECINING NUMBERS MADE THE LARGE CONVENT INCONVENIENT AND IN 1995 IT WAS TURNED OVER TO THE SCHOOL IN RETURN FOR THE PARISH CONSTRUCTING A NEW CONVENT TO HOUSE THE SISTERS STILL WORKING IN LAMBTON. AS IT WAS THE FIRST, TODAY IT IS THE LAST OF THE MERCY CONVENTS STILL IN USE IN THE NEWCASTLE AREA RETAINING LINKS WITH A GLORIOUS PAST OF SERVICE TO THE CHURCH. CONVENT OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER | ||
 | CONVENT OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER |
| THE CONVENT HOME OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY IN LAMBTON HAS UNDERGONE THREE SEPARATE INCARNATIONS SINCE THEIR ARRIVAL IN 1883, FROM A ONE-STORY COLONIAL HOUSE THROUGH AN IMPRESSIVE TWO-STORY BUILDING (LEFT) TO THE NEAT DOMESTIC BUNGALOW OF TODAY. HISTORY | |
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| WHEN THE SISTERS FIRST ARRIVED IN LAMBTON THEY STAYED IN A COTTAGE A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE LATER CONVENT WHILE THE FIRST CONVENT (RIGHT), A CONVERTED RESIDENCE, WAS PREPARED. OPENED IN 1883, IT COMPRISED MONASTIC CELLS ARRANGED AROUND A CENTRAL COMMUNITY ROOM WITH A WIDE VERANDAH. THE DESIGN PROVED INCONVENIENT AND WITH THE GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF SISTERS TO BE ACCOMODATED A SECOND CONVENT REPLACED IT ON THE SITE IN 1929. THIS WAS A LARGE PURPOSE-BUILT STRUCTURE (BELOW LEFT) AND SERVED AS A HOME FOR THE SISTERS WHO STAFFED THE SCHOOLS AT LAMBTON, WALLSEND, NEW LAMBTON AND GLENDALE FOR 66 YEARS. TODAY'S CONVENT (BELOW RIGHT) WAS BUILT BY THE PARISH IN 1996 AS PART OF THE AGREED TRANSFER OF THE OLD CONVENT TO THE PARISH SCHOOL. IN KEEPING WITH THE TIMES IT RETURNS TO THE SIMPLE DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF THE FIRST CONVENT AND PROVIDES A PLEASANT HOME FOR THE FEW REMAINING SISTERS LIVING IN THE PARISH. |  |
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| ST JOHN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL |
| ST JOHN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL | |
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| A CATHOLIC SCHOOL EXISTED IN LAMBTON AT LEAST FROM 1871 WHEN THE CHURCH/SCHOOL WAS BUILT. IN 1883 THE SISTERS OF MERCY TOOK OVER THE SCHOOL AND ALSO OPENED A SMALL "SELECT SCHOOL" FOR FEE-PAYING STUDENTS. FOR MOST OF THE PERIOD UP TO WORLD WAR II THE SCHOOL USED THE OLD CHURCH/SCHOOL UNTIL WITH THE INCREASE IN STUDENTS AFTER THE WAR NEW BUILDINGS WERE ADDED, INCLUDING FOUR NEW CLASSROOMS ADDED TO THE OLD SCHOOL (BELOW RIGHT) AND A BRICK KINDERGARTEN BUILDING NEXT TO THE CONVENT (BELOW LEFT). THIS BECAME THE TUCKSHOP, THEN THE LIBRARY BEFORE BECOMING THE PARISH CENTRE IN THE 1990's. IN THE 1960's THE OLD SCHOOL WAS DEMOLISHED AND REPLACED BY A TWO-STORY BRICK BUILDING (ABOVE RIGHT) WHICH ORIGINALLY HOUSED THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION BEFORE IT MOVED TO THE FORMER CONVENT. IN A FURTHER LINK WITH THE MERCY SISTERS THE OLD COTTAGE WHERE THE PRESENT CONVENT NOW STANDS SERVED AS THE FIRST LIBRARY AND LATER AS THE KINDERGARTEN SECTION. THE MOST RECENT CHANGE HAS SEEN THE OLD CLASSROOMS REPLACED BY A MODERN TWO-STORY CLASSROOM WING (ABOVE LEFT). NEXT | |
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| TOP SCHOOL WEBSITE CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION | |
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| 1955 | NEW LAMBTON | 2000 |
| THE SISTERS OF MERCY FIRST CAME TO NEW LAMBTON IN 1926 WHEN THE CHURCH/SCHOOL OF ST THERESE WAS OPENED. INITIALLY THE SISTERS TRAVELLED FROM HAMILTON CONVENT TO TEACH BUT IN 1940 RESPONSIBILITY FOR NEW LAMBTON SCHOOL WAS TAKEN OVER BY THE SISTERS AT LAMBTON. FOR A FURTHER 15 YEARS THE SISTERS MADE THE DAILY TRIP FROM LAMBTON TO NEW LAMBTON UNTIL IN 1955 THE NEWLY FORMED PARISH OF NEW LAMBTON CONSTRUCTED A CONVENT FOR THEM. IN 1961 THE SISTERS AT NEW LAMBTON ALSO TOOK ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE NEW SCHOOL AT GARDEN SUBURB, KOTARA SOUTH WHICH WAS AT THAT TIME PART OF THE PARISH OF NEW LAMBTON, AND CONTINUED FOLLOWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF KOTARA SOUTH PARISH IN 1963. BY THE LATE 1970's CHANGES WITHIN THE ORDER SAW THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE SISTERS FROM THE EDUCATION APOSTOLATE AND BOTH SCHOOLS BECOME LARGELY LAY-STAFFED. THE SINGLE-STORY CONVENT WAS THEN DEEMED A SUITABLE PLACE FOR SOME OF THE SENIOR SISTERS TO RETIRE TO. IT SERVED IN THIS FUNCTION UNTIL THE NEW CENTURY ARRIVED WHEN IT WAS TAKEN OVER BY CENTACARE AS AN OFFICE FOR ITS CHILDREN'S SERVICES. CONVENT OF ST THERESE | ||
 | CONVENT OF ST THERESE |
| THE CONVENT OF ST THERESE WAS OPENED IN 1955 AND CONSISTED OF TWO COTTAGES JOINED BY A LOUVRED-IN VERANDAH. IN 1967 EXTENSIVE RENOVATIONS AND EXTENSIONS WERE DONE BY THE PARISH TO UPDATE THE ORIGINAL COTTAGES. THIS MUCH IMPROVED CONVENT WAS TO SERVE THE SISTERS FOR ANOTHER THIRTY ODD YEARS. IN THE LATE 1970's THE SINGLE-STORY BUILDING (IN CONTRAST TO MOST MERCY CONVENTS) WAS DEEMED A SUITABLE RETIREMENT LOCATION FOR SENIOR SISTERS AND IT SERVED IN THIS CAPACITY TILL THE NEW CENTURY WHEN THE SISTERS WITHDREW FROM THE AREA. TODAY THE OLD CONVENT IS USED BY CENTACARE NEWCASTLE. ST THERESE'S PRIMARY SCHOOL |
| ST THERESE'S PRIMARY SCHOOL | ||||||||||||
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| ST THERESE PRIMARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY IN 1926 WHEN THE CHURCH / SCHOOL (RIGHT) OPENED. AT FIRST THE SISTERS STAFFED THE SCHOOL FROM HAMILTON THEN IN 1940 THE SISTERS AT LAMBTON TOOK CHARGE. THE OLD CHURCH / SCHOOL USED FOR CLASSES UNTIL 1954 IS NOW THE SCHOOL HALL. | IN 1954 NEW LAMBTON BECAME A PARISH IN ITS OWN RIGHT AND A NEW PARISH SCHOOL WAS CONSTRUCTED (ABOVE AND BELOW LEFT) TO CATER FOR THE GROWING NUMBER OF CHILDREN FROM THE YOUNG FAMILIES THEN MOVING INTO THE SUBURB. A YEAR LATER THE NEW CHURCH WAS COMPLETED AND THE OLD CHURCH / SCHOOL WAS THEN CONVERTED FOR USE AS A PARISH AND SCHOOL HALL. IN THE LATE 1970's THE SISTERS WITHDREW FROM THE SCHOOL WHICH GRADUALLY BECAME LAY-STAFFED AND ULTIMATELY LAY-RUN. ADDITIONS (BELOW RIGHT) HAVE SINCE BEEN MADE TO THE SCHOOL WHICH NOW CATERS FOR OVER 400 PUPILS MAKING IT ONE OF THE LARGEST CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN NEWCASTLE. THE SCHOOL NONETHELESS RETAINS THE SPIRIT OF THOSE STAUNCH PIONEER SISTERS OF MERCY WHO FOUNDED THE SCHOOL 80 YEARS AGO.    NEXT |   NEXT |   SCHOOL WEBSITE ST JAMES PRIMARY SCHOOL, GARDEN SUBURB | | ||||||||
| ST JAMES' PRIMARY SCHOOL, GARDEN SUBURB | |
 | GARDEN SUBURB WAS A FAST GROWING PART OF THE PARISH OF NEW LAMBTON AND BY 1961 IT WAS FELT A NEW CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THE AREA WAS JUSTIFIED. MONSIGNOR CASEY, PARISH PRIEST OF NEW LAMBTON, PURCHASED THE OLD HOSPITAL FROM THE GRETA MIGRANT CAMP AND HAD THE LARGER PART OF IT CONVERTED INTO ST JAMES SCHOOL ON MYALL ROAD STAFFED BY TWO SISTERS OF MERCY FROM THE NEW LAMBTON CONVENT. IN 1976 A NEW SCHOOL WAS BUILT ON VISTA PARADE AND THE OLD SCHOOL DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR A PRIVATE NURSING HOME. THE SOLE REMAINING PORTION OF THE SCHOOL IS THE FORMER INFANTS SECTION AND STAFFROOM WHICH IS NOW OWNED BY THE UNITING CHURCH (LEFT). ST JAMES PRIMARY SCHOOL, KOTARA SOUTH |
| ST JAMES' PRIMARY SCHOOL, KOTARA SOUTH | |
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| ST JAMES SCHOOL WAS ORIGINALLY SITUATED IN GARDEN SUBURB BUT IN 1976 IT WAS RELOCATED WITH THE CHURCH AND PRESBYTERY TO VISTA PARADE AND A COMPLETELY NEW SCHOOL BUILT. AT THAT TIME THE SISTERS WITHDREW FROM THE SCHOOL WHICH BECAME FULLY LAY-STAFFED. TODAY THIS ATTRACTIVE LITTLE PRIMARY SCHOOL CONTINUES TO TEACH IN THE SPIRIT OF THOSE FIRST MERCY SISTERS. NEXT | |
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| TOP SCHOOL WEBSITE CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION |
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| 1962 | TARRO | 1978 |
| IN 1944 TWO SISTERS OF MERCY TRAVELLED FROM THE CONVENT AT <#EMAITLAND>EAST MAITLAND TO THE LITTLE TOWNSHIP OF TARRO TO TEACH IN THE NEWLY OPENED SCHOOL OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES. FOR THE NEXT 13 YEARS THEY TAUGHT IN THE CHURCH / SCHOOL UNTIL IN 1958 A NEW BRICK VENEER SCHOOL BUILDING WAS OPENED. FOUR YEARS LATER AN OLD MILITARY HOSPITAL WAS MOVED TO TARRO AND CONVERTED INTO A CONVENT FOR THE SISTERS. BY 1978 HOWEVER THE SCHOOL HAD BECOME COMPLETELY LAICISED AND THE SISTERS WITHDREW FROM THE CONVENT HAVING GIVEN THIRTY FOUR YEARS OF DEVOTED SERVICE TO THE NOW THRIVING COMMUNITY. CONVENT OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES | ||
| CONVENT OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES | ||
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| THE SIMPLE LITTLE CONVENT OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES WAS OPENED IN 1962 WITH THE FIRST MASS BEING OFFERED IN THE CHAPEL BY BISHOP TOOHEY ON 6 AUGUST OF THAT YEAR. CONSTRUCTED IN A DOMESTIC STYLE FROM A CONVERTED WEATHERBOARD MILITARY HOSPITAL AND GRACED WITH AN UNUSUAL BRICK VENEER FACADE COMPRISED OF MULTI-COLOURED BRICKWORK, IT'S PURPOSE WAS DECLARED BY THE MERCY SHIELD (RIGHT) ABOVE THE FRONT DOOR. |  | UNUSUALLY THE BUILDING WAS LOCATED SOME LITTLE DISTANCE FROM THE SCHOOL, AN EARLY INDICATION OF THE CHANGES TO THE CONCEPT OF ENCLOSURE THAT WERE LATER TO GATHER FORCE FROM THE DECISIONS OF THE VATICAN II COUNCIL. AFTER THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE SISTERS THE BUILDING WAS SOLD AND, MINUS ITS MERCY SHIELD, IS NOW USED AS A PRIVATE RESIDENCE IN THE SAME QUIET STREET IN WHICH THE SISTERS ONCE LIVED. OUR LADY OF LOURDES SCHOOL |
| OUR LADY OF LOURDES PRIMARY SCHOOL |
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| THE PARISH SCHOOL WAS OPENED IN 1944 TWO YEARS BEFORE TARRO (NOW BERESFIELD) BECAME A PARISH AND WAS LOCATED IN THE BRICK CHURCH / SCHOOL ORIGINALLY BUILT IN 1930 AND LATER EXTENDED. IN 1957 A BRICK VENEER SCHOOL BUILDING (ABOVE) WAS CONSTRUCTED BEHIND THE OLD CHURCH TO SERVE AS THE NEW SCHOOL. IN 1973 WHEN THE PARISH CHURCH WAS MOVED TO BERESFIELD THE SCHOOL REMAINED IN ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION IN TARRO WHERE IT STILL CONTINUES TODAY THE TRADITION OF THE MERCY SISTERS. NEXT |
 | OVER THE YEARS SINCE THE FIRST BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1958 THE SCHOOL HAS UNDERGONE SEVERAL EXPANSIONS, PARTICULARLY IN 1969 AND 1985 WHEN THE NEW ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING WAS OPENED. THE ORIGINAL BUILDING CAN STILL BE SEEN (BELOW LEFT) NOW SOMEWHAT HIDDEN BY THE RECENT ADDITION OF A COVERED ALL-WEATHER PLAYING AREA FOR THE PUPILS. IN 1985 TWO BUILDINGS WERE ADDED BEHIND AND TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE OLD CHURCH BUILDING (BELOW RIGHT) TO ACCOMODATE THE SCHOOL'S INCREASING NUMBERS AS A RESULT OF THE RAPID GROWTH OF THE TARRO / BERESFIELD TOWNSHIP. ALSO IN 1985 A NEW ADMINISTRATION BLOCK (LEFT) AT THE ANDERSON DRIVE ENTRANCE WAS BLESSED AND OPENED. IT WAS BUILT WITH THE AID OF GOVERNMENT AND PARISH FUNDING. TOP SCHOOL WEBSITE CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION |
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| 1921 | WARATAH | 2005 |
| IN 1921, ACTING ON A COMMENT MADE TO HIM BY A FELLOW PRIEST AND IN CONSEQUENCE OF AN UNEXPECTED MEETING WITH THE SUPERIOR OF THE SINGLETON SISTERS OF MERCY, REV M. M. MAGDALEN MEANY, FR O'LAVERTY THEN PARISH PRIEST OF THE NEWLY FORMED PARISH OF WARATAH SUGGESTED TO REVEREND MOTHER THAT THE HOUSE 'ENMORE HALL' CURRENTLY FOR SALE IN WARTAH WOULD MAKE AN EXCELLENT SITE FOR A CATHOLIC HOSPITAL. ALTHOUGH THE WORK OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY IN AUSTRALIA WAS PRIMARILY IN THE EDUCATIONAL FIELD THE DESIRE TO FOLLOW THE ORIGINAL APOSTOLATE OF MOTHER CATHERINE McAULEY TO CARE FOR THE SICJ AND NEEDY REMAINED STRONG IN MANY OF THE SISTERS. MOTHER MAGDALEN THUS SIEZED ON THIS OPPORTUNITY AND PROMPTLY ARRANGED TO PURCHASE THE HOUSE ALONG WITH A SECOND HOUSE TO USE AS A CONVENT. FROM THESE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN 1921 THE HOSPITAL, DEDICATED TO OUR MOTHER OF MERCY (MATER MISERICORDIAE) HAS GROWN INTO ONE OF THE THREE PRINCIPAL HOSPITALS TO SERVE THE NEWCASTLE AREA. THROUGHOUT THE FIRST 60 YEARS OF ITS EXISTANCE THE HOSPITAL WAS RUN AND STAFFED BY THE SISTERS AND THE NURSES THEY TRAINED. TOWARDS THE END OF THE 20th CENTURY HOWEVER, THE DECLINING NUMBERS OF SISTERS AND THE GROWING COMPLEXITY OF HEALTH CARE SAW THE HOSPITAL MOVE INCREASINGLY TOWARDS LAY STAFFING AND LEADERSHIP. FINALLY WITH THE COMING OF THE NEW CENTURY THE SISTERS HANDED OVER COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE HOSPITAL TO A LAY MANAGEMENT TEAM AND WITHDREW FROM THE CONVENT LEAVING BEHIND A TRADITION OF SACRIFICE TO INSPIRE THEIR SUCCESSORS. MATER MISERICORDIAE CONVENT | ||
 | MATER MISERICORDIAE CONVENT |
| THE ORIGINAL CONVENT WAS A SMALL COTTAGE CALLED 'KARUAH'. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY VARIOUS TEMPORARY QUARTERS UNTIL IN 1947 THEY FINALLY COMPLETED THEIR FIRST PERMANENT CONVENT (LEFT). OUTSIDE THE CHAPEL IS A MEMORIAL STOUP TO DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE NURSING STAFF (BELOW). FIRST CONVENT | |
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| FIRST CONVENT OF MERCY |  |
| THE INITIAL CONVENT OF MERCY AT WARATAH WAS A SIX-ROOMED COTTAGE CALLED 'KARUAH' LOCATED IN LORNA ST WARATAH. TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL THE SISTERS HAD TO TRAVERSE A RIGHT OF WAY GRANTED TO THEM BY MR BELL WHO OWNED THE HOUSE IN BETWEEN THE HOSPITAL AND THE CONVENT. THE HOUSE WAS CRAMPED AND THE VERANDAH ROOF LEAKED WHENEVER IT RAINED BUT IT WAS TO SERVE AS THE HOME OF THE SISTERS FOR 14 YEARS. THE PHOTOS (RIGHT AND BELOW LEFT) SHOW THE CONVENT AS IT WAS IN THE EARLY DAYS. THE CHAPEL WAS LOCATED IN THE ROOM ON THE LEFT WITH THE ARCHED WINDOWS. THE THIRD PHOTO (BELOW RIGHT) SHOWS THE CONVENT SHORTLY BEFORE THE SISTERS MOVED WITH THE NEW HOSPITAL IN THE BACKGROUND. HOSPITAL WORKS LED TO THE OLD CONVENT BEING DEMOLISHED. SECOND CONVENT | |
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 | CONVENT CHAPEL |
| THE BEAUTIFUL CHAPEL OF THE CONVENT OF MERCY AT THE MATER (LEFT) WAS ONE OF THE GREAT TREASURES OF THE HOSPITAL. AFTER THE SERIES OF TEMPORARY CHAPELS OVER THE YEARS THE SISTERS PUT THEIR ALL INTO CREATING A SPACE FITTING FOR THE WORSHIP OF GOD, THE MAINSPRING OF THEIR SERVICE. UNTIL 1971 THE CHAPEL WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS WITH THE MAIN PART RESERVED FOR THE SISTERS AND THE SIDE CHAPEL RESERVED FOR THE NURSING STAFF. IN 1971 THE CHAPEL WAS MODERNISED AND THIS DISTINCTION REMOVED. THE NURSES PORTION OF THE CHAPEL WAS LATER CONVERTED INTO A MEDICAL LIBRARY. THE PHOTO TO THE LEFT SHOWS THE CHAPEL AFTER MODERNISATION BUT BEFORE THE CONVERSION OF THE NURSES PORTION. THE NURSES ALTAR HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A SHRINE TO OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP. THE PHOTO BELOW RIGHT SHOWS THE CHAPEL BEFORE MODERNISATION WITH THE NURSES ALTAR AND THE HIGH ALTAR IN THE BACKGROUND. THE PHOTO BELOW LEFT SHOWS THE SUPERB MAIN SANCTUARY WITH ITS ELABORATE MARBLE HIGH ALTAR. MATER MISERICORDIAE HOSPITAL | |
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| MATER MISERICORDIAE HOSPITAL |
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| HISTORY |
 | FIRST HOSPITAL |
| THE ORIGINAL HOSPITAL AND INSPIRATION FOR THE FOUNDATION WAS 'ENMORE HALL' POINTED OUT TO FR O'LAVERTY AND BY HIM TO REV MOTHER M. MAGDALEN MEANY. IT HAD ONCE BEEN A FINE RESIDENCE BUT HAD FALLEN ON BAD TIMES (LEFT) AND REQUIRED EXTENSIVE RENOVATIONS SO IT COULD BE USED AS A HOSPITAL (BELOW LEFT). THE SMALL BUILDING TO THE RIGHT OF THE HALL WAS THE ORIGINAL OPERATING THEATRE. WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW HOSPITAL IN 1935 ENMORE HALL WAS THEN USED FOR A VARIETY OF PURPOSES INCLUDING AT ONE STAGE A NURSES HOME. IN 1961 IT WAS FULLY REMODELLED AND RENAMED THE MOTHER MARY MAGDALEN MEMORIAL HALL AND USED FOR OUTPATIENT SERVICES. SADLY THE OLD HALL HAS SINCE BEEN DEMOLISHED. SECOND HOSPITAL | |
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| SECOND HOSPITAL | ||
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| BY 1933 THE DEMAND HAD FAR OUTSRIPPED THE CAPACITY OF THE SMALL HOSPITAL AND IN THAT YEAR THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A NEW AND IMPRESSIVE HOSPITAL DESIGNED BY THE ARHITECT OF SACRED HEART HAMILTON, MR PETER GANNON, WAS LAID. THE HOSPITAL WAS BLESSED AND OPENED BY BISHOP GLEESON IN 1935. CLEARLY PROCLAIMING ITSELF A MAJOR INSTITUTION, THE CROSS AND THE STATUE OF OUR LADY EQUALLY PROCLAIMED IT A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTE. THIS BUILDING REMAINS THE CORE OF THE HOSPITAL TO THIS VERY DAY. NEXT | ||
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| THREE VIEWS OF THE HOSPITAL. (ABOVE) THE HOSPITAL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. (RIGHT) THE STATUE OF OUR LADY OVER THE ENTRANCE. (FAR RIGHT) THE RECEPTION AREA WITH OUR LADY OF MERCY IN THE BACKGROUND. | ||
| HOSPITAL EXTENSIONS | ||
| HOSPITAL EXTENSIONS | ||
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| (ABOVE) THE ORIGINAL LONGWORTH CHILDREN'S WARD, LATER GIVEN A SECOND STORY. (RIGHT) THE NEW WING BUILT IN 1971 ON THE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOSPITAL. (BELOW LEFT) NEW MED II OPENED IN 1985 AND (BELOW RIGHT) THE CLINICAL SERVICES BLOCK OPENED 2007. (BELOW LEFT) THE TELETHON BUILDING AND (BELOW RIGHT) AN ARTISTIC IMPRESSION OF THE REDEVELOPED HOSPITAL. | ||
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| MATER NURSES HOME & McAULEY CENTRE | ||
| MATER NURSES HOME and McAULEY CENTRE | |
 | IN THE EARLY DAYS NURSES WERE EXPECTED TO LIVE AT THE HOSPITAL. THE FIRST NURSES HOME HAD BEEN A COTTAGE PURCHASED IN LORNA ST BUT BY THE MID-30's THE NEED FOR A LARGER BUILDING LED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NURSES HOME IN 1938 (LEFT). BY 1987 NURSES NO LONGER LIVED ON SITE AND IT WAS RENAMED THE McAULEY CENTRE. IT NOW HOUSES THE HOSPITAL ADMINSTRATIVE AND PALLIATIVE CARE OFFICES. |
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| ^^ A VIEW OF THE HOSPITAL LOOKING TOWARDS THE WEST WING OF THE FORMER NURSES HOME AND THE OLD CONVENT ^^. MERCY HOSPICE |
| MERCY HOSPICE |
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| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
| MUCH OF THE INFORMATION AND MANY OF THE HISTORICAL PHOTOS FOR THIS PAGE ARE TAKEN FROM A JOURNEY...THROUGH LIGHT AND SHADOW BY COLLEEN KELLY RSM. THE INFORMATION AND PHOTOS FOR THE WARATAH ENTRY ARE TAKEN FROM 75 YEARS OF TENDER LOVING CARE BY BETTY CAPPER. SEVERAL PHOTOS OF THE CONVENT AND HIGH SCHOOL AT HAMILTON WERE TAKEN FROM THE HAMILTON PARISH HISTORY WITH HEARTS AND HANDS AND VOICES BY MICHAEL STERNBECK. THESE BOOKS ARE HERE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH GRATITUDE. READERS WHO WISH TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE SINGLETON SISTERS OF MERCY ARE REFERRED TO THESE WORKS. A SPECIAL ACKNOWLDGEMENT GOES TO THE SISTERS OF MERCY THEMSELVES, ESPECIALLY SR MONICA SINCLAIR, WHOSE SUPPORT AT ALL TIMES HAS BEEN LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMPLETENESS OF THIS PAGE. |
