All Hallows' School Buildings facts for kids

Quick facts for kids All Hallows' School Buildings
Adderton Building, 2007
Location	547 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: All Hallows Convent and School, Adderton (Convent)
Type	state heritage (landscape, built)
Designated	21 October 1992
Reference no.	600200
Significant period	1850s+ (soc) 1850s–1900s (hist) 1850s–1960s (fab-convent) 1880s–1940s (fab-main bldg) 1870s–1880
Significant components	lawn/s, gate – entrance, stained glass window/s, laundry / wash house, studio – artist's / craftsman's, aviary, garden/grounds, school/school room, classroom/classroom block/teaching area, sports field/oval/playing field, formation – tramway, terracing, gatehouse, wall/s – retaining, trees/plantings, sculpture, grotto, convent/nunnery
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The All Hallows' School Buildings are a group of historic buildings in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. They are part of a Catholic private school called All Hallows' School. Many different architects designed these buildings over many years. The oldest building is the All Hallows Convent, also known as Adderton. These buildings were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992 because of their special history and design.

A Look Back: The School's Beginning

All Hallows' Convent and School started in 1863. It was the first permanent home for the Sisters of Mercy in Queensland. The school has grown a lot over the years. The way the buildings are arranged shows how the school expanded. It also shows how the school was planned to be a quiet, focused place.

After Queensland became a separate colony in 1859, a new Catholic area was created. In 1859, James Quinn was chosen as the first Bishop of Queensland. He arrived in Brisbane in 1861. Bishop Quinn brought several priests and five Sisters of Mercy with him. Mother Mary Vincent Whitty led the Sisters.

The Sisters of Mercy were mainly teachers. They started their order in Ireland in 1831. Setting up religious schools was very important in the new colony. It helped teach faith in a community that was mostly focused on making money. The Sisters quickly found a home in Brisbane, where they were greatly needed.

Adderton: The First Convent and School

In December 1863, Bishop Quinn bought a house called Adderton for the Sisters of Mercy. It cost £6,000. The house was on Petrie Bight, a high area in Brisbane. It was one of the biggest and best homes in Brisbane at the time. The Sisters had been living in temporary housing. Adderton became their convent and a boarding school. Bishop Quinn wanted to create a strong Catholic education system. This was why he brought the teaching Sisters to Queensland.

Mother Vincent likely named the school All Hallows' after a college in Dublin, Ireland. All Hallows' in Brisbane worked with a school at St Stephen's. The Sisters took over managing the St Stephen's school when they arrived. All Hallows' was a "select" school, meaning it charged fees. The money from these fees helped support "poor" schools, like the one at St Stephen's.

Adderton was probably built in the late 1850s for Dr. George Fullerton. He bought the land in 1858. The house was on what was called Duncan's Hill. Today, after Ann Street was cut lower, the site looks like a cliff.

Adderton is the middle part of the current convent building. It was originally a two-story house with a basement. An early Brisbane builder, Andrew Petrie, designed and built it. Petrie also designed other important buildings in Brisbane.

An old photo shows Adderton as a simple stone building. It had a central door with a fanlight (a window shaped like a fan) above it. Timber shutters covered the windows. Chimneys stuck out from the roof. Many parts of the original house are still there today. These include a special winding staircase, the entrance door, windows, and fireplaces.

On November 1, 1863, the Sisters and some students moved into Adderton. Classrooms were set up on the ground floor. A study room became the chapel. The upstairs floor was used for sleeping. This was the start of All Hallows' School and Convent. It is still the main convent for the Sisters of Mercy in Queensland. From here, the Sisters quickly started more schools and social help programs.

The Sisters offered excellent education for young women. Students from all religions came from all over Queensland and northern New South Wales. For many years, more non-Catholic students attended than Catholic students. The Sisters taught music, home economics, and academic subjects.

Adderton stayed the same until 1890. Then, big changes were planned. The house became part of a much larger building. Another story was added, and the building was made longer. New sections were added on the sides. Architects Hunter and Corrie designed these changes, which were finished in 1892.

The basement of the new convent had rooms for girls from the "House of Refuge." It also had workrooms, bathrooms, and storage. The ground floor had reception rooms, offices, and the Sisters' dining room. A chapel was in the south-western section. The chapel had beautiful stained glass windows from Munich.

A walkway was built in 1892 to connect the convent to the school building. This walkway included a bell tower. An Angelus bell brought from Ireland in 1861 was placed in the tower. It still rings every day at noon.

Besides education, the Sisters of Mercy at All Hallows' also helped people in need. In 1875, they started a House of Mercy (also called a House of Refuge). This place offered shelter to women who needed help, in exchange for domestic work. Later, parents or police could send young girls there for guidance. A separate building for the House of Mercy was built in 1878. A large laundry was built nearby in 1897. This was a main workplace for the women in the House of Mercy.

The north-eastern part of the convent was extended in 1913. It added more dining, library, and bedroom areas. In 1921, the chapel was made almost three times bigger. This extension was designed by Hall and Prentice. It had a simpler, more modern classical style. The chapel was updated again in 1968 to follow new rules for Catholic services.

In 1915, a small brick building was constructed in the garden south of the chapel. It was designed by George Henry Male Addison. This building housed a life-size sculpture of Jesus' crucifixion. A grotto (a small cave-like shrine) and a statue of Our Lady were also on the grounds by the early 1930s.

The Wall, Lodge, and Gate

The Wall, Lodge and Gate, viewed from Ann Street, 2009

The area around the school changed over time. Ann Street was cut down several times, starting in 1865. This made the convent seem like it was on top of a cliff.

The cutting of Ann Street in 1876 meant the original wall had to be rebuilt and made longer. In 1879, a stone gatekeeper's lodge and entrance gateway were built. Rev. Joseph Augustine Canali, an architect and engineer, designed them. The gatehouse served as the convent's almonry (a place where charity was given) for many years.

More cuts to Ann Street happened in 1886 and 1927. The wall became even longer, and the gatehouse base was lowered to be level with the new road. The gate was also lowered.

The Main School Building

As the school grew, the Sisters of Mercy bought more land. In 1879, they bought land on Ivory Street to build a separate school building. This building would overlook the Brisbane River.

Bishop Quinn laid the first stone for the new building on January 2, 1881. Andrea Giovanni Stombuco, an architect from Italy, designed it. Stombuco designed many buildings for the Catholic Church.

The All Hallows' school building, now known as the Main Building, was finished in late 1882. It was a large three-story building with a central tower. The tower was planned as Bishop Quinn's office. However, Quinn died before the building was finished.

The Main Building had classrooms, boarding rooms, and a concert hall. A separate two-story building nearby was built for music practice rooms.

By 1901, the Main Building needed more space. A new section was added, designed by Hall and Dods. This new part looked very similar to the original building. It included a dining room for boarders, an extended concert hall, and more boarding rooms.

Thomas Ramsay Hall designed another extension to the Main Building in 1919. This part included the early music practice rooms. Two more additions were made to this section in 1934 and 1940. These additions continued the building's style. In 1933, a bathroom block was added. After 1969, when boarding students moved out, the former boarding rooms became classrooms.

St Ann's Industrial School

In the 1850s and 1860s, there was more focus on helping homeless children. Children who were neglected or in trouble were often sent to special schools. These schools taught religious values and practical skills.

In 1868, the Sisters started an industrial school called St Ann's Industrial School. It taught young girls domestic skills like cooking and sewing. The Sisters wanted to help girls leaving the orphanage at Nudgee get more training before working. Soon, St Ann's also accepted students who paid fees. The school became a highly respected training center.

In 1876, plans were made for a new building for the Industrial School. Andrea Stombuco designed it, but building was delayed due to money. Construction finally began in 1893, with new designs by FDG Stanley and Son. St Ann's was finished in 1894. It cost about £7,000.

A newspaper report from the opening described the school: "This institution is largely self-supporting, being the home of dress-makers, lace and fancy needle workers. St Ann's has grown to be an important place that helps young people learn useful trades."

Changes in education led to St Ann's partly closing in the 1940s. The building then became a boarding house for young women studying or working in the city. In 1964, the building was updated, and the lower floors became classrooms.

Other Important Buildings

All Hallows' School and Convent grew a lot over time. The 1880s and early 1890s saw the Main Building built and the convent expanded. In the 1920s and 30s, the convent was extended again. The Main Building was also extended twice. Several smaller buildings were added, like the chaplain's residence, St Brigid's, and an art studio.

The art studio was built in 1922 between the Main Building and the convent. It was designed by Hall and Prentice. This small building had large windows and skylights to let in lots of natural light.

Hall and Prentice, or their later firm Hall and Phillips, also designed other buildings. These include a chaplain's residence built in 1936, next to the gatekeeper's lodge. St Brigid's, a classroom block, was built in 1924. These buildings have similar classical designs.

Next to St Brigid's is a small, eight-sided building with a high, pointed roof. It was originally an aviary (a large cage for birds). Now, it is used for classrooms and meetings.

Newer buildings on the site include McCauley Hall (1958), which was the first Catholic teachers' college in Queensland. Aquinas Hall (1964) is a four-story building with language, history, and science labs. Loreto Hall (1985) is a gymnasium complex with an auditorium and art rooms. Loreto Hall replaced an older building called Nazareth, which was used for primary school and later art rooms.

In 1913, All Hallows' got one of the first school swimming pools in Queensland. A new pool and buildings replaced it in 1960.

What the School Looks Like Today

All Hallows' Convent and School is in a very noticeable spot in Fortitude Valley. It has great views of Spring Hill, the Brisbane River, and the Brisbane CBD.

Most of the buildings face inward, towards a central terraced area. This area looks out over the Brisbane River. The main entrance to the school is through the gateway on Ann Street. A driveway goes through the school grounds and leaves at Kemp Place.

The school has many buildings: the convent, St Ann's (the old Industrial School), the Main Building, McCauley Hall, Aquinas Hall, Loreto, and smaller buildings like the art studio, St Brigid's classrooms, the chaplain's residence, and the gatekeeper's lodge. There are also beautiful outdoor areas, including the central terraced area, lawns, playing fields, and gardens.

The Convent Building

The convent is a large four-story stone building. It includes the original Adderton house, the chapel, and many additions. A U-shaped building, the former House of Mercy, is in the courtyard behind the convent. There is also an old timber laundry building nearby.

The convent has a central part (Adderton) and two side sections. The south-western section holds the chapel. The convent was built in three main stages: the 1850s Adderton house, the 1891-92 extension, and the chapel extension of 1921.

The front of the convent has projecting sections on each end. These sections have decorative gables (the triangular part of a wall under a sloping roof). The building has a slate roof with decorative gables. The central part and the north-eastern section have two stories of verandahs (porches). These verandahs have cast iron columns and railings with the letters "AHC" (All Hallows' Convent) in the design.

Many parts of the original Adderton house are still visible. This includes the front with its old windows and doorway with a fanlight. Inside, the entrance leads to a central hallway with a winding timber staircase. The convent has plaster walls and ceilings, and timber floors. Old fireplaces and ovens are still in the basement.

The chapel section has two parts: the older 1890 chapel and the 1921 extension. The extension has a simpler classical style with large arched windows. Inside, you can clearly see the two different building phases. The older part has timber ceilings and walls. The newer part has a classical design with arched openings and painted decorations. The main part of the chapel has a curved ceiling with windows high up. The altar area is semi-circular with a domed ceiling. It has a large painting and stained glass windows from Munich.

The former House of Mercy is a two-story building in the convent's courtyard. It has external walkways leading to many small rooms. The laundry building behind the convent is a simple timber building with a gabled roof.

The Main School Building

The Main Building is the main school building. It is in the eastern part of the school grounds, overlooking the Brisbane River. It has great views of the city. The three-story stone building looks like classical Italian Renaissance architecture.

The Main Building was built in sections from 1882 to 1940. Even though it was built over many years, it looks very unified. The sides facing the school's open areas have arcaded loggias (open walkways with arches), similar to the original 1882 building.

The building has a low-pitched roof, partly hidden by a decorative parapet (a low wall along the edge of a roof). Towers stick up through the roof. The main entrance has a projecting section with a larger tower.

Arcaded loggias are on the ground and first floors. The second floor has arched windows. The main entrance leads to a vestibule with patterned floor tiles. A dark timber staircase goes up to the first floor. The concert hall has a decorative ceiling and arched windows. Music practice rooms are under the stage.

The building's layout has large rooms connected by loggias and walkways. There are several staircases and a lift inside. The north-western part of the Main Building shows four different building phases from the outside.

An old two-story building for music practice rooms is part of the later wing. These rooms are visible on the north-eastern side. A tuckshop wing is next to the Main Building. It combines a 1933 concrete building with a later brick addition.

St Ann's Building

St Ann's, seen from Ann Street, 2009

St Ann's is a large three-story stone building with a basement. It faces Ann Street and is the only building on the site that directly faces the street. Its design shows the influence of Gothic revival architecture. This can be seen in its pointed arched windows, steeply pitched gables, and repeated quatrefoil (four-leaf clover) patterns.

The building has a central section with balconies on the front and back. The side sections have steep gables. The front has decorative windows, small rose windows, and niches for statues. The stone on the Ann Street side is carved to look like ashlar (smooth, cut stone blocks).

A central staircase leads to the ground floor verandah on Ann Street. The verandah has cast iron columns and railings with quatrefoil patterns. The main entrance door has beautiful stained glass panels from Munich. Inside, a central hallway leads to parlors and staircases.

The main staircase is in a projecting section on the south-west side. It has stained glass windows. The timber staircase has carved newel posts (the main posts at the top or bottom of a staircase).

The chapel is in the north-eastern part of the ground floor. It has a timber ceiling and stained glass windows. An altar is at one end. Classrooms fill the rest of the ground and first floors. The second floor has several old bedroom cells. The basement has parts of old brick fireplaces.

A one-story brick extension is next to St Ann's.

Other Important Features

Many smaller buildings and outdoor areas at All Hallows' are also important. These include the Ann Street and Kemp Place retaining wall, the gateway, and the lodge. Also important are the chaplain's residence, St Brigid's classroom block, the art studio, and several open spaces.

The stone retaining wall runs along Ann Street and Kemp Place. It is made of rough stone and varies in height.

The gatekeeper's lodge and gateway are part of the Ann Street wall. The gateway is the main entrance to the school. It is made of stone and has classical details. The archway has a cast iron plate with the letters "AMDG" (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam - For the Greater Glory of God). Stone carvings of urns and a globe with a cross are on top of the gateway.

The gatekeeper's lodge is a two-story building. Its Ann Street side is part of the retaining wall. It has arched windows. Inside, it has timber floors, plaster walls, and an old timber staircase.

Next to the gatehouse is the chaplain's residence, a one-story brick building. It has a simple classical design. St Brigid's, a classroom block, is similar in style. Between these two buildings is the small, eight-sided building that was once an aviary.

The former art studio is a single-story concrete building. It was designed to have lots of natural light and air.

McCauley Hall is a four-story brick building with a modern design. Aquinas Hall is also a four-story brick building with a similar style.

In the gardens near the chapel, there is a small brick building with life-size statues of Jesus' crucifixion.

Many of the open spaces, gardens, and old trees are important to the school's look and feel. The split-level Terrace is a central lawn area with views of the river. St Gertrude's playing grounds have important plants, including a large weeping fig tree. The gardens around the convent create a peaceful area. There are many large, established trees on the site.

Why All Hallows' is Special

All Hallows' Convent and School was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992 for several reasons:

• It shows how Queensland's history developed.

All Hallows' Convent was the first permanent home for the Sisters of Mercy in Queensland. It has been a central point for their work ever since. From here, the Sisters have started convents and schools all over the state. All Hallows' shows how the Sisters of Mercy grew in Queensland. All Hallows' School is the oldest surviving secondary school in Brisbane. It shows how private schools developed in Queensland. The school and convent have been very important to the Catholic Church in Queensland for over 130 years.

• It shows rare parts of Queensland's culture.

Some buildings show old customs that are no longer common. St Ann's was one of the few Industrial Schools in Brisbane. It shows early forms of technical education. The gatehouse was an almonry, which was an important part of the Sisters' charity work. The convent, with its House of Mercy, shows how the Sisters helped women in need. The core of the convent, Adderton, is one of the oldest houses still standing in Brisbane. It has rare features like a special winding staircase and old windows.

• It can teach us more about Queensland's history.

Studying Adderton could reveal old building methods, materials, and how the land was used long ago.

• It shows the main features of a historic school and convent.

The site has changed a lot, but very few buildings have been torn down. This means it shows a complete record of the school's growth. It is a great example of a 19th-century convent and school. The way the site is planned, with buildings facing inward, shows the Catholic approach to educating girls in the 1800s and 1900s.

• It is beautiful and well-designed.

All Hallows' is a very noticeable part of inner Brisbane and Fortitude Valley. The school and convent are major landmarks because of their impressive buildings. The site is planned in a connected way, creating central courtyards. Many individual buildings are architecturally beautiful. Together, they show the work of many top Brisbane architects. The site has large, well-designed buildings and smaller structures that add to the overall look. The buildings are beautiful on their own. Adderton's simple, balanced design influenced the convent's additions. The convent is well-placed and suits Brisbane's climate. Several buildings from the 1920s and 1930s, like the chapel extension, St Brigid's, the chaplain's residence, and the art studio, are well-designed examples of classical architecture from that time. The old St Ann's Industrial School (1894) is a well-designed building with Gothic revival details. The 1882 Main Building is a good example of Victorian-era school design. Aquinas Hall is a well-designed building from the post-war period. The gardens and old trees make the place very scenic. The open areas allow the buildings to connect with the river and surrounding areas. Many parts of the buildings show excellent craftsmanship. This includes the timber work and stained glass windows in the Main Building, Convent, and St Ann's.

• It has a strong connection to a special community.

The school and convent are connected to many important people in Queensland history. These include Archbishops Quinn, Dunne, and Duhig; Mother Mary Vincent Whitty (who started the Sisters of Mercy in Queensland); and Mother Mary Potter. Many famous Queensland architects and builders also worked on the site.

• It has a special connection to important people or groups in Queensland's history.

All Hallows' has special connections to several groups in Queensland: the Catholic Church (as their main secondary school for girls), the Sisters of Mercy (as their main convent and school), and the school community itself.