Dominican Roman Catholic Convent facts for kids

The Dominican Roman Catholic Convent is a very old and important building in Tamworth, Australia. It's called a heritage-listed convent, which is a place where nuns (religious women) used to live and work. You can find it on Marius Street (East).

This special building is also known as St Nicolas' Church. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means it's officially recognised as a significant historical site that needs to be protected.

A Look Back: The Convent's Story

How the Convent Started

The Dominican Convent was built by the Dominican Order, a group of Catholic religious people. Construction took place between 1880 and 1882. The building is made of different coloured bricks and has three floors. It was built in a style called Victorian Free Gothic. This style often looks like old churches or castles.

The roof was originally made of galvanised iron. The balconies have cool cast iron pillars. Between these pillars are curved wooden pieces that look like pointed arches. These designs give the building a very church-like feel. The convent was first designed for nuns to live on the ground and first floors. The top floor was a dormitory, a big room where boarding students slept.

Growing and Changing

The school at the convent grew quite large over time. It covered a big area where a K-Mart complex is now. In 1903-1904, the building was made bigger. A new Chapel was opened. This Chapel was a special memorial for Mother Mary Regis. She was the first Mother Superior (leader) of the convent. The Chapel celebrated her 50 years of religious life.

Saving a Historic Building

In the 1970s, after the school closed, the convent building started to fall apart. The land was sold to build a K-Mart shopping centre. The old convent was planned to be knocked down.

But a group of local people saw how important and beautiful the building was. They worked very hard to save it. They contacted the National Trust, an organisation that protects heritage sites. The National Trust officially recognised the building as important.

Even with this recognition, the building was still at risk. So, people talked to the Heritage Council of New South Wales. The Council then placed a "Conservation Order" on the Convent, its Chapel, and the fence. They called the complex "magnificent." This order meant the building could not be demolished. The ownership of the site was then given to the Minister for Planning and Environment.

Bringing the Convent Back to Life

In July 1980, the Public Works Department looked into what the building could be used for. The Heritage Council chose a plan to use it for several groups. These included the Public Works Department's Tamworth Office, the Tamworth Regional Music Centre, and the Tamworth Art & Craft Society.

The Public Works Department then started the restoration work. This involved special skills not often used today. They had to match old timber designs, door frames, and doors. They also painted stencilled patterns on the walls, just like the originals. The outside of the building was cleaned. All painted parts were fixed and repainted using the original colours. The total cost to restore it was $620,000. This was much less than building something new from scratch.

In 1993, the Public Works Department moved out. The building's ownership was given to the University of New England. The Tamworth Regional Conservatorium of Music then leased the building. They paid a very small rent and took on the job of maintaining the building.

Continuing Care and Updates

Between 2003 and 2004, the Conservatorium did major repairs on the Chapel's stained glass windows. These beautiful windows were taken to a workshop far away. There, they were cleaned, broken glass was replaced, and they were put back together. Then they were returned to Tamworth.

Also in 2003, the Chapel roof was repaired and updated. Part of the outside of the building was repainted. The rest of the exterior painting was finished in 2006. In 2007, the Chapel was renovated again. This included moving the stage, improving the lighting, painting, getting new chairs, and buying a new grand piano.

Why It's a Heritage Site

The Dominican Roman Catholic Convent was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This listing shows its importance to the history and culture of New South Wales.