Nazareth House, Wynnum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nazareth House |
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Nazareth House, 2014
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| Location | 272 Wynnum North Road, Wynnum, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1924 - 1939 |
| Official name: Nazareth House | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 2002 |
| Reference no. | 601391 |
| Significant period | 1924-1925, 1938-1939 (fabric) 1926-1982 (historical) |
| Significant components | chapel, gate - entrance, convent/nunnery, statue, hostel |
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Nazareth House is a special old building in Wynnum, Queensland, Australia. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its important history and beautiful design. Built between 1924 and 1939, it was originally a home that cared for both elderly people and children. Today, Nazareth House continues to be a place that looks after older people.
History of Nazareth House
Nazareth House is located on Tingal Hill in Wynnum. It was designed by a Brisbane architecture company called Hennessy, Hennessy, Keesing & Co and JP Donoghue. The builder was George Turner. Archbishop James Duhig officially opened Nazareth House in 1925. It was part of a charity started by the Poor Sisters of Nazareth.
How it Started
Wynnum became a popular seaside town. Because of this, more people moved there, and the need for a Catholic presence grew. In 1903, the first Catholic church services were held in the Wynnum Shire Hall.
The Congregation of the Poor Sisters of Nazareth was founded in London in 1854. Mother St Basil started the group to care for poor elderly people. The Sisters first came to Australia in 1888, setting up a home in Ballarat. Archbishop Duhig asked the Mother-General to send Sisters to Queensland. He had seen their work in London and wanted them to help people in Brisbane.
In 1918, Archbishop Duhig bought a large property called Mt Margaret in Wynnum. It was about 60 acres (24 hectares) and included a big house. He wanted to create a home for elderly people and children, run by the Sisters of Nazareth. He bought the property from the family of William Kidston, a former Premier of Queensland.
The Sisters Arrive
It was hard for the Sisters to travel after World War I. Finally, on January 15, 1921, six Sisters left London. They were joined by two more Sisters from Ballarat in Melbourne. On March 3, 1921, they arrived in Brisbane. They stayed at All Hallows Convent for three weeks. On March 4, they saw their new home for the first time. It was a small house with nine rooms, overlooking the sea.
On Good Friday, March 25, 1921, the Sisters began their charity work in Wynnum. Archbishop Duhig celebrated the first Mass in the house on April 1. The Sisters immediately started caring for seven elderly ladies. In 1922, Archbishop Duhig bought the next-door property, Silversprings. The buildings from Mt Margaret were moved and joined to the existing house. This created more space for the Sisters and the people they cared for. By Christmas 1922, the new home had 35 residents.
Building the New Home
Soon, more space was needed. With help from supporters and the Mother House in London, they started building a new home. Work began on the first part in 1924. The architects were Hennessy, Hennessy, Keesing & Co and JP Donoghue. George Turner was chosen as the builder.
Archbishop Duhig laid the foundation stone on April 13, 1924. This part of the building is now the eastern wing. Archbishop Duhig blessed the building on August 15, 1925. The Governor of Queensland, Sir Matthew Nathan, officially opened it the next day.
Caring for Children
In April 1926, the first children arrived from England to be cared for by the Sisters. Local children were admitted in October of the same year. The Sisters' main goal was to care for children who were orphans or had been abandoned.
Over the next forty years, the Sisters cared for many children at Wynnum. This included both Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. Between 1889 and 1980, the Sisters of Nazareth cared for about 4,000 children in eight homes across Australia and New Zealand. These children included orphans, state wards, and migrant children.
Expanding the Building
In January 1930, a newspaper called the Catholic Advocate described Nazareth House. It called the building "stately and impressive." It mentioned the beautiful lawns, statues, and wide balconies. The entrance hall had colourful leadlight windows. The chapel was described as "pretty."
The second part of the main building started in January 1938. Archbishop Duhig laid the foundation stone on March 20. This section included a convent, chapel, and laundry. It was finished in April 1939 and opened on July 2, 1939. A newspaper article said the extensions used "one million bricks."
In 1963, a new brick building was added for male residents. A new kitchen block was also built. The government helped pay for two-thirds of the cost. When Archbishop Duhig opened it, Nazareth House was caring for 85 "senior citizens" and 70 children.
Changes Over Time
In 1982, Nazareth House stopped caring for children. This was because more children in need were being placed with foster families. There was a growing need for a nursing home for the elderly. So, it was decided to build a new nursing home where the children's playground used to be. The original building was renovated to create single rooms with bathrooms for hostel residents.
The new Nursing Home was blessed on June 17, 1984. It connected to the old building with covered walkways. It had rooms for many residents. Work on renovating the old building began in February 1985. This renovation created 42 single rooms with private bathrooms.
Nazareth House still operates today as a facility for aged care.
Description of Nazareth House
Nazareth House stands out on a hill along Wynnum North Road. The whole complex has several buildings. These include the original building (called St Mary's), the Convent and Chapel, and two newer additions. These newer parts are St Joseph's Hostel (from the 1960s) and the nursing home known as Larmeniere (from the 1980s). From Nazareth House, you can see wide views towards Moreton Bay.
St Mary's Building
St Mary's is a two-storey brick building shaped like an "H." It has a basement and a roof covered with terracotta tiles. There are verandahs on both the ground and first floors. Some of these verandahs on the north and east sides have been enclosed.
The main entrance is in the middle of the northern side. This entrance section rises above the roof. It has a large statue in a special carved area. Below the statue are the words "NAZARETH HOUSE." A Celtic cross sits on top of the entrance. The first-floor balcony has a large, rounded arch. The ground floor verandah has decorative blue brickwork, including blue brick crosses.
The western side of St Mary's used to be the back entrance but is now the main entrance. This side has a pointed roof (gable) with decorative details. There are five windows, with a larger, rounded one in the middle. A Celtic cross is also on top of this section. The verandahs on this side have been enclosed. The original doorway was made wider and now has automatic doors. Many other timber doors with glass above them are along the verandahs. The original foundation stone is near the front entrance on the northern side.
Inside, the ground and first floors of St Mary's have similar layouts. The main entrance has beautiful timber doors with colourful leadlighting. The entrance hall has a pressed metal ceiling. Rooms open off this hall. A wooden staircase with fancy railings is in the middle of the building. Rooms for residents are on both floors. Offices are also located along the corridors. Many rooms, including the dining room, still have their original pressed metal ceilings.
Convent and Chapel
The convent is a U-shaped, two-storey brick building with a basement. It has a roof covered with terracotta tiles. The main entrance is in the middle of the northern side. This entrance has a pointed roof (gable) and rises above the rest of the building. A Celtic cross is on top of it. There are two rounded arch openings with decorative blue brickwork.
The convent has verandahs on both the ground and first floors. Like the entrance, the orange brickwork is surrounded by decorative blue brickwork. The ground floor verandah has rounded arches, and the first floor verandah has squared arches. Many sash windows are along the sides of the convent.
Inside, the entrance hall has a pressed metal ceiling and a patterned wooden floor. Large double timber doors with colourful leadlighting open into the main corridor. The Sisters' rooms are simple. They have timber doors, painted walls, and plain ceilings. The modern kitchen is on the ground floor.
The chapel is made of brick with a pointed roof at the northern end. The entrance to the chapel is on the southern side. The chapel's foundation stone is also here. This side has three rounded arch windows and a smaller window above them. A Celtic cross is on top of the chapel.
Inside, the chapel has a marble altar at the northern end. There are many beautiful stained glass windows and wooden pews. A special window in the west wall of the chapel allows Sisters in the convent to see the altar.
In front of St Mary's, there is a statue of the Holy Family on a concrete stand. There is also a small grotto. The entrance gates are made of brick with a metal archway. The archway has the words "NAZARETH HOUSE" in metal letters.
The newer buildings, St Joseph's and the Nursing Hostel, are single-storey brick buildings. They are located south of St Mary's and the convent and chapel. Covered walkways connect St Mary's to these buildings. Other buildings in the complex include plant rooms, a laundry, and a change room.
Why Nazareth House is Special
Nazareth House was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on April 2, 2002. This means it is considered very important to Queensland's history and culture.
Historical Importance
Nazareth House is important because it shows how the Poor Sisters of Nazareth started their work in Queensland. It also shows the religious and social practices they used to help people. The creation of Nazareth House highlights Archbishop James Duhig's strong interest in building important Catholic Church buildings during his time as Archbishop of Brisbane.
Architectural Beauty
Nazareth House is easy to see from Wynnum North Road and from a distance in Wynnum. It is important because it is a very well-designed building. It is a great example of the work of a leading Brisbane architecture company, Hennessy & Hennessy, Keesing and Co and JP Donoghue. This firm designed many projects for the Catholic Church when Archbishop Duhig was in charge.
Community Connection
Nazareth House is important because of its strong connection to all the people who have lived there, both in the past and today. It has been a place of care and community for many years.
Important People and Groups
Nazareth House is significant because of its link to the Poor Sisters of Nazareth. They established their work in Queensland and carried out important religious and social practices. The building of Nazareth House also shows the active role of Archbishop James Duhig. He led a confident building program that created many significant Catholic Church buildings during his time as Archbishop of Brisbane.
