Our Lady Star of the Sea Church & School facts for kids

Our Lady Star of the Sea Church & School
Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church (view from Goondoon St), 2014
Location	Goondoon Street, Gladstone, Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1919–1930s (interwar period)
Built	1924–1950
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Our Lady Star of the Sea Church & School
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	21 October 1992
Reference no.	600521
Significant period	1924, 1938, 1949–1950 (fabric)
Significant components	stained glass window/s, school/school room, furniture/fittings, church, wall/s - retaining
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Our Lady Star of the Sea Church & School is a special heritage-listed Roman Catholic church and school building. You can find it on Goondoon Street in Gladstone, Queensland, Australia. The church was built in 1924, and the school was completed in 1950. This important site was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

History of the Church and School

Our Lady Star of the Sea church in Gladstone was built in 1924. The school next to it was finished in 1950. This newer school replaced an older building from 1902 that was destroyed by a big cyclone in 1949.

Early Days of Gladstone and Catholic Presence

Gladstone was first planned as a town in 1853. By 1854, important officials were in charge. Even though there weren't many Catholic people in Gladstone back then, the leader of the Catholic Church in Australia, Archbishop Bede Polding, bought some land in 1854.

In 1868, Bishop James Quinn, Queensland's first Catholic Bishop, visited Gladstone. He encouraged people to start planning for a church. The land Polding bought was very steep. So, in 1870, new land was bought for a church and a primary school. St Mary's School opened in 1871. It was run by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. For some years, this school also served as the church.

First Church and Resident Priests

St Mary's Church opened in January 1874. For many years, priests from Rockhampton would visit to lead services. In 1882, the Diocese of Rockhampton was created. The first resident priest for Gladstone was appointed in 1885.

Around 1900, the railway reached Gladstone, which made the town's population grow. In 1901, the Marist Fathers took over the Catholic parish in Gladstone. Also in 1901, the church land was needed for the railway. So, a new, larger site was bought. This new site was meant for a church, school, convent (where nuns live), and presbytery (where priests live).

New School and Convent Buildings

A new church school, designed by architects Eaton and Bates, opened in January 1902. Three Sisters of Mercy from Rockhampton came to teach there. They first lived in a small house until their new timber convent was finished in June 1902. The new presbytery, a two-storey timber building, was completed in September.

Building the Current Church

To meet the growing needs of the parish, a larger new church was planned. Bishop Joseph Shiel laid the foundation stone on 13 April 1924. This new church was built next to the 1902 church school. It officially opened on 16 November 1924. The older 1902 building continued to be used as the school.

In the late 1930s, Gladstone's economy and population grew again. This was partly because a large meatworks company, Swifts, took over a local business in 1935. In 1936, people started raising money to make the church bigger. These extensions were finished and opened in 1938.

A Modern New School

Around 1943, a Brisbane architect named Frank Cullen was asked to design a new school. This new school would be able to hold 300 students. Building plans were delayed because of World War II. Finally, in 1947, a building permit was given. The plans were changed to fit 100 more children, as Gladstone's population was still growing.

Work on the new school had just started when a big cyclone hit Gladstone on 2 March 1949. This cyclone destroyed the old 1902 school and the convent buildings. For about a year, from 1949 to 1950, Our Lady Star of the Sea School had to use temporary locations. These included the Town Hall, the church itself, and two pavilions at the showgrounds.

Archbishop James Duhig officially opened the new school on 20 April 1950. This new school was a three-storey brick building. It had a basement assembly hall, a library, and a public address system on all three levels. It was considered one of the most modern school buildings in Queensland at the time. The new convent was finished in 1952.

Changes and Growth in the 1960s

Gladstone experienced a big boom in the late 1960s. New industries like a powerhouse, a bauxite refinery, and an alumina smelter opened. Between 1965 and 1970, several changes were made to the church and school area. A lane between the convent and presbytery and the church and school was closed. Retaining walls were built, and a parking area and basketball court were added. The church's sanctuary and altar were also updated.

In 1966, the Gladstone Catholic High School started with a small class. In 1967, Stella Maris College for girls opened, followed by Chanel College for boys in 1968. These two colleges later combined to form the Gladstone Catholic High School.

In the late 1960s, the Marist Sisters came to Gladstone to teach at the primary school. In 1971, the first extension to the Star of the Sea Primary School was opened. More extensions were added to the school in 1981. In 1982, the old presbytery building was taken down.

Description of the Buildings

The Our Lady Star of the Sea church and school are built on a high spot. From here, you can see the harbour in Gladstone. The land slopes down from the eastern side of the church and school. A stone wall supports this lower area, separating it from a large playground. This wall makes the church look even more impressive from the east.

The Church Building

The church is a timber building with a Gothic style. It has a cross shape when viewed from above. There are gabled porches (covered entrances with pointed roofs) on the north, south, and east sides. These porches have decorative timber posts. There's also another entrance on the southern side.

The church sits on a concrete base. Its gabled roof has modern metal covering and a small, open tower called a fleche where the roof lines cross. The roof ends and porches have timber Celtic crosses on top. The church has an octagonal (eight-sided) sanctuary. This area is lit by two sets of three tall, narrow windows called lancet windows and two single lancet windows, all with beautiful stained glass. There is a large room called a sacristy on each side of the sanctuary. All the windows are triple lancets set in aluminium frames with arched decorative moldings above them. A special marble foundation stone is at the bottom of the eastern side of the church.

The School Building

The school is made of light red brick and has a tiled roof. It was built in three stages. The oldest part is on the eastern side and is three storeys high. This first section is the part of the school that is considered historically important. It has a hipped roof (sloping on all sides) and features brick balconies. There's also a tower that holds the stairwell, which is lit by glass panels. Another marble foundation stone is located in this stairwell tower on the eastern side. The newer parts of the school were added later. They match the style of the original building and are two storeys high. A central section was built in the 1970s, and the section closest to the park was built in 1981.

Why This Place is Special

Our Lady Star of the Sea Church & School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it's recognized as an important historical site for several reasons:

Showing Queensland's History

The church and school show how Gladstone and the Catholic Church in Queensland grew over time. The church is the only one in Gladstone that survived the big cyclone in 1949. It's now the only early building left on this site. When the first part of the school was finished in 1949, it was considered very modern for Queensland. This shows how much Gladstone was developing back then and how confident the church was about the future of Catholic education in the area.

Beautiful Design

Both buildings are in a very noticeable spot. Their design, size, and the materials they are made from add a lot to the look and feel of Gladstone.

Important to the Community

Both the church and the school have a strong connection with the Catholic community in Gladstone and the surrounding area. Many generations of people have attended or been involved with these buildings. The school is also likely a major work by its architect, Frank Cullen.