Our Lady of the Assumption Convent, Warwick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Our Lady of Assumption Convent, Warwick |
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Our Lady of Assumption Convent, 2015
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| Location | 8 Locke Street, Warwick, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1891–1914 |
| Architect | Simkin & Ibler |
| Architectural style(s) | Gothic |
| Official name: Cloisters, Assumption College, Our Lady of Assumption Convent, Sophia College | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600953 |
| Significant period | 1890s, 1940s (historical) 1890s, 1900s, 1910s (fabric) 1890s–1980s (social) |
| Significant components | stained glass window/s, convent/nunnery, views to, tower |
| Builders | Alexander Mayes |
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Our Lady of Assumption Convent is a very old building in Warwick, Queensland. It used to be a Roman Catholic convent, which is a home for nuns. The building was designed by Simkin & Ibler. It was built between 1891 and 1914. Today, it is known as Assumption College, Cloisters, or Sophia College. This special building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it is protected because of its important history.
Contents
A Look Back: The Convent's Story
How the Convent Began
The Our Lady of the Assumption Convent was built in 1892-1893. It was the second home for the Sisters of Mercy in Warwick. The Sisters of Mercy are a group of Catholic nuns. They first arrived in Queensland from Ireland in 1861. The Warwick community was their fifth group in Queensland.
The Sisters first lived in a small brick cottage. This was at the corner of Albion and Percy Streets. They took over running the local Catholic school. They stayed in this cottage for 19 years.
Choosing a New Home
After many years of planning, a new convent was ready in 1893. Bishop Quinn chose the new location on Locke Street. The Sisters bought the land in 1877.
Brisbane architects Simkin and Ibler designed the new building. Their first plans were too expensive. So, they built only part of the design at first. This included the central part and the eastern chapel wing. They planned to finish the rest later.
Simkin and Ibler designed other Catholic buildings too. These included "Darra" and St Stephen's School for Girls. They also designed St Mary's Church in South Brisbane.
Building the Convent
The foundation stone for the convent was laid in August 1891. Archbishop Robert Dunne did this ceremony. He also opened the building two years later in March 1893. These were big events in Warwick. Money raised at these events helped pay for the building.
The building was called a "magnificent edifice." It had great views of the town. A timber kitchen wing was built first. This part was replaced in 1914. It had the kitchen, a dining room for boarders, and laundry.
Alexander Mayes from Toowoomba built the first part of the convent. It cost about £4500. John McCulloch did the stonework. P Cameron did the painting.
Later Additions and Changes
The second part of the building, the western wing, was built in 1904. This cost £3215. This completed the original design. It added reception rooms and a large dormitory.
In 1914, more was added to the western wing. Local architects Dornbusch and Connolly designed this part. This work was needed because of new high school rules. These rules meant students needed more subjects and rooms. Dormer windows were likely added to the roof around this time.
During World War II, students from All Hallows' Convent in Brisbane moved to Warwick. This meant the western verandah had to be closed in.
The Sisters of Mercy left Warwick in 1988. Local Catholic people kept Assumption College going. The convent was renamed "Sophia," which means wisdom in Greek. It opened as Sophia College in 1989.
The building was sold in 1994. It became a reception center. This meant some changes were made inside. In 2015, it was known as "Abbey of the Roses." It is now used for weddings and as a place to stay.
Exploring the Convent's Design
Outside the Building
The former Our Lady of Assumption Convent is a large two-story building. It is made of sandstone. It stands out on Locke Street in Warwick. The building has a central entrance area. It also has wings that stretch out, forming a three-sided courtyard at the back.
The building uses sandstone from Mitchell's Quarry. The front of the building has smooth, cut stones. Other sides have rougher, rock-faced stones. All the fancy details, like window frames and carvings, are also smooth sandstone.
The roof is made of corrugated iron. It has sloped sections and pointed gables over the wings. Three dormer windows stick out from the roof.
The Main Entrance
The front of the building faces Locke Street. It has a central part, the ends of the wings, a large entrance porch, and a bell tower. The entrance porch is a pointed arch. It has pointed decorations on the sides. Above it is a block with a statue.
The bell tower is next to the entrance porch. It is made of sandstone and timber. It has tall, narrow windows with stained glass on the lower level. The upper level has triangular windows. The top of the sandstone tower has a castle-like edge. Above this is a timber section with louvred openings. The tower has a round, lead-covered roof. A metal Latin cross sits on top.
The eastern side of the front has a pointed gable. It has a central section with a statue niche. On either side are pairs of stained glass windows. The western side is similar but less decorated. It has a bay window on the first floor.
Verandahs and Courtyards
The western side of the building has two-story verandahs. The ground floor verandah is stone. The upper floor is timber. The stone columns have carved Greek cross designs. The first floor verandah has been closed in with panels and windows.
The back of the building has a three-sided courtyard. This area is surrounded by two-story verandahs. The central part at the back has a rounded section. This is where the main staircase is. Many of these verandahs have been closed in.
The eastern side also has two-story verandahs. A central projecting section holds an internal staircase. Some verandahs here are timber. Others are stone on the ground floor and timber above.
Inside the Convent
Inside, the building has a central hallway on both floors. Smaller rooms open off this hallway. The main rooms are in the wings. The ground floor generally has plastered walls and ceilings. The upper floor has timber walls and ceilings. The 1914 addition at the back of the chapel is mostly timber inside.
The main entrance leads into a small vestibule. This area has two beautiful stained glass windows. They show detailed patterns. A pointed arch leads to the entrance hall. This hall has wooden paneling on the walls. Two fancy wooden doorways lead to former reception and music rooms. These rooms have windows with stained glass above them.
A lovely wooden screen separates the entrance hall from the main corridor. Beyond this screen is the main cedar staircase. It has a large carved newel post and turned balusters. A stained glass window lights up the staircase.
The chapel is at the eastern end of the corridor. It has two parts. The older part has a timber ceiling. It slopes towards the sides. On the southern wall are four beautiful stained glass windows. They show the four Evangelists. These windows came from a famous art institute in Germany. The eastern wall of the chapel has large pointed windows with stained glass. The newer part of the chapel has a timber fireplace.
At the western end of the ground floor are two large rooms. They have timber ceilings. These rooms can be joined by a folding door. There is a large bay window in the southern wall.
The first floor also has a central corridor. Many former bedrooms open off this corridor. Above the chapel is another large room. It used to be a dormitory. It has a vaulted timber ceiling with carved wooden ribs. Half-glazed French doors open to the verandah.
The western wing on the first floor has a very large former dormitory. It has a long timber ceiling. This ceiling has old paintwork in pink and aqua colors.
The 1914 wing has a central corridor. Many small former cells open off it. This section has special pressed metal ceilings with fleur-de-lis and Greek cross designs.
Two stairways from the first floor lead to the attic. This space was also used as a dormitory. It has timber walls and six dormer windows.
Gardens and Grounds
The convent sits in lovely grounds. There is a circular walkway at the front with a statue. Rose gardens are to the east. There is also a grotto, which is a small cave-like shrine.
Why This Place is Special
The former Our Lady of Assumption Convent is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it is very important to Queensland's history and culture. Here's why:
- It shows how Queensland grew: The convent shows how Warwick grew as a big town. It also shows how the Sisters of Mercy spread across Queensland.
- It has rare features: The building has some very beautiful and rare stained glass windows. These came from a special art institute in Munich, Germany.
- It's a great example of its kind: The building is a wonderful example of Victorian-era church architecture. It was built in a Gothic style. It also shows how Sisters of Mercy convents were designed.
- It's beautiful: The former convent is a very attractive building. It has fine details like sandstone carvings and beautiful stained glass. The wooden ceilings inside are also very special.
- It's important to the community: This building has a strong connection to the Sisters of Mercy and the Catholic community in Warwick.
- It's linked to important people: The convent was one of many branch houses of All Hallows' Convent. Many early schools and social programs in Queensland started from here.
