St Josephs Convent facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Joseph's Convent of Mercy
Location	232 Lane Street, Broken Hill, City of Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1891 - 1909
Built for	The Sisters of Mercy
Architect	E. J. Woods
Owner	Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: St. Josephs Convent, Chapel & Site (former); St Josephs Convent; Chapel & Site
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	484
Type	Convent/Nunnery
Category	Religion
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St Joseph's Convent is an old building in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. It used to be a home for nuns (a convent) and a chapel. The building is very old and important, so it is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it is protected because of its history.

The convent was designed by an architect named E. J. Woods. It was built starting in 1891. Today, the building is owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes.

The Convent's Story

Sisters of Mercy Arrive

In 1890, six nuns from the Sisters of Mercy came to Broken Hill. They came from a town called Singleton. The Bishop of Wilcannia, John Dunne, asked them to come. He wanted them to help the children in Broken Hill.

At first, the sisters lived in a small, simple house. This house was next to where the main convent building stands today.

Building the Convent

The first stone for St Joseph's Convent was laid in February 1891. Bishop Dunne helped with this important event. The building was designed by E. J. Woods, an architect from Adelaide. A local builder named Mr. Kelly started the first part of the building.

The first section of the convent opened on July 19, 1891. People saw it as a "new wing" next to the old cottage. More parts were planned as Broken Hill grew. The building was finished in three stages. The last part was completed around 1907-1908. The original small house was removed in the 1950s. New rooms for music and a nurse's area were built there.

Changes Over Time

Sadly, a fire damaged the first floor of the convent in 1979. After the fire, the Sisters of Mercy decided to sell the building. The remaining nuns moved to another building nearby.

A group of local developers bought the property after the fire. They wanted to turn it into a private hospital. However, because the building was heritage-listed, they could not change its outside appearance. So, their plans did not work out.

In 1982, the Broken Hill Church of Christ bought the convent. They fixed up the building. The church used the old school rooms as a chapel for their services. They also changed parts of the convent into apartments.

On May 9, 2019, the Broken Hill Church of Christ sold the property. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes bought it. They officially took ownership on July 11, 2019.

Why It's Important

St Joseph's Convent is a very important historical site. It was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This listing helps protect the building. It ensures that its history and unique design are kept safe for the future.