St Patrick's Convent, North Ward facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Patrick's Convent, North Ward
St Patrick's Convent, 2012
Location	45 The Strand, North Ward, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Built	c. 1883
Built for	Sisters of Mercy
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: St Patrick's Convent
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	3 February 2012
Reference no.	602796
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St Patrick's Convent is a very old building in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It's a special place called a convent, where nuns live and work. Built around 1883, it has a long history. This important building is found at 45 The Strand in North Ward. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 3 February 2012, meaning it's protected for its historical value.

A Look Back: History of St Patrick's Convent

St Patrick's Convent is the oldest known convent built specifically for nuns in Queensland. It's a two-storey timber building on The Strand. The Sisters of Mercy had it built in 1883. This was a big improvement from an earlier convent used by the Sisters of St Joseph. The Sisters of Mercy have used this building as their main base in North Queensland for nearly 130 years.

Townsville's Early Days

Townsville started as a port city to serve the farms and mines inland. It was founded in 1864 by John Melton Black and Robert Towns. The city grew quickly after gold was found nearby in the late 1860s and early 1870s. By the 1890s, Townsville was the most important port in North Queensland. Its location in Cleveland Bay and Ross Creek offered a safe harbour. Railways also helped connect Townsville to inland areas like Charters Towers.

Catholic Church in Queensland

The Catholic Church grew in Queensland after it became a separate colony. Bishop James Quinn arrived in 1861 with priests and Sisters of Mercy. In Townsville, Catholic services began in the courthouse in 1866. In 1868, land was bought for a church and presbytery (a priest's house). St Joseph's Church was built soon after.

Sisters of St Joseph in Townsville

The Sisters of St Joseph, founded by Saint Mary MacKillop, came to Townsville in 1872. They lived in small rooms behind the presbytery. In 1873, a small timber convent and a school were built. This was the first convent school in North Queensland. The sisters taught about 100 students. In 1877, the convent was moved and made bigger to hold orphans and boarding students. However, the Sisters of St Joseph left Townsville in 1878 after a disagreement.

Sisters of Mercy Arrive

Father William Mason Walsh took over the parish in Townsville in 1878. He asked the Sisters of Mercy to come and restart the school. The Sisters of Mercy were founded in Ireland in 1831 by Catherine McAuley. Their goal was to help poor, sick, and uneducated women and children. They arrived in Townsville in November 1878. A boarding school called St Patrick's was set up in 1880. The primary school remained St Joseph's.

Building the New Convent

In 1882, Father Walsh bought more land on The Strand. Construction of the new St Patrick's Convent began. The foundation stone was laid on 21 January 1883. This ceremony also included four new nuns joining the convent. The exact date it was finished is not known. Photographs show a two-storey timber building with verandahs and a central gable. St Patrick's is the oldest convent built for its purpose that still stands in Queensland.

Townsville's Growth and Challenges

Townsville grew very fast between 1876 and 1891. The town's population more than doubled. This led to more churches and schools being built. In 1887, a second storey was added to St Patrick's boarding school. In 1888, another church and school, St Mary's, were opened in West Townsville.

However, there were setbacks. In January 1892, a huge flood damaged many buildings. St Joseph's Church was destroyed. Water also entered the convent grounds. After the flood, Mass was held in the school for many years. A new, larger church, the Townsville Cathedral, was planned and opened in 1902.

St Patrick's High School

The Sisters of Mercy started what is now Townsville's oldest high school for girls. In 1892, they began offering "University Class" at St Patrick's Convent. Students could take junior and senior exams. These exams were first set by Sydney University and later by Queensland University. St Patrick's was one of the first schools to offer high school education for girls in Queensland.

Convent Expansion in 1900

St Patrick's Convent was greatly expanded and renovated in 1900. Local contractor Mr William Dawson did the work. Wings were added to the north and south sides of the building. This changed its look from The Strand. It gained two steep gable roofs and a tall pyramidal roof over the central entry. The new parts had decorative features like quatrefoil windows and pointed arch windows.

A newspaper article from 1900 described the renovated building. The ground floor of the south wing had a chapel for the Sisters of Mercy. It had a beautiful ceiling and paintings. The north wing had the high school room. The back verandah was long and enclosed with lattice. The first floor had a community room and bedrooms. The front balcony was very long.

Convent Design and Daily Life

Convent buildings were designed to separate public and private areas. At St Patrick's, the visitor parlour was for guests. The priest's vestry and breakfast room were also separate. The internal staircase to the bedrooms was hidden from the entrance. These designs showed the rules for life inside the convent. The chapel was mostly used for special ceremonies, like when new nuns joined.

Challenges and Growth in the 20th Century

Townsville often faced severe weather. Cyclone Leonta hit in 1903, but St Patrick's Convent had little damage. The school buildings had some damage.

The Sisters of Mercy continued to grow. In 1901, St Patrick's became the "Motherhouse" for the order in Townsville. This meant it was the main centre. They had branches in other towns like Bowen and Winton. An important part of their growth was setting up a Novitiate, a training house for new nuns, at St Patrick's in 1901. Many new convents and schools were built in North Queensland.

New Buildings and Services

In 1911, St Patrick's High School building was dedicated next to the convent. A hostel called St Rita's was opened nearby in the early 1900s. It provided housing for young women from country areas working in Townsville.

The Diocese of Townsville was created in 1930. This was a big step for the Catholic Church in the region. The Sisters of Mercy celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1929. At that time, they were teaching about 2000 children in North Queensland. The Novitiate at St Patrick's was very important for this growth. Many Australian and Irish women joined the order there.

More schools were built in the 1930s. Rosario Infants School opened in 1935, using the Montessori Method of teaching. The Little Flower Academy, a commercial and domestic science building, opened in 1936. St Patrick's Convent remained the home for the Sisters of Mercy.

World War II and Beyond

During World War II, many buildings on The Strand were used by the military. St Patrick's Convent, St Rita's, and the schools were used by the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF). The nuns moved to other convents, and students were relocated. The WAAAF left in 1945. The buildings were then repaired and renovated.

The Sisters of Mercy also started helping the sick. In 1945, they took over a small private hospital, which became the Mater Misericordiae Hospital. A new, larger Mater Hospital opened in 1962. They also started aged care facilities like Villa Vincent in 1964.

Recent Changes to the Convent Site

Many changes happened to the Sisters of Mercy site on The Strand in the late 20th century. New buildings were added, including a chapel in 1959 and new science blocks and classrooms in 1963. In 1971, Cyclone Althea damaged St Patrick's Convent roof. The 1911 high school building was replaced in the mid-1980s. The Little Flower Academy was replaced by a new administrative building in 1991.

Today, St Patrick's College operates on The Strand. It is a Catholic secondary school for girls. The number of nuns and brothers working in Catholic schools decreased over time. In 2008, ten sisters celebrated their jubilees (long service). In 2011, the convent housed the last remaining sisters. It also served as a place of retreat for nuns from the Townsville Diocese.

A decorative fence with concrete pillars and metal panels runs along The Strand and Fryer Street. It was likely built around 1921. Gates provide access to the convent and other buildings.

What St Patrick's Convent Looks Like

St Patrick's Convent is a two-storey timber building. It is part of the St Patrick's College complex. The building faces The Strand. It is known for its steeply pitched gable roofs on the north and south wings.

The building is symmetrical, with a central part and wings on each side. Verandahs are on the north, east, and west sides. The north and east verandahs are now enclosed with louvres and asbestos cement sheeting. Some parts of the verandahs still have decorative balustrading, lattice, and valances. The outside of the north and south wings has asbestos cement sheeting over the original timber cladding.

The main entrance is from the east verandah. It has a timber door with coloured glass panels. The ground floor has a central entrance hall. To the north is the visitor parlour, and to the south is the vestry. The entrance hall is separated from the central staircase by a partition. The south room is an office, and the north room was the priest's breakfast room. A community dining room runs along the north wing. A former chapel is in the south wing. The chapel ceiling has decorative pressed metal. Most walls and ceilings on the ground floor are lined with timber boards. The west verandah still has its original decorative features.

The upper floor has a central corridor with bedrooms on both sides. Timber arches mark where the original building connects to the wings. Some bedrooms have been changed into bathrooms or small sitting rooms. The upper north verandah is enclosed and has bathrooms and a small kitchen. The middle part of the west verandah is also enclosed for utilities.

Lawns and garden beds are in front of the convent. A fence with concrete pillars and decorative wrought iron runs along The Strand and Fryer Street. There are decorative wrought iron gates for entrances. A concrete path leads from The Strand to the front entrance.

Why St Patrick's Convent is Important

St Patrick's Convent was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 3 February 2012. This means it is important for several reasons:

Showing Queensland's History

St Patrick's Convent is the oldest known convent built for its purpose in Queensland. It has been the home of Townsville's Sisters of Mercy since 1883. It shows how a religious order helped develop Queensland, especially in education and health care. It also serves as a place for nuns to rest and relax.

The convent played a key role in starting Catholic primary and secondary education in North Queensland. From 1892, it housed classes for St Patrick's High School. This is now the oldest high school for girls still operating in Townsville.

The convent also shows how Townsville grew as a major centre in North Queensland. The city's wealth from mining and farming led to many schools being built. The ongoing changes to the school site show the city's growth and success.

Key Features of a Convent

St Patrick's Convent shows the main features of a convent built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It has separate public and private areas. It also has a strong presence on a main street. The convent includes a chapel, community room, dining room, visitor parlour, priest breakfast room, vestry, and bedrooms (called cells). The small, simple bedrooms show the nuns' vow of poverty. The modest spaces reflect the Sisters of Mercy's goal to serve the poor, sick, and uneducated.

Connection to the Sisters of Mercy

The building has a special connection with the Sisters of Mercy since 1883. It was their main house (Motherhouse) in the Townsville region from 1901. The Sisters of Mercy have provided education in the area since 1878. They built many schools and started St Patrick's, the oldest high school for girls.

The chapel in the southern wing was where new nuns were welcomed into the order. These ceremonies were important public events. They helped show the role of the Sisters of Mercy in keeping Catholic traditions alive in Queensland. The sisters also started the Mater Hospital and aged care homes in Townsville. This helped them achieve their mission of caring for the poor, sick, and uneducated. The convent is a prominent part of St Patrick's College, showing the Sisters of Mercy's ongoing dedication to their work in Queensland.