1884
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MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE
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CATHEDRAL PARISH OF THE SACRED HEART HAMILTON |
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FOUNDED 1884 |
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DIOCESE MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE |
| CATHEDRAL CHURCH | HISTORIC CHURCHES | OTHER BUILDINGS | RELIGIOUS ORDERS | PARISH DIRECTORY |
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| CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART | ||
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| PARISH | HISTORY | CATHEDRAL |
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 | PARISH |
| THE INNER CITY SUBURB OF HAMILTON DEVELOPED AROUND THE COLLIERIES OF THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY AS THE EARLY NAMES OF PITTOWN AND BOREHOLE SUGGEST. FOR 50 YEARS MINING DOMINATED THE AREA AND HAMILTON'S GROWTH WAS INTIMATELY LINKED TO THE COMPANY'S FORTUNES. AFTER THE CLOSURE OF THE MINES, HAMILTON DEVELOPED AS A COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT. TODAY IT REMAINS AN IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL CENTRE BUT THE POPULATION HAS LARGELY MOVED ON TO NEWER SUBURBS TO THE WEST AND SOUTH. UNTIL 1873 THE CITY OF NEWCASTLE WAS PART OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY, BUT IN THAT YEAR IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE DIOCESE OF MAITLAND. IN 1884 HAMILTON WAS SEPARATED FROM NEWCASTLE AND BECAME A PARISH COVERING THE SUBURBS OF BURWOOD (MEREWETHER), ADAMSTOWN, WARATAH, WICKHAM, ISLINGTON, TIGHES HILL AND CHARLESTOWN AND BRIEFLY CARRINGTON. MOST OF THESE LATER BECAME PARISHES IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. MEANWHILE LACK OF SPACE IN THE INNER CITY SAW THE PARISH TAKE ON MANY OF THE FUNCTIONS OF A CENTRAL CITY PARISH AND SINCE 1995 IT HAS ALSO BECOME THE ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE OF THE DIOCESE. DIOCESE |
| DIOCESE |  |
| THE DIOCESE OF MAITLAND AS ORIGINALLY FOUNDED COMPRISED THE BOROUGH OF EAST MAITLAND ONLY. IN 1865 THE DIOCESE WAS EXTENDED TO COVER THE THE AREA FROM MORPETH TO COONAMBLE. IN 1873 NEWCASTLE WAS ADDED TO THE DIOCESE AND IN 1887 THE WESTERN AREAS WERE DETACHED LEAVING THE DIOCESE WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HUNTER VALLEY ONLY. IN THE 1960's THE PARISHES OF BELMONT, SWANSEA, MORRISSET, TORONTO AND BOOLAROOO WERE DETACHED FROM SYDNEY AND ADDED TO MAITLAND. BY 1995 THE DOMINANCE OF NEWCASTLE AS THE MAJOR URBAN CENTRE OF THE DIOCESE WAS RECOGNISED AND IN THAT YEAR THE DIOCESAN SEAT WAS MOVED THERE AND THE DIOCESE RENAMED THE DIOCESE OF MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE. | |
| HISTORY DIOCESAN CURIA DIOCESAN DIRECTORY | |
| FIRST CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART |
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| WHEN IN 1873 THE PARISH OF NEWCASTLE WAS HANDED OVER TO THE DIOCESE OF MAITLAND, BISHOP MURRAY IMMEDIATELY TOOK STEPS TO ENSURE THE CATHOLICS OF NEWCASTLE WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO A CATHOLIC EDUCATION. WITH THIS IN MIND HE OPENED CHURCH/SCHOOLS IN LAMBTON, HAMILTON, AND BURWOOD (MEREWETHER). THE CHURCH/SCHOOL IN HAMILTON WAS BUILT IN 1875 OF BRICK IN TRADITIONAL STYLE COMPRISING A NAVE, USED AS CLASSROOMS DURING THE WEEK, AND PORCH. THE CHURCH WAS LOCATED ON AND PARALLEL TO MAITLAND RD. IN 1884 IT BECAME THE PARISH CHURCH OF HAMILTON, ALTHOUGH IT CONTINUED IN USE AS A SCHOOL UNTIL 1895 WHEN THE SACRED HEART PARISH SCHOOL WAS OPENED. ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE CHURCH WAS EXTENDED WITH THE ADDITION OF A CHANCEL AND NORTHERN TRANSEPT. A SHORT TIME LATER A LONG TRANSEPT WAS ADDED ON THE SOUTHERN (LITURGICAL NORTH-EAST) SIDE OF THE CHURCH FOR THE USE OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY (A COMMON PRACTICE IN PARISHES WHERE THE SISTERS HAD THEIR CONVENTS) AND A SACRISTY BUILT AT ITS END. THE PHOTO ABOVE SHOWS THE NORTH SIDE OF THE CHURCH SOMETIME IN THE LATE 1890's AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE CHANCEL AND TRANSEPT AND THE SACRED HEART SCHOOL TO THE EAST OF THE CHURCH. BY THE 1920's THE OLD CHURCH WAS BECOMING TOO CRAMPED FOR THE CONGREGATION AS WELL AS SUFFERING FROM SEVERAL STRUCTURAL DEFECTS, A FACT BROUGHT HOME BY THE COLLAPSE OF PART OF THE WOODEN ADDITIONS TO THE NUN'S CHANCEL WHICH HAD BEEN CONVERTED INTO A HALL, AND THOUGHT WAS GIVEN TO THE ERECTION OF A NEW CHURCH, LAND FOR WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN PURCHASED NEXT DOOR TO THE CONVENT. IN 1930 ON THE OPENING OF THE PRESENT CHURCH THE OLD ONE WAS CLOSED. FOR MANY YEARS HOWEVER IT CONTINUED TO SERVE THE PARISH AS SOUTHERN CROSS HALL UNTIL IT WAS FINALLY DEMOLISHED IN 1974. NEXT |
 | THE CHURCH IN ITS FINAL FORM IS CLEARLY SEEN HERE WITH THE LONG NUN'S TRANSEPT AND SACRISTY ON THE LEFT AND AT THE REAR THE RUSTIC OLD BELLTOWER. THE BASIC CHURCH/SCHOOL STYLE IS OBVIOUS AT A GLANCE. DURING THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CENTURY SEVERAL WOODEN ADDITIONS WERE TACKED ONTO THE NUN'S CHANCEL CHURCH AND WERE USED AS CHURCH HALL, KNOWN AS THE SOUTHERN CROSS HALL (SEE ABOVE). BY 1974 THE OLD CHURCH WAS IN A SADLY DILAPIDATED STATE AND WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW HALL NEXT DOOR IT WAS DEMOLISHED AS REDUNDANT. NEXT |
| THE INTERIOR OF THE OLD CHURCH, SEEN HERE IN THE ONLY KNOWN PHOTO OF IT TO EXIST, WAS TYPICAL OF THE CATHOLICISM OF ITS DAY. AS THE CHANCEL WAS NOT CLEARLY DEFINED FROM THE NAVE THE HIGH ALTAR AND THE TWO SIDE ALTARS WERE SIMPLY PLACED IN A LINE ACROSS THE SANCTUARY. THE SANCTUARY AREA ITSELF WAS DEFINED BY THE CARVED WOODEN ALTAR RAIL RUNNING AROUND THREE OF ITS SIDES . AN INTERESTING FEATURE IS THE EXTENSIVE USE OF SACRED PICTURES IN THE SANCTUARY. THE ALTAR HERE, PHOTOGRAPHED AROUND 1910, HAS CLEARLY BEEN SET UP FOR A FESTIVE CELEBRATION OF SOME KIND. CATHEDRAL |  |
 | SECOND CHURCH AND CATHEDRAL OF THE SACRED HEART |
| IN 1924 FR VICTOR PETERS ARRIVED TO TAKE OVER THE PARISH AND IT WAS HIS AMBITION TO PROVIDE HAMILTON WITH ONE OF THE BEST CHURCHES IN THE DIOCESE. BY 1928 SUFFICIENT FUNDS HAD BEEN RAISED TO COMMENCE BUILDING AND THE FOUNDATION STONE WAS LAID BY DR DWYER. TWO YEARS LATER THE CHURCH WAS OPENED BY THE SAME BISHOP WITH A FULL PONTIFICAL HIGH MASS. THE MAGNIFICENT CHURCH SERVED HAMILTON FOR 65 YEARS AS THE PARISH CHURCH BUT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THIS WAS A CHURCH WITH AN AIR OF GREATER THINGS TO COME. ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE EXISTS THAT ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION FR PETERS REFERRED TO THE CHURCH AS THE "CATHEDRAL" AND THE CHURCH IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MOST CATHEDRAL LIKE CHURCHES WITHIN THE DIOCESE BEING BOTH LARGE IN SIZE AND IMPOSING IN DESIGN. AFTER THE DEATH OF FR PETERS IN 1960 THE CHURCH BECAME A "BISHOP'S PARISH" AND THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING SACRED HEART THE DIOCESAN CATHEDRAL WAS DEFINITELY CONSIDERED. HOWEVER IN 1976 A NEW PARISH PRIEST WAS APPOINTED AND THE MATTER SHELVED FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS. IN 1989 HOWEVER THE NEWCASTLE EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED THE PRO-CATHEDRAL IN MAITLAND AND THIS SPURRED A RECONSIDERATION OF THE EARLIER PLAN. IN DUE COURSE THE CHURCH FULFILLED FR PETERS' DREAM WHEN ON 16 JULY 1995 IT BECAME THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF THE NEWLY RENAMED DIOCESE OF MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE, A WORTHY AND DESERVED TITLE FOR THIS GREAT CHURCH. NEXT |
| THE CHURCH WAS DESIGNED BY MR PETER GANNON WHOSE INFLUENCE CAN BE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE DIOCESE IN THE MANY CHURCHES FOR WHICH HE WAS RESPONSIBLE. IT IS BUILT IN ROMANESQUE STYLE IN THE TRADITIONAL CRUCIFORM SHAPE COMPRISING A NAVE, CHANCEL, TRANSEPTS WITH AN IMPOSING TOWER. A CLASSICAL PORTICO SURMOUNTED BY A LOVELY CARRERA MARBLE STATUE OF OUR LORD REACHING OUT TO EMBRACE THE WORLD TO HIS SACRED HEART ABOVE THE LATIN MOTTO "COME TO ME ALL" GREETS THE VISITOR TO THE CHURCH (SEE ABOVE). OVER THE PORTICO IS ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S FINEST ROSE WINDOWS. TO THE RIGHT OF THE MAIN BUILDING IS THE LOVELY BAPTISTRY (SEE BELOW). THE CROSS ON THIS BUILDING WAS A GIFT OF 'RED ARTHUR' A NOTED COMMUNIST OF THE ERA AND ALSO A COPPERSMITH. COMMISSIONED TO CAST THE TOWER CROSS HE AGREED ONLY IF HE COULD MAKE A SECOND CROSS FOR THE BAPTISTRY IN MEMORY OF HIS FAITHFUL CATHOLIC MOTHER. THE CHURCH IS SET IN LOVELY FLOWER AND TREE FILLED GROUNDS, A VERITABLE OASIS IN THE CONCRETE JUNGLE OF THE INNER CITY. NEXT |  |
 | THE TWO CROSSES CAST BY 'RED ARTHUR' CAN BE SEEN HERE ON THE TOWER (<<<<) AND BAPTISTRY (>>>>). THE ORIGINAL CUPOLA (<<<<) WAS MADE OF CEMENT BUT WAS SEVERLY DAMAGED IN THE 1989 EARTHQUAKE. IT IS NOW LOCATED IN THE GROUNDS AS A MEMORIAL TO QUAKE VICTIMS (vvvv). IT WAS REPLACED BY A NEW COPPER CUPOLA IN THE EARLY 90's. NEXT |  |
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 | FROM THE BACK THE CRUCIFORM SHAPE IS IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS AS IS THE SEMI-CIRCULAR DOMED CHANCEL DOMINATING THE CLUSTER OF SACRISTIES AROUND ITS BASE. AN ATTRACTIVELY MAINTAINED GARDEN ENHANCES THE VIEW OF THE CHURCH. IN THE GARDENS BEHIND THE CHURCH IS A PRETTY LITTLE LOURDES GROTTO FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONAL USE. NEXT |
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| A RECENT ADDITION TO THE CATHEDRAL GROUNDS IS THIS ATTRACTIVE COLLOMBARIUM CLOSE TO THE LOURDES GROTTO. THE CENTRE STATUE IS APPROPRIATELY OF THE SACRED HEART. | A CLOSER VIEW OF THE PRETTY FLOWER FILLED GROTTO. NEXT |
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| THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH IS DIGNIFIED AND ELEGANT WITH ADORNMENT BEING KEPT TO A MINIMUM SO AS NOT TO OVERWHELM BUT TO DRAW THE EYE INEXORABLY TOWARDS THE BEAUTY OF THE SANCTUARY. TRADITIONAL SIDE ALTARS FLANK BOTH SIDES OF THE SANCTUARY WHILE EACH OF THE FULL-SIZED TRANSEPTS IS LIT BY A LOVELY ROUND STAINED GLASS WINDOW. |  |
THE SANCTUARY ITSELF IS A WORK OF ART. NOW CARPETED AND DOMINATED BY THE MAGNIFICENT CARRERA MARBLE ALTAR AND CRUCIFIXION GROUP IT HAS BEEN SYMPATHETICALLY RE-ORDERED BY THE SIMPLE EXPEDIENT OF INSTALLING A SMALL MARBLE ALTAR FORWARD OF THE ORIGINAL HIGH ALTAR. NEXT |
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| ALTAR OF OUR LADY | ALTAR OF ST JOSEPH |
| THE CHANGING FACE OF THE CATHEDRAL SANCTUARY. AT THE TOP CAN BE SEEN THE ORIGINAL SANCTUARY AND WOODEN ALTAR INSTALLED IN 1930. THE CARRERA MARBLE CALVARY GROUP IS RAISED HIGH ABOVE THE ALTAR ON A SHELF RUNNING AROUND THE DOME. BELOW IS THE SANCTUARY AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW MARBLE ALTAR AND REREDOS IN 1940. THE CALVARY GROUP IS NOW MOUNTED ON TOP OF THE REREDOS AS IT IS TODAY. TO THE RIGHT OF THE SANCTUARY WAS A NEW CHANCEL FOR THE MERCY SISTERS. | |
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 | AT THE REAR OF THE CHURCH IS THE ORGAN AND CHOIR GALLERY WITH AN ATTRACTIVE PAINTING OF THE SACRED HEART ADORNING IT. THE WONDERFUL ROSE WINDOW WITH THE SACRED HEART IN THE CENTRE IMPOSES ITSELF ON THE WHOLE CHURCH, ITS GLITTERING COLOURS FORMING A PERFECT COUNTERPOINT TO THE SEVERELY CLASSICAL STYLING OF THE CHURCH'S ARCHITECTURE. A BEAUTIFUL SET OF STATIONS ADORNS THE WALLS OF THE NAVE. NEXT |
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 | THE MARBLE ALTAR, REREDOS AND CRUCIFIXION GROUP ARE PROBABLY THE GREATEST OF THE CATHEDRAL TREASURES BUT THEY WOULD BE RUN A CLOSE SECOND BY THE SACRED HEART SHRINE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE NAVE. THE SHRINE CONTAINS A MARBLE ALTAR AND A PAINTING OF THE APPARITION TO ST MARGARET MARY SPECIALLY COMMISSIONED FOR THE OPENING OF THE CHURCH IN 1930. THE SHRINE IS SET ASIDE FOR PRIVATE PRAYER AND IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PARTS OF THE CATHEDRAL. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES | |
| THE SUPERB CARRERA MARBLE CRUCIFIXION GROUP SURMOUNTING THE OLD HIGH ALTAR. |  | |
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| HISTORIC CHURCHES | ||||||
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| WICKHAM | ||||||
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| CHURCH OF ST GABRIEL, WICKHAM | |
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| THE INNER SUBURB OF WICKHAM WAS ONCE A BUSY INDUSTRIAL AREA WHICH INCLUDED A BREWERY, SAW-MILLS AND SOAP WORKS. SEVERAL FINE HOUSES WERE BUILT THERE AND IT BECAME AN IMPORTANT MUNICIPALITY. WITH THE MOVEMENT OF RESIDENTS TO THE OUTER SUBURBS WICKHAM BECAME A COMMERCIAL CENTRE. WICKHAM HAD ALWAYS BEEN PART OF HAMILTON PARISH AND LOCAL RESIDENTS WENT TO THE SACRED HEART CHURCH. THEN IN 1950 THE BISHOP DECIDED TO DETACH PART OF HAMILTON AND TIGHES HILL PARISHES TO FORM A NEW PARISH OF WICKHAM DEDICATED TO OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR. DESPITE DOUBTS ABOUT ITS VIABILITY THE NEW PARISH PRIEST, FR BOURKE, SET ABOUT CREATING THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED. | |
| THERE WERE NO PAROCHIAL BUILDINGS AND SO MASS WAS SAID IN ST GERARD'S CHAPEL AT THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL ST GERARD'S INSTITUTE. A PRESBYTERY WAS PURCHASED IN 1951 AND IN 1960 A PARISH CHURCH WAS FINALLY BUILT. THE PARISH CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE HOWEVER. IN 1970 IT WAS COMBINED WITH CARRINGTON TO FORM THE PARISH OF PORT HUNTER BUT EVEN THIS PROVED UNVIABLE. IN 1973 THE PARISH WAS SUPPRESSED AND WICKHAM RETURNED TO HAMILTON AS A STATION. MASSES CONTINUED TO BE SAID IN THE FORMER PARISH CHURCH FOR SOME YEARS BUT A CONTINUAL DECLINE IN NUMBERS SAW THE CHURCH CLOSED IN 1979. CHURCH | |
| CHURCH | |
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| THE CHURCH OF ST GABRIEL WAS A TYPICAL PRODUCT OF THE EARLY 60's BEING FUNCTIONAL RATHER THAN DECORATIVE IN DESIGN. IT COMPRISED A CENTRAL NAVE EXTENDING AT THE SAME HEIGHT FROM THE NARTHEX TO THE SANCTUARY WITH AISLES ON BOTH SIDES MARKING THE ACTUAL NAVE PORTION OF THE CHURCH. WINDOWS WERE RECTANGULAR AND PLAIN AND THE EXTERIOR DECORATION WAS RESTRICTED TO A RAISED CROSS ON THE BRICKWORK OF THE EAST END. THIS CROSS CAN STILL BE SEEN ON THE BUILDING (TOP RIGHT). FOR NOISE REASONS THE CHURCH WAS BUILT WITH THE SANCTUARY AS FAR BACK FROM ALBERT ST AS POSSIBLE. A LARGE SACRISTY WAS ADDED ON THE NORTHERN SIDE. FUNCTIONALITY CONTINUED TO BE THE DOMINANT NOTE OF THE INTERIOR AS WELL, AS CAN BE SEEN IN THE PHOTO OF THE CHURCH OPENING (ABOVE RIGHT). IN 1982 IT WAS SOLD TO THE PARAPLEGIC AND QAUDRAPLEGIC ASSOCIATION OF NSW WHO USED IT FOR OFFICES UNTIL 2000 WHEN IT WAS AGAIN SOLD AND CONVERTED TO A PRIVATE RESIDENCE (ABOVE LEFT). THE NARROW FULL-HEIGHT SHAPE OF THE FORMER NARTHEX IS CLEARLY MARKED HERE IN CONTRAST TO THE WIDER CHANCEL (SEE ABOVE). TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES OTHER BUILDINGS | |
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| OTHER BUILDINGS | ||
| OVER ITS ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY YEAR PERIOD AS A PARISH A LARGE COMPLEX OF CATHOLIC BUILDINGS, PAROCHIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND LATER DIOCESAN, HAS FORMED AROUND THE CHURCH. FIRST IN THE SEQUENCE WAS THE PRESBYTERY ORIGINALLY BUILT IN THE 1870's AS A HOUSE FOR THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, THEN LATER A TEMPORARY CONVENT FOR THE SISTERS OF MERCY BEFORE BEING CONVERTED FOR THE USE OF THE PARISH PRIEST. THIS WAS REPLACED IN 1970 BY A NEW PRESBYTERY. IN THE LATE 1800's SACRED HEART CONVENT AND SCHOOL WERE BUILT ADJACENT TO THE CHURCH AND IN 1923 ST ALOYSIUS SECONDARY SCHOOL BEHIND IT. ST FRANCIS XAVIER COLLEGE AND A MARIST MONASTERY WERE BUILT ON A SEPARATE SITE IN 1928. FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW CHURCH IN 1930 THE FORMER CHURCH WAS CONVERTED INTO A PARISH HALL CALLED SOUTHERN CROSS HALL. IT WAS LATER REPLACED BY A NEW SOUTHERN CROSS HALL BEFORE BEING DEMOLISHED IN 1974. IN THE MID 1970's A NEW BUILDING TO HOUSE THE PARISH OFFICES WAS CONSTRUCTED. LATER THIS WAS ALSO THE LOCATION OF THE DIOCESAN MARRIAGE TRIBUNAL. AFTER 1995 WITH THE TRANSFER OF THE DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATION TO THE SITE THE FORMER CONVENT AND SACRED HEART SCHOOL WERE RENOVATED AS THE BISHOP LEO CLARKE BUILDING TO HOUSE THE DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATION. ST ALOYSIUS HIGH SCHOOL WAS LEASED TO A PRIVATE ART GALLERY. ANOTHER DIOCESAN ADDITION HAS BEEN THE PURCHASE OF A BISHOP'S RESIDENCE CLOSE TO HIS CATHEDRAL. BEYOND THE PARISH COMPLEX ITSELF LIE SEVERAL BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN OR ARE USED BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. IN WICKHAM THERE IS THE FORMER PRESBYTERY (PURCHASED IN 1951) AND THE FORMER ST VINCENT DE PAUL RUN ST GERARD'S INSTITUTE. THE SAME ORGANISATION CURRENTLY MAINTAINS THE MATTHEW TALBOT HOSTEL IN THE SAME LOCATION AS WELL AS RETAIL OUTLETS IN BOTH HAMILTON AND ISLINGTON. THE LATTER IS ALSO THE DIOCESAN HEADQUARTERS OF THE SOCIETY. IN THE POST-WAR PERIOD THE EXISTANCE OF A SIGNIFICANT ITALIAN COMMUNITY IN HAMILTON BROUGHT THE SCALABRINIAN MISSIONARIES TO NEWCASTLE TO ESTABLISH THE BISHOP SCALABRINI CENTRE AND A CHAPLAINCY WITHIN THE PARISH. | ||
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HAMILTON PRESBYTERIES |
HAMILTON PARISH CENTRE |
HAMILTON SOUTHERN CROSS HALL |
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ISLINGTON ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY |
WICKHAM PRESBYTERY |
WICKHAM MATTHEW TALBOT HOSTEL |
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WICKHAM ST GERARD MAJELLA'S INSTITUTE | ||
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| PRESBYTERIES, HAMILTON | |
 | THE ORIGINAL PRESBYTERY HAD BEEN BUILT AS A RESIDENCE FOR THE PRINCIPAL OF THE PARISH SCHOOL IN 1874. IT WAS LATER USED AS THE FIRST CONVENT OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY BEFORE BEING CONVERTED FOR AS THE PRESBYTERY. BY THE LATE 50's THE OLD PRESBYTERY WAS CONSIDERED TOO SMALL AND PRIMITIVE AND PLANS WERE MOOTED FOR A NEW PRESBYTERY TO BE BUILT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PRESENT CHURCH. FOR SEVERAL REASONS CONSTRUCTION WAS DELAYED FOR OVER TEN YEARS AND THE NEW PRESBYTERY, A MODERN TWO STORY BRICK BUILDING WAS NOT OPENED UNTIL 1971. THIS BUILDING CONTINUES TO SERVE AS THE PRESBYTERY TODAY. NEXT |
| IN 1874 WHEN THE CHURCH/SCHOOL OPENED A HOUSE WAS BUILT NEXT DOOR TO IT FOR THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. IN 1884 THE SISTERS OF MERCY USED IT AS THEIR FIRST TEMPORARY CONVENT UNTIL THE NEW CONVENT WAS BUILT IN 1889. WITH THE ADDITION OF A SECOND STORY, IT THEN BECAME THE PRESBYTERY. | FOR SEVERAL REASONS, INCLUDING THE NEED FOR EXTENSIONS TO THE PARISH SCHOOL AND THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE BISHOP IN WHAT WAS LIKELY TO BECOME A CATHEDRAL RATHER THAN A PAROCHIAL PRESBYTERY IT WAS OVER TEN YEARS BEFORE THE NEW PRESBYTERY WAS FINALLY COMPLETED AND OPENED IN 1971. |
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| TOP OTHER BUILDINGS PARISH ROOMS | |
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| PARISH CENTRE, HAMILTON | |
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| PRIOR TO THE 1970's A NUMBER OF AD HOC BUILDINGS ALONG TUDOR ST WERE USED BY THE PARISH AS OFFICES, MEETING ROOMS AND THE CANVAS OFFICE (LOCATED AT 12 TUDOR ST). IN 1972 FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF THE PRESBYTERY A NEW PARISH CENTRE WAS CONSTRUCTED ON THE CORNER OF TUDOR AND PARRY STS. THIS BUILDING SERVED THE JOINT FUNCTION BOTH AS PARISH CENTRE AND AS THE BASE FOR THE CATHOLIC FAMILY WELFARE BUREAU. THIS DUAL FUNCTION IS MAINTAINED TODAY WITH THE BUILDING CONTAINING NOT ONLY PARISH MEETING ROOMS BUT ALSO THE OFFICE OF THE DIOCESAN MARRIAGE TRIBUNAL MOVED TO HAMILTON IN 1995. NEXT | |
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| TOP OTHER BUILDINGS SOUTHERN CROSS HALL |
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| SOUTHERN CROSS HALL, HAMILTON | |||||
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| BETWEEN 1910 AND 1920 A SERIES OF JERRY-BUILT ADDITIONS WERE MADE TO THE NUN'S CHANCEL AND THE SPACE CONVERTED INTO A HALL FOR PARISH FUNCTIONS CALLED THE SOUTHERN CROSS HALL (BELOW LEFT). FOLLOWING THE BUILDING OF THE CURRENT CHURCH ALTERATIONS WERE MADE TO THE OLD CHURCH WHICH WITH A NEW ENTRANCE BECAME THE NEW SOUTHERN CROSS HALL IN 1935 (BELOW). BY THE 1970's IT WAS GENERALLY FELT THAT A NEW AND MORE SUBSTANTIAL HALL WAS REQUIRED AND IN 1973 THE PRESENT HALL WAS BUILT ON THE SITE OF THE OLD PRESBYTERY (ABOVE). THE HALL IS USED FOR FUNCTIONS AND THAT TRADITIONAL FUND RAISER, HOUSIE. NEXT | |||||
| A VIEW OF THE ORIGINAL HALL SHOWING THE SHANTY-LIKE CONSTRUCTION. THE COLLAPSE OF PART OF THIS STRUCTURE PROMPTED THE DECISION TO BUILD A NEW CHURCH. | IN 1935 ADDITIONS WERE MADE TO THE OLD CHURCH INCLUDING AN ADJUNCT ON THE SOUTH (SCHOOL) SIDE. WITH A NEW ENTRANCE (SEEN TO THE LEFT) THE CHURCH THEN BECAME THE NEW HALL. | ||||
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TODAY SOUTHERN CROSS HALL CONSTITUTES THE CATHEDRAL FUNCTION CENTRE THAT ALSO INCLUDES THE THE V J PETERS SUITE, A RECEPTION HALL NAMED FOR HAMILTON'S LONGEST SERVING PARISH PRIEST AND BUILDER OF THE CATHEDRAL, MONSIGNOR PETERS.
 TOP OTHER BUILDINGS ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY | | ||||
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| ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, ISLINGTON | |
 | THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, DEDICATED TO HELPING THE POOR AND DISADVANTAGED, MAINTAINS SEVERAL CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS AND MANY RETAIL CENTRES THROUGHOUT THE DIOCESE OF MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE. WITHIN THE PARISH OF HAMILTON ITSELF THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO RETAIL STORES RUN BY THE SOCIETY LOCATED IN HAMILTON AND ISLINGTON. UNTIL 2003 THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL BUILDING IN ISLINGTON WAS THE DIOCESAN OFFICE BUT TODAY IT SERVES AS A RETAIL OUTLET AND CENTRE OF CHARITY. IT IS A SIMPLE UNPRETENSIOUS COMMERCIAL BUILDING APPROPRIATE FOR A SOCIETY COMMITTED TO WORKING FOR AND WITH THE MARGINALISED OF SOCIETY. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS WICKHAM PRESBYTERY |
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| PRESBYTERY, WICKHAM | |
 | WHEN THE PARISH OF WICKHAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1950 THERE WERE NO PAROCHIAL BUILDINGS AT ALL LOCATED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE NEW PARISH. FR BOURKE, THE PARISH PRIEST, WORKED FROM THE ST GERARD INSTITUTE OR THE MARYVILLE TAVERN, A RESIDENTIAL HOTEL. FINALLY IN JUNE 1951 A HOUSE WAS OBTAINED IN ALBERT ST AND THIS BECAME THE NEW PRESBYTERY. IRONICALLY THE PARISH WOULD HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER NINE YEARS BEFORE IT GOT ITS OWN CHURCH. THE PRESBYTERY WAS A SIMPLE FEDERATION WEATHERBOARD BUNGALOW WITH A VERANDAH MARKED BY AN IMPRESSIVE ENTRANCE PORCH AND ATTRACTIVE BARGE BOARDS. IT ALSO SERVED AS THE PRESBYTERY DURING THE BRIEF LIFE OF THE PORT HUNTER PARISH UNTIL THAT PARISH WAS SUPPRESSED IN 1973. FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF THE PARISH THE BUILDING WAS SOLD AND USED AS A PRIVATE RESIDENCE. IT STILL STANDS TODAY THOUGH SADLY DECAYED SINCE ITS BRIEF RELIGIOUS MOMENT. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS MATTHEW TALBOT HOSTEL |
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| MATTHEW TALBOT HOSTEL FOR HOMELESS MEN, WICKHAM | |
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| FOLLOWING THE DEMISE OF THE ST GERARD'S SEAMAN'S INSTITUTE IN THE EARLY 70's THE BUILDING WAS DEMOLISHED AND IN 1974 THE MATTHEW TALBOT HOSTEL FOR HOMELESS MEN BASED ON THE SUCCESSFUL MATTHEW TALBOT HOSTEL IN SYDNEY WAS OPENED BY THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY ON THE SAME SITE. THIS NEW BUILDING (ABOVE RIGHT) PROVIDED BETTER ACCOMODATION AND MORE SERVICES TO THE NEEDY INCLUDING PROVIDING SANDWICHES AND COFFEE TO CALLERS AT THE DOOR AND THE PROVISION OF UNIT STYLE ACCOMODATION IN PLACE OF THE DORMITORY. IN 1996 THREE VILLAS WERE ADDED ALLOWING FOR MORE INDEPENDANT LIVING. ACCOMODATION WAS EXPANDED WITH THE OPENING OF SEVERAL NEW UNITS IN 1997 AT WHICH TIME THE HOSTEL WAS ALSO RENOVATED (ABOVE LEFT). DESIGNED TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY ACCOMODATION THE HOSTEL BLENDS UNOBTRUSIVELY INTO ITS SURROUNDINGS. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS ST GERARD INSTITUTE | |
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| ST GERARD MAJELLA'S INSTITUTE FOR SEAMEN AND HOME FOR NEEDY TRAVELLERS, WICKHAM | |
| ST GERARD MAJELLA'S INSTITUTE WAS OPENED BY THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY AT 80 HANNELL ST WICKHAM IN 1941 AS A SPECIAL WORK OF THE SOCIETY TO PROVIDE FOR SEAMEN AND TO CATER FOR HOMELESS AND NEEDY MEN. THE INSTITUTE PROVIDED SIMPLE FARE TO BE COOKED, A DINING ROOM, SHOWERS, A DORMITORY AND A SMALL CHAPEL. IN THE LATE 1960's THE SOCIETY RELINQUISHED THE SEAMEN'S MISSION TO THE APOSTLESHIP OF THE SEA (STELLA MARIS INSTITUTE) SET UP TO DEAL WITH THIS WORK AND IN 1973 THE LATTER MOVED TO THE ANGLICAN SEAMAN'S MISSION AT 96 HANNELL ST. WITH THE INSTITUTE NO LONGER NEEDED IT WAS DEMOLISHED AND IN 1974 THE SOCIETY OPENED THE MATTHEW TALBOT HOSTEL TO TAKE OVER THE WORK OF PROVIDING FOR THE HOMELESS. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES OTHER BUILDINGS RELIGIOUS ORDERS PARISH DIRECTORY | |
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| RELIGIOUS ORDERS | ||
| MARIST BROTHERS SYDNEY PROVINCE |
SISTERS OF MERCY SINGLETON CONGREGATION |
SCALABRINIAN MISSIONARIES ST FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI PROVINCE |
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| RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS | |||
| SACRED HEART PARISH SCHOOL | ST ALOYSIUS SECONDARY SCHOOL | ST FRANCIS XAVIER COLLEGE | BISHOP SCALABRINI CENTRE |
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| PARISH DIRECTORY | |
| PARISH CHURCH 841 HUNTER ST NEWCASTLE WEST 2302 POST: PO BOX 6 THE JUNCTION 2291 PHONE: (02) 4979 1101 FAX: (02) 4962 4644 EMAIL: hamilton@mn.catholic.org.au WEBSITE: www.mn.catholic.org.au/bishop/cathedral.htm | SECONDARY SCHOOL ST FRANCIS XAVIER'S COLLEGE 286 PARKWAY AVE HAMILTON 2303 POST: PO BOX 300 HAMILTON 2303 PHONE: (02) 4961 2863 FAX: (02) 4961 2384 EMAIL: admin@hmltn.mn.catholic.edu.au WEBSITE: www.hmltn.mn.catholic.edu.au |
| ST VINCENT DE PAUL MATTHEW TALBOT HOSTEL 82 HANNELL ST WICKHAM 2293 POST: PO BOX 101 WICKHAM 2293 PHONE: (02) 4961 1411 FAX: (02) 4962 1316 EMAIL: matthew.talbot1@bigpond.com RETAIL STORES 125 MAITLAND RD ISLINGTON PHONE: (02) 4961 1476 FAX: (02) 4965 4957 143 BEAUMONT ST HAMILTON 2303 PHONE: (02) 4961 3241 NIGHTCARE REFRESHMENT SITE SEE DIOCESAN YOUTH CO-ORDINATOR | RELIGIOUS ORDERS MARIST BROTHERS OF THE SCHOOLS 282 PARKWAY AVE HAMILTON 2303 POST: PO BOX 2360 DANGAR NSW 2309 PHONE: (02) 4969 0358 FAX: (02) 4962 2554 |
| CENTACARE HEAD OFFICE 845 HUNTER ST NEWCASTLE WEST 2302 POST: PO BOX 775 NEWCASTLE 2300 PHONE: (02) 4979 1330 FAX: (02) 4979 1339 EMAIL: centacare@mn.catholic.org.au | |
| DIOCESAN CENTRE BISHOP LEO CLARKE HOUSE 841 HUNTER ST NEWCASTLE WEST 2302 MANY DIOCESAN ORGANISATIONS AND OFFICES ARE LOCATED IN THE DIOCESAN CENTRE. FOR DETAILS OF THESE ORGANISATIONS PLEASE SEE THE DIOCESAN DIRECTORY. | DIOCESAN MARRIAGE TRIBUNAL CATHOLIC TRIBUNAL OF AUSTRALIA 12 TUDOR ST HAMILTON 2303 POST: PO BOX 759 NEWCASTLE 2300 PHONE: (02) 4979 1370 FAX: (02) 4979 1379 EMAIL: tribunal@mn.catholic.org.au |
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| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
| MUCH OF THE INFORMATION AND MANY OF THE HISTORICAL PHOTOS FOR THIS PAGE ARE TAKEN FROM THE BOOK WITH HEARTS AND HANDS AND VOICES: THE CENTENARY HISTORY OF THE PARISH OF HAMILTON 1884 - 1984 BY MICHAEL STERNBECK AND ARE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH GRATITUDE. READERS WISHING TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HAMILTON PARISH ARE REFERRED TO THIS BOOK. |
