1905
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MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE
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PARISH OF ST PATRICK LOCHINVAR |
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FOUNDED 1905 |
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DIOCESE MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE |
| PARISH CHURCH | HISTORIC CHURCHES | OTHER BUILDINGS |
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PARISH CHURCH OF ST PATRICK |
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| PARISH | CHURCH |
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| PARISH |
| THE LITTLE VILLAGE OF LOCHINVAR LIES ABOUT 15KM WEST OF MAITLAND. AN ATTRACTIVE SETTLEMENT PROVIDING BASIC SERVICES TO THE SURROUNDING RURAL COMMUNITY, TODAY IT IS RAPIDLY BECOMING A SUBURB OF GREATER MAITLAND. LOCHINVAR OWES ITS IMPORTANCE IN CATHOLIC HISTORY TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MAITLAND BRANCH OF THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH FROM PERTHVILLE IN 1883. THE CONVENT BECAME THE CENTRE OF A MAJOR CATHOLIC COMPLEX AND IN 1905 LOCHINVAR WAS DECLARED A PARISH. CHANGES IN EDUCATION, POPULATION AND THE DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF RELIGIOUS HAVE LEFT LOCHINVAR WITH A MUCH LESSENED IMPORTANCE AND TODAY THE PARISH IS LOOKED AFTER FROM MAITLAND. NEXT |
 | CHURCH |
| THE MAGNIFICENT AND IMPOSING CHURCH OF ST PATRICK DATES BACK TO THE EARLY YEARS OF THE 20th CENTURY. IT IS BUILT IN AN INTERESTING GOTHIC STYLE WITH A LONG NAVE AND A HIGH SIDE TOWER PLACED MIDWAY BETWEEN THE EAST AND WEST ENDS. THE CHANCEL IS A SMALL APSIDAL EXTENSION OF THE NAVE. SYMMETRICAL EXTENSIONS AT EACH END FORM THE SACRISTY AND FORMER BAPTISTRY. ENTRANCE IS UNUSUALLY AT THE MID-POINT VIA THE TOWER DOOR. THE USUAL GOTHIC DECORATION IS IN EVIDENCE ESPECIALLY THE BRICKWORK ARCHES FORMING A NICHE FOR THE STATUE OF THE PATRON ST PATRICK. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES |
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| HISTORIC CHURCHES | |
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| OTHER BUILDINGS |
| LOCHINVAR JOSEPHITE CONVENT |
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| CONVENT OF ST JOSEPH, LOCHINVAR | |
 | IN 1883 FOUR SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH ARRIVED FROM PERTHVILLE AT THE INVITATION OF BISHOP MURRAY TO ESTABLISH A DIOCESAN ORDER IN MAITLAND DIOCESE. THEY ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES AT LOCHINVAR AND CARRIED ON THE WORK OF THE ORIGINAL JOSEPHITES THROUGHOUT THE DIOCESE. GRADUALLY THE MOTHER HOUSE GREW WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FIRST A PRIMARY AND LATER SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AS WELL AS THE NOVITIATE. TODAY THIS IMPOSING CONVENT STANDS ON THE HIGHWAY IMPRESSING ALL WHO PASS IT. NEXT |
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| THE MAIN BUILDING FRONTS THE HIGHWAY AND CONSISTS OF A CENTRAL STRUCTURE AND TWO WINGS AROUND A GRASSED COURTYARD. TO THE LEFT IS THE NUN'S CHAPEL WITH ITS UNUSUAL WINDOWS AND GABLE CROSS. A STATUE OF THE PATRON OF THE ORDER, ST JOSEPH DOMINATES THE CENTRAL SQUARE WHILE OUR LADY GRACES THE CENTRAL WING ITSELF. NEXT | |
 | CHAPEL OF ST JOSEPH |
| TO THE RIGHT OF THE MAIN BUILDING IS THE CHAPEL OF ST JOSEPH ORIGINALLY USED BY THE BOARDERS AND SCHOOL STUDENTS. IT IS AN IMPRESSIVE BUILDING IN CLASSICAL GEORGIAN STYLE WITH ROUND-HEADED CELESTORY WINDOWS ABOVE SQUARE TOPPED NAVE WINDOWS AND ATTRACTIVE CREAMY STONE FACINGS BUILT IN THE EARLY 1900's. OF SPECIAL INTEREST IS THE LOVELY ROMAN STYLE PORCH THAT FORMS THE MAIN ENTRANCE. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES OTHER BUILDINGS |
