1872
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MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE
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PARISH OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY TAREE |
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FOUNDED 1872 |
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DIOCESE MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE |
| PARISH CHURCH | STATION CHURCHES | HISTORIC CHURCHES | OTHER BUILDINGS |
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PARISH CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY |
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| PARISH | HISTORY | CHURCH |
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 | PARISH |
| THE MANNING RIVER WAS WELL KNOWN AS EARLY AS 1820, FORMING THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY OF THE VAST HUNTER REGION, IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE ARRIVAL OF THE RAILROAD IN 1916, FOLLOWED BY THE COMPLETION OF THE MARTIN BRIDGE TO REPLACE THE FERRY IN 1940, THAT TAREE REALLY BEGAN TO DEVELOP AS THE CENTRAL TOWN OF THE VALLEY. TODAY TAREE A BIG, MODERN, ATTRACTIVE TOWN SERVICING THE SURROUNDING RURAL INDUSTRIES AND DRIVEN BY THE TOURISTS AND TRAVELLERS WHO PASS THROUGH THE TOWN. IT WAS DECLARED A CITY IN 1981. THE PAROCHIAL DISTRICT OF THE MANNING RIVER WAS FORMED IN 1855 LOCATED AT CUNDLETOWN BUT THE CENTRE OF OPERATIONS WAS LATER SHIFTED TO THE GROWING TOWN OF TAREE AND IN 1872 THE PARISH OF TAREE WAS DEEMED TO HAVE BEGUN, ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1916 THAT ITS NAME WAS CHANGED FROM MANNING VALLEY TO TAREE. A HUGE PARISH COVERING THE WHOLE OF THE MANNING AND CAMDEN HAVEN VALLEYS, IT GRADUALLY WHITTLED AWAY TO JUST THE LOWER MANNING WITH THE DETACHMENT OF KRAMBACH, CAMDEN HAVEN AND WINGHAM. TODAY IT COVERS IN ADDITION TO TAREE AND CUNDLETOWN, OLD BAR, HARRINGTON AND LANDSDOWNE AS WELL AS THE FORMER CENTRES OF OXLEY ISLAND, UPPER LANDSDOWNE AND COOPERNOOK. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW CENTURY IT HAS ALSO HAD RESPONSIBILITY FOR WINGHAM PARISH. NEXT |
| FIRST CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY, TAREE |  |
| UNTIL THE LATE 1860's MASSES WERE HELD AT THE CHURCH IN CUNDLETOWN, BUT BY THE TIME OF THE APPOINTMENT OF FR McGOUGH A BRICK CHURCH WAS ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THIS WAS A FACTOR IN DECIDING HIM TO LOCATE THE PARISH CENTRE IN TAREE. THE CHURCH WAS COMMENCED IN 1870 AND OPENED IN 1873. BUILT IN THE SIMPLIFIED GOTHIC OF THE TIME WITH POINTED ARCHES AND WINDOWS ABD A DISTINCT CHANCEL IT WAS DESCRIBED AS THE "LARGEST AND CERTAINLY THE MOST EXPENSIVE EDIFICE OF ITS CLASS" ON THE MANNING WHICH "SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR THE LIBERALITY OF THOSE WHO USUALLY WORSHIP IN IT". IT REMAINED THE PARISH CHURCH FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS UNTIL THE PRESENT CHURCH WAS BUILT. NEXT |
 THE FIRST CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY IN THE EARLY 1900's |  THE INTERIOR OF THE ORIGINAL CHURCH. |
 THE ORIGINAL WALL OF THE CHURCH (THE WINDOWS HAVE BEEN REPLACED) TODAY. |
 | SECOND CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY, TAREE |
| THE PRESENT CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY WAS COMMENCED IN 1929 AND COMPLETED IN 1930. AS WITH THE FIRST CHURCH IT COULD BE SAID TO BE THE LARGEST AND MOST EXPENSIVE SUCH EDIFICE ON THE MANNING AND AGAIN GAVE TESTIMONY TO THE GENEROSITY OF ITS PARISHIONERS. BUILT IN CONTINENTAL GOTHIC WITH TRANSEPTS AND AN APSIDAL CHANCEL BUT WITH A CLASSICAL PORTICO IT TOWERS OVER ITS SURROUNDINGS AND IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE MOST IMPRESSIVE ECCLESIASTICAL STRUCTURE BETWEEN NEWCASTLE AND LISMORE. NEXT | |
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 EACH TRANSEPT TERMINATES IN A LOVELY ROSE WINDOW, THIS ONE FROM THE NORTH TRANSEPT. |  DESPITE ITS OVERALL GOTHIC DESIGN THE CHURCH HAS A NUMBER OF CLASSICAL FEATURES SUCH AS THE ROUND-HEADED WINDOWS AND THE BRICKWORK DECORATION ON THE WESTERN FACADE. HIGH ABOVE THE ENTRANCE PORCH, HER ARMS OPEN IN WELCOME, STANDS THE STATUE OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY, PATRONESS OF THE PARISH. |
 THE ATTRACTIVE LOURDES GROTTO LOCATED IN THE ANGLE BETWEEN THE NAVE AND NORTH TRANSEPT. |
 | THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH HAS UNDERGONE MAJOR CHANGES SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW LITURGY. THE MENSA HAS BEEN MOVED FORWARD INTO THE CROSSING WHILE THE OLD ALTAR RAILS HAVE BEEN USED TO CREATE A PRAYER SPACE BEHIND THE SANCTUARY. THE TABERNACLE HAS BEEN RELOCATED TO A SMALL SIDE CHAPEL OFF THE NORTH TRANSEPT. THE ORIGINAL CRUCIFIX HOWEVER REMAINS, NOW ATTACHED TO THE REAR WALL WHILE AROUND FOUR SIDES OF THE APSE ARE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS REPRESNTING THE FOUR EVANGELISTS. THE MARBLE ALTAR IS A MAGNIFICENT WORK OF ART, INDICATIVE OF THE TASTE WITH WHICH THE CHURCH HAS BEEN FURNISHED AND WE MUST BE THANKFUL THAT SO MUCH HAS BEEN RETAINED IN THE RENOVATION. NEXT |
 IN THE SOUTH TRANSPET IS THE LOVELY LADY ALTAR. |  OFF THE NORTH TRANSEPT A SMALL CHAPEL HAS BEEN REFURBISHED AS THE BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL. THE ALTAR IN USE HERE IS THE ORIGINAL SACRED HEART ALTAR FROM THE NORTH TRANSEPT. THE CHAPEL IS SET ASIDE FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. |
 THE MAGNIFICENT VAULTED WOODEN CEILING AND CENTRAL CHANDELIER. |
| TWO OF THE LOVELY STAINED GLASS WINDOWS IN THE APSE REPRESENTING THE FOUR EVANGELISTS. HERE SHOWN ARE ST MATTHEW (L) AND ST MARK (R). TOP STATION CHURCHES | AMONG THE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS OF ART IN THE CHURCH ARE THE TRULY MAGNIFICENT STATIONS OF THE CROSS. HERE SHOWN IS THE STRIPPING OF JESUS. | |
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| STATION CHURCHES | |||
| CUNDLETOWN | HARRINGTON | LANDSDOWNE | OLD BAR |
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| CHURCH OF ST PATRICK, CUNDLETOWN | |
 | STATION |
| CUNDLETOWN WAS THE COMMERCIAL CENTRE ON THE MANNING THROUGHOUT THE MID 1800's BUT WITH THE DECLINE IN RIVER TRAFFIC, CUNDLETOWN SLIPPED INTO A SLEEPY BACKWATER UNTIL IT WAS ABSORBED BY THE RAPID POST-WAR DEVELOPMENT OF TAREE. AS WITH THE COMMERCIAL SO WITH THE ECCLESIASTICAL. CUNDLETOWN WAS THE SITE OF THE FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH ON THE MANNING AND WAS FOR MANY YEARS THE CENTRE OF CATHOLIC ACTIVITY THERE. ALTHOUGH IT THEN BECAME AND HAS REMAINED A STATION OF TAREE, IT CONTINUED FOR MANY YEARS TO HAVE AN INDEPENDANT STANDING WITH THE FOUNDING OF A CONVENT AND SCHOOL THERE. THIS TRADITION IS MAINTAINED TODAY THROUGH IT BEING THE SITE OF AN AGED CARE FACILITY RUN BY THE DIOCESE. NEXT | |
| FIRST AND SECOND CHURCH OF ST PATRICK, CUNDLETOWN |  |
| THE FIRST CHURCH AT CUNDLETOWN WAS BUILT IN 1857. IT WAS A SIMPLE WOODEN CHURCH TYPICAL OF THE FIRST COUNTRY CHURCHES ERECTED BY CATHOLIC SETTLERS TO SERVE THEIR SPIRITUAL NEEDS. IT SERVED THE TOWN FOR 50 YEARS UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED BY THE SECOND CHURCH IN 1909. THE SECOND ST PATRICK'S ( >>>> ) WAS QUITE A LARGE WOODEN CHURCH COMPRISING A NAVE, PORCH AND CHANCEL WITH SQUARE WINDOWS AND LITTLE ASIDE FROM THE ROOF CROSS TO DISTINGUISH ITS PURPOSE. IT SERVED UNTIL THE 1970's WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ST PAUL'S HOSTEL NECESSITATED MAJOR CHANGES TO THE SITE. NEXT |
 | THIRD CHURCH OF ST PATRICK, CUNDLETOWN |
| WITH THE RE-ORGANISATION OF THE SITE NECESSITATED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF ST PAUL'S HOSTEL, ADVANTAGE WAS TAKEN OF THE NOW CLOSED BOARDING SCHOOL TO CONVERT THE FORMER DORMITORY WING INTO A MASS CENTRE. THIS ALSO ALLOWED FOR AN EASIER ADAPTION OF THE INTERIOR TO THE NEW LITURGY. THE ORIENTATION OF THE PRESENT CHURCH IS SIDEWAYS WITH THE SANCTUARY PLACED AGAINST THE NORTH WALL AND THE SEATS ARRANGED LENGTHWISE FACING IT. AN OFF-CENTRE CRUCIFIX, A FEW SIMPLE CHAIRS, AN AMBO, A WOODEN TABLE ALTAR AND A FEW POTPLANTS COMPRISE THE PLAIN FURNISHINGS OF THE SANCTUARY. OUTSIDE THE CHURCH IS MARKED BY A SIMPLE CROSS ON THE WALL. AROUND IT IS A LOVELY AND RESTFUL GARDEN. TOP STATION CHURCHES NEXT |
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| CHURCH OF OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA, HARRINGTON | |
 | STATION |
| HARRINGTON IS A SMALL FISHING VILLAGE AT THE MOUTH OF THE MANNING RIVER. IN ITS EARLY DAYS IT WAS THE BASE FOR THE PILOTS WHO GUIDED SHIPS OVER THE DANGEROUS SAND BARS AT THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER. WITH POST-WAR DEVELOPMENT HARRINGTON SOON HAD A THRIVING TOURIST INDUSTRY AS A POULAR HOLIDAY AND FISHING RESORT. THIS LATTER DEVELOPMENT LED TO THE NEED FOR A CHURCH TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE INCREASING NUMBER OF VISITORS. A STATION OF TAREE WAS ESTABLISHED THERE IN THE EARLY 50's AND REMAINS ACTIVE TODAY. NEXT | |
| CHURCH |  |
| THE CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1953 USING TIMBERS FROM THE FORMER CHURCH AT COOPERNOOK. IN STYLE IT IS VERY MUCH A BEACHSIDE HALL WIH LITTLE TO DISTINGUISH IT FROM MANY OTHER SUCH BUILDINGS IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES ALL ALONG THE NSW COAST. A DECORATIVE BRICK WALL TO THE RIGHT OF THE CHURCH WITH AN OPENWORK CROSS IS THE SOLE IDENTIFIER OF THE BUILDINGS PURPOSE. THE CHURCH IS A PLAIN WEATHERBOARD BUILDING WITH AN UNUSUAL PITCHED ROOF WITH AN OFF-CENTRE RIDGELINE. A WIDE NARTHEX IS THE MAIN ENTRANCE. THE CHURCH WAS REMODELLED AND EXTENDED TO THE NORTH IN 1978 AND THE ORIENTATION TURNED TO THE SOUTH TO ACCOMODATE THE NEW LITURGY. TOP STATION CHURCHES NEXT |
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| CHURCH OF ST THERESE, LANDSDOWNE | |
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| THE SMALL SETTLEMENT OF LANDSDOWNE LIES TO THE NORTH OF TAREE AMIDST ATTRACTIVE FARMING LANDS. THE BASIS FOR THE EARLY SETTLEMENT HOWEVER WAS CEDAR CUTTING, ONE OF THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF THE NORTH COAST FOR THE EARLY COLONY. WITH THE DECLINE OF THE TIMBER INDUSTRY, FARMING BECAME THE MAINSTAY AND TODAY CONTINUES TO BE THE PRINCIPAL INDUSTRY. WHILE LANDSDOWNE FELL WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF TAREE FROM THE BEGINNING IT WAS WITHOUT A CHURCH UNTIL THE MID 20th CENTURY WHEN THE PRESENT CHURCH WAS BUILT. WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE CHURCHES AT UPPER LANDSDOWNE AND COOPERNOOK THE STATION NOW SERVES THE WHOLE NORTHERN PART OF THE PARISH. NEXT | |
| CHURCH |  |
| THE LANDSDOWNE CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1952 ALONG TRADITIONAL COUNTRY HALL LINES WITH A PORCH ATTACHED. WITH ITS SQUARE WINDOWS AND UTILITARIAN OUTLINE ONLY THE TWO GABLE CROSSES ON THE HALL AND PORCH INDICATE ITS ECCLESIASTICAL PURPOSE. DESPITE THIS BASIC STRUCTURE, THE LOCAL PEOPLE HAVE DEVOTED MUCH CARE AND ATTENTION TO THE CHURCH WHICH IS SET IN ATTRACTIVE TREE-FILLED GROUNDS WITH A PLAIN TRELLIS ARCH AS A LYCHGATE. TOP STATION CHURCHES NEXT |
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| CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA, OLD BAR | |
 | STATION |
| THE ATTRACTIVE COASTAL TOWNSHIP OF OLD BAR IS NOTED FOR ITS FINE SURF BEACHES. IT IS A POPULAR HOLIDAY RESORT AND A DAY TRIP FOR TAREE RESIDENTS AS WELL AS A RETIREMENT SPOT FOR MANY. ALTHOUGH WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF TAREE IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE POST-WAR DEVELOPMENT THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CHURCH. PRIOR TO THAT MASS HAD BEEN SAID IN BADGERS HALL JUST UP THE ROAD FOR THE FEW CATHOLICS IN THE AREA. TODAY HOWEVER OLD BAR IS ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE STATIONS IN THE PARISH. NEXT | |
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| CHURCH |  |
| THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA WAS BUILT IN 1952, BEING OF MODERN BRICK CONSTRUCTION WITH LARGE GLASS DOORS AND FULL-LENGTH WINDOWS OPENING ONTO A VERANDAH ALONG ONE SIDE GIVING A LIGHT AND AIRY FEEL TO THE CHURCH. THE CHURCH WAS EXTENDED IN 1978 TO ACCOMODATE THE GROWING POPULATION OF THE TOWN. THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH IS KEPT SIMPLE. THE CHAIRS ARE FROM THE OLD CHURCH AT UPPER LANDSDOWNE WHILE THE SANCTUARY MAKES USE OF A WOOD PANELLED REREDOS, A WOODEN VICTORY CRUCIFIX, A PLAIN WOODEN TABLE ALTAR AND TWO FULL LENGTH NARROW WINDOWS TO HIGHLIGHT THE SACRED AREA. OUR LADY OF FATIMA AND THE TABERNACLE ARE ON EITHER SIDE. TOP STATION CHURCHES HISTORIC CHURCHES |
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| HISTORIC CHURCHES | |||||
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| COOPERNOOK | OXLEY ISLAND | UPPER LANDSDOWNE | |||
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| CHURCH OF THE HOLY ANGELS, COOPERNOOK |
| THE SMALL TOWNSHIP OF COOPERNOOK ABOUT 15 KM NORTH OF TAREE WAS ONE OF THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS IN THE MANNING VALLEY. WITH AN INDUSTRY BASED ORIGINALLY ON TIMBER AND LATER FARMING AND FINALLY SERVICING TRAVELLERS ALONG THE HIGHWAY IT HAS ALWAYS FOUND A WAY TO SURVIVE. ONE OF THE EARLIEST STATIONS OF TAREE IT WAS MAINTAINED UNTIL THE MID-20th CENTURY WHEN A DECLINE IN ATTENDANCE AND NEW CHURCHES AT NEARBY LANDSDOWNE AND HARRINGTON THE STATION WAS CLOSED AND THE CHURCH DEMOLISHED IN THE EARLY 50's. THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY ANGELS WAS BUILT IN 1899 AS A SIMPLE GODBOX MADE OF WOODEN SLABS AND STOOD OPPOSITE THE HARRINGTON TURN-OFF ON THE PACIFIC HIGHWAY. PEOPLE CAME FROM MOORLAND AND LANDSDOWNE TO ATTEND MASS AT THE LITTLE CHURCH. IT WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1953 AND SOME OF THE TIMBERS WERE USED IN THE HARRINGTON CHURCH WHILE THE REST WERE USED TO BUILD A WEATHER SHED AT TAREE PRIMARY SCHOOL. TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES NEXT |
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| CHURCH OF ST BRIGID, OXLEY ISLAND | |
 | STATION |
| OXLEY ISLAND IS FORMED BY THE SPLITTING OF THE MANNING DOWNSTREAM FROM TAREE. ONE OF THE OLDEST STATIONS OF TAREE, DECLINING POPULATION LED TO ITS CLOSURE IN 1978. | |
| FIRST CHURCH OF ST BRIGID, OXLEY ISLAND | |
| THE FIRST CHURCH OF ST BRIGID WAS BUILT IN 1896. THE FATE OF THIS CHURCH IS UNKNOWN. | |
| SECOND CHURCH OF ST BRIGID, OXLEY ISLAND | |
| A SECOND CHURCH WAS BUILT IN THE EARLY 1900's. THIS CHURCH BURNED DOWN IN THE MID-1900's. | |
| THIRD CHURCH OF ST BRIGID, OXLEY ISLAND |  |
| THE THIRD AND FINAL CHURCH ( ^^^^ ) WAS BUILT IN 1952, IDENTICAL IN DESIGN TO THAT BUILT AT THE SAME TIME AT LANDSDOWNE. OF SIMPLE WEATHERBOARD CONSTRUCTION WITH PLAIN SQUARE WINDOWS AND A PORCH, IT CONTINUED THE CATHOLIC TRADITION ON THE ISLAND FOR ANOTHER 25 YEARS. WITH THE CLOSING OF THE STATION THE CHURCH BECAME REDUNDANT AND IT WAS SOLD IN 1978 TO THE UNITING CHURCH WHO RE-LOCATED IT TO TINONEE, WHERE IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REMODELLED SO THAT LITTLE REMAINS OF THE APPEARANCE OF ORIGINAL CHURCH EXCEPT FOR THE WOODEN DOOR AND WINDOW FRAMES ( >>>> ). TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES NEXT | |
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| CHURCH OF ST PAUL, UPPER LANDSDOWNE | |
 | STATION |
| THE FORMER CEDAR FELLING AND LATER FARMING COMMUNITY OF UPPER LANDSDOWNE IS TODAY LITTLE MORE THAN A LOCALITY OF SMALL FARMS SET AMID ATTRACTIVE SCENERY. IT WAS A VERY EARLY STATION OF TAREE WITH AN ACTIVE CATHOLIC POPULATION BUT DECLINING NUMBERS AND THE PRESENCE OF A NEW CHURCH AT LANDSDOWNE MADE ITS CONTINUED USE UNNECESSARY. THE STATION WAS CLOSED IN 1978. | |
| FIRST CHURCH OF ST PAUL, UPPER LANDSDOWNE | |
| THE FIRST CHURCH OF ST PAUL WAS A SLAB BUILDING CONSTRUCTED IN 1893 AND HOLDING ABOUT 30 PEOPLE. BY THE EARLY 1900's HOWEVER IT WAS DEEMED TO SMALL AND PLANS WERE UNDERTAKEN FOR A LARGER CHURCH. THE OLD ST PAULS WAS CONSEQUENTLY SOLD AND CONVERTED INTO A HOUSE AT A NEW LOCATION. | |
| SECOND CHURCH OF ST PAUL, UPPER LANDSDOWNE |  |
| THE SECOND ST PAUL'S ( >>>> ) WAS BUILT IN 1911. IT WAS A SIMPLE WEATHERBOARD BUILDING WITH NAVE, PORCH AND A LARGE CHANCEL/SACRISTY WHICH ALSO SERVED AS LIVING QUARTERS FOR THE PRIEST WHEN HE STAYED OVERNIGHT TO HEAR CONFESSIONS AND THEN SAY MASS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. POINTED WINDOWS AND GABLE CROSSES GAVE IT AN APPROPRIATE ECCLESIASTICAL APPEARANCE. PLEASANTLY SITUATED OVERLOOKING THE VALLEY, IT WAS SOLD IN 1978 AND CONVERTED TO A RESIDENCE ( ^^^^ ). TOP HISTORIC CHURCHES OTHER BUILDINGS | |
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| OTHER BUILDINGS | |
| CUNDLETOWN JOSEPHITE CONVENT | |
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| CONVENT OF ST JOSEPH, CUNDLETOWN | |
| IN 1899 THE BRIGIDINE SISTERS AT COONAMBLE SENT A SMALL GROUP TO CUNDLETOWN TO SET UP AN EXCLUSIVE GIRLS BOARDING SCHOOL FOR THE MID-NORTH COAST. UNFORTUNATELY THE VENTURE WAS NOT A SUCCESS AND IN 1906 THE SISTERS WITHDREW. | |
 | THE SAME YEAR THE DIOCESAN SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH (LOCHINVAR CONGREGATION) ARRIVED AND TOOK OVER THE CONVENT. THEY HAD MORE SUCCESS THAN THE BRIGIDINES AND THEY OPENED THE SCHOOL WITH 50 PUPILS. UNTIL 1923 THE SCHOOL WAS FOR GIRLS BUT AFTER 1923 IT BECAME A BOYS BOARDING SCHOOL. THE FIRST CONVENT OF 1899 WAS DESTROYED IN A FIERCE STORM IN 1914 AND A NEW ONE WAS BUILT IN 1915. THIS IN TURN WAS REPLACED BY THE PRESENT BUILDING IN 1956. A SIMPLE FEDERATION STYLE BUILDING MORE RESEMBLING A SUBURBAN HOUSE THAN ANYTHING, IT CONTINUED IN USE UNTIL 1969 WHEN THE CONVENT WAS CLOSED. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS STATION CHURCHES HISTORIC CHURCHES |
