THE DAY AFTER HIS CONSECRATION AS THE FIRST BISHOP OF BATHURST MATTHEW QUINN MET WITH MOTHER JOSEPH CROKE SUPERIOR OF THE CONVENT OF MERCY AT CHARLEVILLE TO CONCLUDE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE BATHURST MERCY FOUNDATION. AS A RESULT OF THESE TALKS SEVEN SISTERS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MOTHER IGNATIUS CROKE LEFT IRELAND FOR BATHURST, ARRIVING ON WEDNESDAY 31 OCTOBER 1866. THE SISTERS MADE THEIR INITIAL HOME IN A COTTAGE IN GEORGE STREET AND ON 5 NOVEMBER THEY COMMENCED THEIR FIRST CLASSES. IN 1869 A FINE NEW CONVENT AND SCHOOL WERE COMPLETED FOR THEM. THE SCHOOL WAS NOT TO BE THE LAST OF THEIR WORKS IN BATHURST HOWEVER. IN 1867 THEY ACCEPTED THE CARE OF TWO ORPHANED GIRLS AND THUS BEGAN ST JOSEPH'S ORPHANAGE. THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THE BOY'S SCHOOL AT THE CATHEDRAL AND IN 1901 THEY ALSO TOOK ON THE TASK OF TEACHING AT ST PHILOMENA'S PRIMARY SCHOOL IN SOUTH BATHURST. IN 1908 WHEN ALL MERCY CONVENTS IN BATHURST DIOCESE WERE AMALGAMATED INTO A SINGLE CONGREGATION ST MARY'S BECAME THE TEMPORARY CONGREGATIONAL HOUSE FOR A YEAR UNTIL A NEW CONGREGATIONAL HOUSE AND NOVITIATE WAS OPENED AT ST JOSEPH'S MOUNT IN SOUTH BATHURST. IN 1956 THE SISTERS AT THE BISHOP'S REQUEST TOOK ON THE CARE OF ST AGNES HOSTEL AND IN 1957 THEY PROVIDED THE STAFF OF HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL IN EAST BATHURST. SADLY WITH THE DECLINE IN VOCATIONS MANY OF THE CONVENTS WERE CLOSED AND THE SCHOOLS TAKEN OVER BY LAY STAFF SIGNALLED BY THE DEMOLITION OF ST MARY'S THE FOUNDATION CONVENT IN 1983 AND THE TRANSFER OF ALL MERCY FUNCTIONS TO SOUTH BATHURST.

WHEN THE SISTERS CAME TO BATHURST IN 1866 THEY WERE HOUSED IN A SMALL AND BARELY ADEQUATE FIVE-ROOMED COTTAGE IN GEORGE STREET (BELOW LEFT). BISHOP QUINN HOWEVER REALISED THAT THIS WAS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE SISTERS NEEDS AND SOON OFFERED THEM HIS OWN HOUSE (THE FORMER DEANERY) AS A TEMPORARY HOME UNTIL HE WAS ABLE TO UNDERTAKE STEPS TO ERECT A PROPER CONVENT IN 1868. IN 1869 THE SISTERS WERE AT LAST ABLE TO ENTER INTO THEIR NEW CONVENT OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF MARY (LEFT). FROM 1869 UNTIL 1908 THE CONVENT WAS THE MOTHER HOUSE OF THE MAJORITY OF FOUNDATIONS IN THE BATHURST DIOCESE.

OVER THE 114 YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE ST MARY'S CONVENT WAS ENLARGED SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO HOUSE THE GROWING STAFF OF SISTERS (BELOW). AMONG THESE ADDITIONS WERE SEVERAL INCLUDING THE MODERN CHAPEL THAT WERE PAID FOR BY EX-STUDENTS OF THE COLLEGE. SADLY THE CONVENT WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1983 ALONG WITH THE ST MARY'S COLLEGE BUILDINGS.

THIS PHOTO (ABOVE) SHOWS THE CONVENT IN THE 1940's WITH THE FIRST VERANDAH AND THE STATUE CALLED OUR LADY OF THE ELMS.

A PHOTO FROM THE 1960's SHOWING THE NEW BRICK VERANDAH AND ENTRANCE PORCH ERECTED BY THE EX-STUDENTS OF THE COLLEGE.

WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF ARRIVAL IN BATHURST THE SISTERS BEGAN CLASSES FOR ABOUT NINETY PUPILS IN THE GIRL'S SECTION OF THE DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOL. IN 1869 THE NEW ST MARY'S SCHOOL ALONG WITH THE CONVENT WERE COMPLETED. THE SISTERS AND STUDENTS COULD THEN RELOCATE TO THESE MAGNIFICENT NEW HOMES (BELOW).

THE NEW SCHOOL WAS A LARGE BUILDING OF THREE STORIES WITH THE TOP STORY BEING A KIND OF BROAD ATTIC. OVER THE YEARS IT WAS EXTENDED TO INCREASE THE SPACE AVAILABLE (LEFT) ALTHOUGH IT WAS NEVER ENOUGH. DURING THE LATER 1960's THE DIOCESE OPENED THE NEW MACKILLOP COLLEGE IN EAST BATHURST TO BE LEAD COJOINTLY BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY AND THE PERTHVILLE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH. WITH THE OPENING OF THE NEW COLLEGE THERE WAS A LESSER NEED FOR ST MARY'S COLLEGE AND IT WAS EVENTUALLY CLOSED IN 1977. THE NEGLECTED FORMER SCHOOL BUILDING WAS LATER DEMOLISHED IN 1983.

INITIALLY THE PRIMARY CLASSES WERE HOUSED ON THE GROUND FLOOR AND THE SECONDARY AND INFANTS CLASSES UPSTAIRS. AS THE SCHOOL EXPANDED THE OLD BUILDING SOON NEEDED TO BE EXTENDED AND IN 1903 THE PRIMARY AND INFANTS SECTIONS MOVED TO THE NEW ST MARY'S PRIMARY AND THE SCHOOL THEN BECAME ST MARY'S COLLEGE.

IN SPITE OF THE RESPITE GAINED BY THE RELOCATION OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOL THE COLLEGE CONTINUED TO GROW IN SIZE. IN 1924 BISHOP NORTON HAD THE OLD BALLROOM MOVED FROM 'HATHROP' (RECENTLY CONVERTED TO ST VINCENT'S HOSPITAL) TO THE COLLEGE FOR USE AS A RECREATION HALL. IN 1925 THE FORMER ORPHANAGE BUILDING WAS RENOVATED AS ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS AND FINALLY IN 1950 A NEW SCIENCE WING WAS ERECTED WITH THE GENEROSITY OF EX-STUDENTS.

THE WINDS OF CHANGE HOWEVER WERE ALREADY BLOWING AND NEWER CONCEPTS OF EDUCATION WERE TURNING AGAINST THE LARGE MULTI-STORIED SCHOOLS TOWARDS A MORE OPEN-PLAN STYLE OF SCHOOL. THE OPENING OF THE NEW MACKILLOP COLLEGE PROVIDED JUST SUCH AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPUS AND IN 1977 ST MARY'S WAS CLOSED. TODAY THE OLD COLLEGE GATES STAND AS SOLE REMAINS OF ITS PRESENCE.

(BELOW LEFT) THE FORMER BALLROOM OF 'HATHROP' USED AS THE SCHOOL RECREATIONAL HALL AND THE TWO REMAINING MEMENTOS OF THE SCHOOL - THE COLLEGE ENTRANCE GATES (BELOW CENTRE) AND A SADLY BATTERED STATUE OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER (BELOW RIGHT).

THE COLLEGE CHAPEL, FUNDED THROUGH EX-STUDENTS, WAS ERECTED IN THE 1970's. TODAY IT SERVES AS THE CATHEDRAL PARISH CENTRE

IN 1873 THE SISTERS OF MERCY BOUGHT THE FORMER DARGAN FAMILY HOME NEXT DOOR TO THE COLLEGE. THEY THEN OFFERED THE HOUSE TO BISHOP QUINN FOR HIS USE AS THE RESIDENCE AND PRESBYTERY IN RETURN FOR HIS OFFER TO THEM OF THE DEANERY WHEN THEY HAD FIRST ARRIVED IN BATHURST. THE HOUSE WAS TO FUNCTION IN THIS ROLE UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF BISHOP'S HOUSE IN 1903 WHEN THE ORDER WAS ABLE TO RECLAIM IT.

WITH SPACE AT A PREMIUM AT THE SCHOOL THE SISTERS RELOCATED THE PRIMARY AND INFANT SECTIONS OF THE COLLEGE OVER TO THE NOW VACATED HOUSE. IN 1935 THIS WAS REMODELLED IN THE CLASSICAL STYLE AND BECAME A DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL LINKED WITH THE SISTER'S TRAINING SCHOOL AT ST JOSEPH'S MOUNT. LIKE THE COLLEGE IT HAS NOW CLOSED THOUGH ITS SPIRIT LIVES ON IN THE PRESENT DAY CATHEDRAL SCHOOL. THE SUPERB NEO-CLASSICAL EDIFICE IS NOW THE DIOCESAN HEADQUARTERS FOR CENTACARE.

ALTHOUGH THE SISTERS CAME TO BATHURST TO TEACH GIRLS AT THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LEVEL CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD CAUSE THEM ON THREE OCCASIONS TO BE CALLED TO TEACH THE BOYS SCHOOL. THE FIRST SUCH OCCASION CAME WITH THE RESIGNATION OF THE LAY MASTER OF THE DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOL IN 1872. THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE SISTERS TOOK UP THE TEACHING OF THE PRIMARY BOYS UNTIL THE PATRICIAN BROTHER'S ARRIVED IN 1884. FOLLOWING THE BROTHERS' DEPARTURE THE SISTERS AGAIN TOOK OVER WHAT WASAAA NOW CALLED ST PATRICK'S HIGH SCHOOL FROM 1924 UNTIL THE DE LA SALLE BROTHERS ARRIVAL IN 1929. IN 1963 THE SISTERS ACCEPTED THE CARE OF ST PATRICK'S ONCE AGAIN AFTER THE DE LA SALLES WITHDREW CONTINUING UNTIL THE SCHOOL WAS CLOSED DURING THE 70's.

THE CHURCH / SCHOOL OF ST PHILOMENA WAS FOUNDED BY BISHOP JOHN DUNNE IN 1901 TO CATER FOR THE INHABITANTS OF WHAT WAS AT THE TIME CALLED MILLTOWN. THE SCHOOL WAS STAFFED ORIGINALLY BY SISTERS FROM ST MARY'S CONVENT AND LATER BY SISTERS FROM ST JOSEPH'S MOUNT TRAINING SCHOOL AND FROM NEARBY ST JOSEPH'S ORPHANAGE.

THE SCHOOL PROVED VERY SUCCESSFUL AND IN 1931 WAS DECLARED A PRACTICE SCHOOL LINKED TO THE ST JOSEPH'S MOUNT TRAINING SCHOOL. AN EXTRA WING HAD BEEN ADDED BY BISHOP O'FARRELL IN 1924. BISHOP NORTON LATER HAD THE SCHOOL FULLY MODERNIZED.

DURING THE 1970's IT SEEMED AS IF THE OLD SCHOOL WAS REACHING THE END OF ITS LIFE BUT BACKED BY STRONG PARENTAL SUPPORT AND AIDED BY THE PURCHASE OF LAND ON LLOYDS ROAD FROM THE DOMINICAN SISTERS THE SCHOOL GAINED A NEW LEASE OF LIFE AS A LAY-STAFFED SCHOOL. SYMBOLIC OF THIS CHANGE A MODERN NEW SCHOOL WAS BUILT IN 1983 AND IS TODAY A NOTED ELEMENT OF BATHURST'S EDUCATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

(LEFT) A VIEW FROM THE PLAYGROUND OF THE ORIGINAL CHURCH-SCHOOL BUILT IN 1901 AND (BELOW) A LATER PHOTO OF THE SCHOOL SHOWING THE EXTRA CLASSROOM BUILT UNDER BISHOP O'FARRELL.

(BELOW LEFT) TWO VIEWS OF THE MODERN BUILDINGS THAT MAKE UP THE PRESENT DAY ST PHILOMENA'S PRIMARY AND (BELOW RIGHT) A MORE TRADITIONAL TOUCH PROVIDED BY THIS MARBLE STATUE OF OUR LADY STANDING OUTSIDE THE FRONT ENTRANCE TO THE SCHOOL.

THE POPULATION OF BATHURST BEGAN TO EXPAND SIGNIFICANTLY DURING THE POST-WAR YEARS AND BISHOP JOHN NORTON WAS MOST CONCERNED TO PROVIDE FOR THESE NEW RESIDENTS. TO MEET THE NEED MGR SULLIVAN OPENED A NEW SCHOOL IN 1957 IN ST VINCENT'S PARK IN EAST BATHURST. THE SCHOOL WAS INITIALLY STAFFED WITH TWO SISTERS FROM ST JOSEPH'S. IT WAS A PLAIN WOODEN CLASSROOM BLOCK MIDST THE GARDENS AND LAWNS OF ST VINCENT'S HOSPITAL GROUNDS. HOWEVER MACKILLOP COLLEGE WAS OPENED ON THE SAME SITE IN 1967 AND HOLY FAMILY CLOSED SHORTLY AFTER. IN A FITTING TRIBUTE TO THE TINY SCHOOL THE NEW KELSO PRIMARY SCHOOL WAS ALSO NAMED AFTER THE HOLY FAMILY.

JUST SIX MONTHS AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL IN BATHURST, BISHOP QUINN BROUGHT TWO HOMELESS GIRLS TO MOTHER IGNATIUS CROKE WITH THE COMMENT 'HERE REVEREND MOTHER IS THE BEGINNING OF YOUR ORPHANAGE.' IT WAS INDEED THE BEGINNING OF ONE OF THE MOST COMPASSIONATE WORKS OF THE BATHURST SISTERS OF MERCY. FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS THE CHILDREN WERE CARED FOR IN AN OLD WEATHERBOARD BUILDING AND WERE THEN MOVED TO ST MARY'S WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS COMPLETED IN 1869. IN THE EARLY 1870's THE SISTERS ERECTED A BUILDING FOR THE ORPHANS BEHIND ST MARY'S WHICH SERVED AS THEIR HOME UNTIL 1915. IN THAT YEAR BISHOP DUNNE PURCHASED 'HOLMHURST' FOR THE ST JOSEPH'S ORPHANAGE (LATER GIRL'S HOME). IN 1922 A NEW WING CONTAINING THE CHAPEL AND THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL WORK ROOMS WAS ADDED. BY THE EARLY 1970's THE CONCEPT OF INSTITUTIONALISED CARE WAS FADING OUT AND DURING THAT DECADE THE HOME WAS CLOSED. TODAY THESE MAGNIFICENT BUILDINGS SERVE A NEW PURPOSE AS A BED & BREAKFAST.

THE FIRST ORPHANAGE WAS A BUILT BEHIND ST MARY'S SCHOOL ca.1873 (ABOVE RIGHT). IT WAS A PLAIN TWO-STORY BUILDING (ABOVE LEFT) AND SERVED AS THE GIRL'S HOME UNTIL 1915. IN 1925 THE BUILDING, NOW CALLED 'THE ACADEMY', WAS RENOVATED FOR CLASSROOM USE.

IN 1915 BISHOP DUNNE PURCHASED A LOVELY VICTORIAN MANSION IN WILLIAM STREET NAMED HOLMHURST FOR USE AS THE SECOND ST JOSEPH'S. A NEW WING WAS OPENED BY BISHOP O'FARRELL IN 1922.

THE MAGNIFICENT ORIGINAL BUILDING, HOLMHURST, WAS USED AS BOTH THE HOME FOR THE GIRLS AND THE SISTERS CONVENT. THIS BIG IMPRESSIVE HOUSE STILL STANDS TODAY AS HOMLHURST B & B.

IN 1922 THE NEW WING OF THE HOME WAS OPENED BY BISHOP O'FARRELL. DOWNSTAIRS WERE WORK ROOMS FOR THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL WHICH WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF INSTITUTIONALISED TRAINING FOR ORPHANS AT THE TIME. UPSTAIRS WAS THE CHAPEL (ABOVE RIGHT).

THREE REMINDERS OF HOLMHURST'S FORMER LIFE AS THE ST JOSEPH'S GIRLS HOME ARE THE STATUES OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS (<<<) AND THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (>>>) AND A LONE NAMEPLATE SAYING 'JOSEPH'S' STILL VISIBLE ON THE GATE POST AT THE ENTRANCE.

DURING THE POST WAR PERIOD BATHURST DEVELOPED INTO AN IMPORTANT REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL HUB DRAWING A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SINGLE YOUNG STUDENTS INTO THE TOWN. THE BISHOP OF BATHURST, DR NORTON, CONSIDERED THERE WAS A NEED TO PROVIDE FOR A SUITABLE RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THESE STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG WOMEN, COULD LIVE.

ACCORDINGLY HE PURCHASED 'BRAEMAR', A FORMER GUESTHOUSE IN KEPPELL ST WITH THE IDEA OF ESTABLISHING A HOSTEL FOR CATHOLIC WOMEN STUDENTS. DR NORTON THEN ASKED THE SISTERS OF MERCY TO TAKE OVER THE HOSTEL NOW RENAMED ST AGNES WHICH THEY PROVED HAPPY TO DO.

DURING THE 1970's A CHANGE IN MORES AND A DECLINE IN VOCATIONS RESULTED IN THE HOSTEL'S CLOSURE. FOR A TIME IT SERVED AS THE CATHEDRAL PRESBYTERY BEFORE BEING SOLD AS NO LONGER REQUIRED. THE NEW OWNERS SUBSEQUENTLY HAD THE OLD BUILDING DEMOLISHED DURING THE 1980's.

THE IMPETUS FOR A FOUNDATION IN BINNAWAY CAME FROM THE CATHOLICS OF THE TOWN ITSELF. BINNAWAY WAS THRIVING AND CATHOLIC PARENTS FELT A NEED FOR A SCHOOL OF THEIR OWN AS COONABARABRAN WAS TOO FAR AWAY. ACCORDINGLY IN MAY OF THE YEAR 1933 THREE MERCY SISTERS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF M. JOSEPH McMAHON ARRIVED TO FULFILL THEIR WISHES. A HOUSE HAD ALREADY BEEN OBTAINED AS A CONVENT AND THE SCHOOL COMMENCED IN THE OLD CHURCH WITH 34 PUPILS. AN INFANT'S SCHOOL WAS ADDED IN 1935 AND A NEW SCHOOL WAS BUILT IN 1939. PUPILS AT THE SCHOOL WERE TAUGHT TO THE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL. DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS OF THE SISTERS AND PARENTS HOWEVER THE NUMBERS AT THE SCHOOL DECLINED AS DID THE NUMBER OF TEACHING SISTERS AVAILABLE. DURING 1969 IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE SCHOOL WOULD BE CLOSED AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND THE REMAINING SISTERS WITHDRAWN.

THE CATHOLIC PEOPLE OF BINNAWAY MADE A SMALL WEATHERBOARD HOUSE AVAILABLE TO THE SISTERS AS THEIR CONVENT. IT WAS A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE ACROSS THE PLAYGROUND FROM THE SCHOOL WITH ONE ROOM BEING USED FOR TEACHING MUSIC WHILE THE SISTERS SLEPT OUT ON A PARTIALLY ENCLOSED VERANDAH WHICH WAS TO BE REMEMBERED BY THEM LATER AS BEING VERY COLD (<<). WHEN THE SISTERS DEPARTED IN 1969 THE BUILDING REVERTED TO THE PARISH. IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY SOLD PRIVATELY IN 1970 AND TODAY IS USED AS A PRIVATE RESIDENCE.

THE CLASSES WHICH WERE COMMENCED BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY DURING 1933 WERE TAUGHT IN THE OLD CHURCH. IN 1935 THE FORMER PLAYGROUND WEATHER SHED WAS CONVERTED INTO AN INFANT'S SCHOOL. AS WAS THE PRACTISE OF THE TIMES THE SCHOOL COMPRISED INFANT'S, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CLASSES. THE SECONDARY SCHOOL WAS CLOSED IN 1960 AND THE PRIMARY SCHOOL FOLLOWED IN 1969

IN 1939 A BRICK THREE CLASSROOM SCHOOL (RIGHT) WAS OPENED IN WHICH ALL THREE GROUPS WERE TAUGHT. WITH THE DECLINE OF THE RAILWAY CAME A DECLINE OF THE TOWN. AS STUDENT NUMBERS FELL THE SECONDARY SECTION WAS CLOSED IN 1960 WITH THE PRIMARY SECTION HOLDING ON FOR NINE YEARS MORE AS LOCAL PARENTS MADE STRONG EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN THE SCHOOL, PROVIDING PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AS LATE AS 1962, BUT THE INEVITABLE COULD NOT BE DENIED. IN 1969 IT WAS ANNOUNCED THE SCHOOL WOULD CLOSE AT THE YEAR'S END AND THE SISTERS WITHDRAWN. IN A ROLE REVERSAL OF ITS ORIGINS THE SCHOOL BECAME TODAY'S CHURCH.

IN 1874 A SMALL COMMUNITY OF MERCY SISTERS LEFT BATHURST TO ESTABLISH THEIR FIRST BRANCH HOUSE AT CARCOAR IN THE IMPOSING MOUNT ST JOSEPH'S CONVENT ERECTED BY FATHER RYAN. CARCOAR WAS NOT THEN THE TINY SLEEPY VILLAGE IT APPEARS TODAY BUT AN IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT AND COMMERCIAL CENTRE. A CHURCH HAD BEEN BUILT IN 1870 WITH THE LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE CONVENT FOLLOWING IN 1872. THE SISTERS QUICKLY COMMENCED CLASSES IN THE LITTLE MOUNT ST JOSEPH'S SCHOOL AND IT SOON BECAME A WELL-ESTABLISHED CENTRE ENJOYING A VERY HIGH REPUTATION IN MATTERS EDUCATIONAL, MUSICAL AND CULTURAL. WITH THE PASSING OF THE YEARS HOWEVER CARCOAR FAILED TO FULFILL ITS PROMISE AND SO GAVE WAY TO OTHER FASTER GROWING CENTRES. THE POPULATION DWINDLED AND THE NUMBERS IN THE SCHOOL DECLINED LIKEWISE. THE SCHOOL CLOSED AND THE SISTERS WITHDREW IN 1973. UNTIL 1975 THE CONVENT REMAINED EMPTY WHEN IT WAS RE-OPENED BY A CATHOLIC LAY COMMUNITY AS THE SHALOM HOUSE OF PRAYER.

AMONG THE SEVERAL HISTORICAL BUILDINGS FOR WHICH THE TOWN OF CARCOAR IS JUSTLY FAMOUS THE CONVENT OF MOUNT ST JOSEPH IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST IMPRESSIVE. THIS BEAUTIFUL CONVENT WAS DESIGNED BY EDWARD GELL WHO HAD ALSO PLANNED THE CHURCH AND PRESBYTERY. THE FOUNDATION STONE WAS LAID BY DR CROKE, ARCHBISHOP OF CASHEL AND THE BROTHER OF MOTHER M. IGNATIUS CROKE FOUNDRESS OF THE MERCY COMMUNITY IN BATHURST. BUILT IN 1872 ITS MAGNIFICENT BULK IS CLEARLY VISIBLE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE TOWN AND IS A TRIBUTE TO THE ZEAL OF THE PARISH PRIEST, FATHER PHILLIP RYAN. SET IN A LOVELY GARDEN WITH PRETTY GROTTOS AND A TENNIS COURT FOR THE USE OF BOARDERS THE CONVENT WAS A JEWEL IN CARCOAR'S CROWN. FOR OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS IT SERVED AS THE HOME OF A COMMUNITY DEVOTED TO TEACHING THEIR STUDENTS UNTIL A DECLINE IN ENROLLMENTS LED TO THE SCHOOL'S BEING CLOSED IN 1973.

TWO VIEWS OF THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE CONVENT. (LEFT) THE ORIGINAL CONVENT DESIGNED BY GELL AND (RIGHT) AS IT APPEARS TODAY.

THE CONVENT WAS ALSO THE HOME OF THE BOARDERS AND THIS TENNIS COURT (BELOW RIGHT) WAS CONSTRUCTED FOR THEIR EXERCISE.

TUCKED INTO A HOLLOW JUST BELOW THE CREST OF THE HILL ON WHICH THE CHURCH AND CONVENT ARE BUILT LIES THE LITTLE MOUNT ST JOSEPH'S SCHOOL. HERE IN A FEW CLASSROOMS THE SISTERS TAUGHT STUDENTS FROM INFANTS TO LOWER SECONDARYAA FOR EXACTLY ONE HUNDRED YEARS. THE BUILDINGS BEAR THE UNMISTAKEABLE STAMP OF 19th CENTURY EDUCATIONAL IDEAS BUT SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF CARCOAR AND DISTRICT CHILDREN CAN BE PROUD OF THE EDUCATION THEY RECEIVED THERE FROM THAT DEDICATED FAMILY OF SISTERS UP AT THE CONVENT.

NOT THE LEAST OF THE SCHOOL'S ADVANTAGES WAS THE LOVELY PROSPECT FROM THE SCHOOL DOWNAA OVER THE TOWN NESTLED IN THE BELUBULA VALLEY. SADLY THERE WERE SEVERAL FACTORS WHICH WERE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE INEVITABLE DECLINE OF THE SCHOOL, INCLUDING THE ENDING OF THE GOLD RUSH, THE EXPANSION OF NEIGHBOURING TOWNS AND THE TRANSPORT REVOLUTION. IT WAS CLOSED LATE 1973 AND IS NOW PART OF THE SHALOM HOUSE OF PRAYER

(LEFT) THE MAIN SCHOOL BUILDING AND ENTRANCE AND (RIGHT) A VIEW FROM THE BACK SHOWING THE TERRACING REQUIRED TO BUILD IT .

(ABOVE) THE MAIN BUILDING AND (RIGHT) THE TINY ANNEX. BOTH ARE NOW USED FOR ACCOMODATION BY THE SHALOM RETREAT CENTRE.

FOR A YEAR THE OLD CONVENT LAY ABANDONED AND NEGLECTED UNTIL DURING 1974 MR NEVILLE BOWERS RECEIVED THE CALL TO RE-OPEN THE CONVENT AND MAKE IT A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR THE USE OF ALL THOSE SEEKING SPIRITUAL COMFORT AND GROWTH. WITH THE BLESSING OF BISHOP PATRICK DOUGHERTY OF BATHURST, NEVILLE AND HIS WIFE TOOK CHARGE OF THE CONVENT, NOW RENAMED SHALOM HOUSE OF PRAYER IN 1975. SINCE THEN A LAY COMMUNITY HAS HELD SPIRITUAL RETREATS AND PRAYER MEETINGS AT THE CONVENT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS. THE FORMER SCHOOL BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN RENOVATED TO PROVIDE ACCOMODATION AT THE HOUSE AND THE GARDENS HAVE BEEN RESTORED AND BEAUTIFIED. THE WORK OF THE SHALOM HOUSE OF PRAYER HAS BEEN A GREAT BOON TO MANY EARNESTLY SEEKING SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE AND HAS HAD THE EFFECT OF PRESERVING THIS SUPERB COMPLEX OF BUILDINGS.

A REMINDER OF THE FORMER LIFE OF MOUNT ST JOSEPH'S IS RETAINED IN THE PRETTY LADY GROTTO IN THE CONVENT GARDENS (CENTRE). ELSEWHERE IN THE GARDENS IS AN OUTDOOR VIA CRUCIS COMPOSED OF TRADITIONAL STATIONS (<<) MIXED WITH MODERN RENDITIONS (>>).

IN 1880 FR J M DUNNE PARISH PRIEST OF DUBBO (AND LATER BISHOP OF BATHURST) REQUESTED A COMMUNITY OF SISTERS FROM BATHURST TO ESTABLISH BOTH AN INFANTS AND A GIRLS SCHOOL TO COMPLEMENT ST ALOYSIUS' BOYS SCHOOL ERECTED IN 1870. AS A RESULT FIVE SISTERS CAME TO DUBBO FROM BATHURST THE SAME YEAR AND TOOK UP THEIR RESIDENCE IN THE OLD PRESBYTERY IN BRISBANE STREET. THERE THEY CONDUCTED INFANTS AND SECONDARY CLASSES WITH THE PRIMARY CLASSES BEING HELD SEPARATELY SOME DISTANCE AWAY. IN 1884 THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A NEW CONVENT WAS LAID AND IN SEPTEMBER OF THE SAME YEAR THE NEW BUILDING WAS OPENED ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE 1890 BEFORE THE CONVENT AND ATTACHED SCHOOL BUILDINGS WERE FINALLY COMPLETED. IN THE SAME YEAR DUBBO BECAME AN INDEPENDANT FOUNDATION, A STATUS IT RETAINED UNTIL 1908 WHEN IT JOINED WITH THE OTHER DIOCESAN MERCY HOUSES IN THE BATHURST CONGREGATION. TWO DAUGHTER HOUSES WERE FOUNDED FROM DUBBO, WELLINGTON IN 1883 AND NARROMINE IN 1904. OVER THE NEXT CENTURY THE SISTERS OF MERCY BECAME AN ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN THE EXPANDING TOWN OF DUBBO. IN ADDITION TO STAFFING THE INFANTS SCHOOL, THE GIRLS PRIMARY SCHOOL AND THE GIRLS SECONDARY COLLEGE THEY ALSO STAFFED IN THE ABSENCE OF MALE TEACHERS ST ALOYSIUS BOY'S SCHOOL ON TWO OCCASIONS BETWEEN 1897 AND 1927 ALONG WITH NEW SCHOOLS IN NORTH DUBBO, SOUTH DUBBO AND WEST DUBBO. IN 1968 THE BOY'S AND GIRL'S SCHOOLS WERE AMALGAMATED AND OVER THE NEXT TWENTY YEARS THE ROLE OF THE SISTERS WAS GRADUALLY REDUCED UNTIL BY 1986 THE SCHOOLS HAD BEEN EFFECTIVELY LAICISED AND THE LAST SISTER WITHDRAWN FROM TEACHING. CONCOMITTANTLY THE NUMBER OF SISTERS IN THE COMMUNITY DECLINED SO THEY TRANSFERRED TO THE FORMER DE LA SALLE BROTHERS HOUSE THEN LATER MOVED INTO A HOUSE IN COBRA STREET. AT THE START OF THE NEW CENTURY THE SISTERS CONTINUED TO SERVE THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF DUBBO THROUGH THEIR PARISH PASTORAL WORK.

THE FIRST CONVENT WAS A PRESBYTERY VACATED BY FR DUNNE FOR THIS PURPOSE. FR DUNNE HAD PLANS FOR A CONVENT AND SCHOOL IN RED BRICK TO BE BUILT BEHIND THE CHURCH NEXT TO THE ORIGINAL GIRLS SCHOOL BUT IT WAS TO TAKE FOUR YEARS BEFORE BUILDING COULD BEGIN. FINALLY IN SEPTEMBER 1884 THE NEW CONVENT OF ST PATRICK (LEFT) WAS BLESSED AND OPENED BY BISHOP MURRAY OF MAITLAND. IT TOOK SIX YEARS TO FINALISE THE CONVENT AND SCHOOL COMPLEX FRONTING ONTO BULTJE STREET. BY 1954 THE DUBBO COMMUNITY HAD REACHED FOURTEEN AND THE SISTERS WERE STAFFING FIVE SCHOOLS IN DUBBO. IT MARKED THE CONVENT'S HIGH POINT. IN 1968 THE BOYS AND GIRLS SCHOOLS WERE AMALGAMATED AND A GRADUAL DECLINE IN COMMUNITY NUMBERS SET IN, AS A RESULT THE SISTERS MOVED INTO THE BROTHERS HOUSE. ST PATRICK'S WAS TURNED OVER TO THE SCHOOL UNTIL THE OPENING OF A NEW SCHOOL. IT WAS THEN DISUSED UNTIL LEASED OUT TO THE NSW POLICE IN 2007.

THE PHOTO ABOVE LEFT WAS TAKEN PRIOR TO 1956 AND SHOWS THE CONVENT AS IT WOULD HAVE APPEARED TO THE CITIZENS OF DUBBO DURING ITS FIRST SIXTY YEARS. THE MAIN SCHOOL BUILDING CAN BE SEEN TO THE LEFT AND THE BOARDER'S WING TO THE RIGHT. THE FENCE WAS CONSTRUCTED DURING THE 1920's. ABOVE RIGHT CAN BE SEEN THE ORIGINAL CONVENT CHAPEL LOCATED UPSTAIRS IN THE SISTER'S QUARTERS. WITH INCREASING NUMBERS MORE SPACE WAS REQUIRED AND FR M DUNNE HAD A NEW CHAPEL BUILT TO ENABLE THE UPSTAIRS ORATORY TO BE CONVERTED INTO SLEEPING QUARTERS. IN 1966 THE BOARDER'S WING WAS FURTHER EXTENDED TO THE SOUTH.

TWO VIEWS OF THE CONVENT POST '65 SHOWING THE WROUGHT IRON VERANDAH THE 1966 COMMUNITY, THE GARDEN AND THE NEW CHAPEL

THE ATTRACTIVE SANDSTONE CHAPEL WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1956 BY FR M DUNNE TO PERMIT THE CONVERSION OF THE OLD INTO SLEEPING QUARTERS. THE ALTAR AND ALTAR RAIL, PART OF THE ORIGINAL FURNISHINGS, WERE MOVED INTO THE NEW CHAPEL WHEN IT WAS FINISHED. IN RECENT YEARS WITH THE SMALLER NUMBER OF SISTERS WORKING IN THE PARISH A PLAIN DOMESTIC STYLE HOUSE WAS OBTAINED IN COBRA STREET FOR THEM AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE CHURCH (BELOW). THIS HOUSE NOW FUNCTIONS AS TODAY'S CONVENT OF MERCY.

ON THE SISTERS ARRIVAL IN 1880 THE INFANTS SCHOOL WAS IMMEDIATELY PLACED IN THEIR CAPABLE CHARGE. THE PUPILS (BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS) WERE TAUGHT IN CLASSROOMS IN THE FIRST CONVENT. NAMED THE SACRED HEART INFANT'S SCHOOL IT WAS RELOCATED TO THE NEW CONVENT IN BULTJE STREET ON ITS COMPLETION. AS OCCURRED IN SEVERAL PLACES THE CO-EDUCATIONAL INFANTS SCHOOL WAS KEPT DISTINCT FROM THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. IN 1938 A SEPARATE RED BRICK INFANTS SCHOOL WAS ERECTED (<<<). LOCATED ON THE SITE OF THE PRESENT CHURCH, IN 1973 IT BECAME PART OF THE NEW ST JOHN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL WHEN THE INFANTS BECAME FULLY INTEGRATED WITH THE PRIMARY. THE BUILDING WAS LATER DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW CHURCH.

IN ADDITION TO THE INFANT'S SCHOOL, THE SISTERS TOOK ON THE TEACHING OF PRIMARY-AGE GIRLS WHO UNTIL THAT TIME HAD LACKED A SCHOOL TO ATTEND. THE PRIMARY SCHOOL WAS NAMED ST JOHN'S AND THOUGH THERE IS SOME DOUBT AS TO ITS LOCATION IT IS AGREED THE FIRST SCHOOL WAS LOCATED APART FROM THE CONVENT REQUIRING THE SISTERS TO WALK TO IT DAILY. AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BULTJE STREET CONVENT THE PRIMARY SCHOOL MOVED TO NEW PREMISES WITHIN THE CONVENT COMPLEX. IN 1968 BOTH BOY'S AND GIRL'S SCHOOLS WERE AMALGAMATED INTO ST JOHN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL UNDER JOINT CARE OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY AND DE LA SALLE BROTHERS. THE AMALGAMATED SCHOOL WAS HOUSED IN THE NEWLY BUILT PRIMARY SCHOOL BUILDING BEHIND THE CONVENT AND LATER ABSORBED MOST OF THE OLDER CONVENT AND SCHOOL BUILDINGS AS WELL. BY 1986 THE SISTERS HAD WITHDRAWN FROM TEACHING AND THE SCHOOL BECAME FULLY LAY STAFFED. IN 2006 A MODERN NEW SCHOOL (^^^^) BUILT IN ACCORD WITH THE LATEST SCHOOL DESIGN PRINCIPLES WAS ERECTED ON SHERATON ROAD NEXT TO ST JOHN'S COLLEGE THUS CONTINUING THE ST JOHN'S TRADITION IN THE PRESENT.

FOR EIGHTY YEARS THE PRIMARY GIRLS WERE TAUGHT AT THE CONVENT UNTIL IN 1965 A NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL BLOCK WAS ERECTED IN THE NORTH-EASTERN CORNER FRONTING ONTO BULTJE STREET (RIGHT). AROUND THIS TIME THE OLD COTTAGE NEXT TO THE PRESBYTERY WAS ALSO CONVERTED TO SCHOOL USE. THREE YEARS LATER A NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL WAS BUILT ON A SITE BEHIND THE CONVENT ONCE OCCUOPIED BY THE 'UNIVERSITY' TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMBINED PRIMARY SCHOOLS (BELOW LEFT). IN 2006 A NEW MODERN SCHOOL WAS ERECTED ON SHERATON ROAD TO REPLACE THE OLD (BELOW RIGHT).

AS WAS THE CASE WITH THE BOY'S SCHOOL IN BATHURST, THE SISTERS SOON FOUND THEMSELVES CALLED UPON TO TAKE UP THE TASK OF STAFFING ST ALOYSISUS BOYS SCHOOL IN THE ABSENCE OF MALE TEACHERS. THIS WAS TO OCCUR TWICE DURING THEIR TIME IN DUBBO. THE FIRST CAME WITH THE DEPARTURE OF THE PATRICIAN BROTHERS IN 1892 THOUGH THE EXACT DATE IS UNCERTAIN AS IT SEEMS THE SCHOOL WAS TAUGHT BY PRIESTS FOR SOME TIME BEFORE THE SISTERS WERE ASKED TO TAKE OVER. IT IS KNOWN FOR CERTAIN THAT THEY WERE IN CHARGE FROM 1900 ON. IN 1921 THE PATRICIAN BROTHERS RETURNED FOR THREE YEARS AND THE SISTERS WITHDREW FROM ST ALOYSIUS DURING THIS TIME. IN 1924 THE PATRICIANS LEFT FOR THE SECOND TIME AND ONCE MORE THE SISTERS TOOK UP THE CHALLENGE OF BOY'S EDUCATION AT THE SCHOOL UNTIL THE ARRIVAL OF THE DE LA SALLE BROTHERS IN 1927 OPENED A NEW CHAPTER IN ST ALOYSIUS' HISTORY.

THE SISTERS COMMENCED A SECONDARY SCHOOL THEN NAMED OUR LADY'S high school ON THEIR ARRIVAL IN 1880. CLASSES WERE HELD IN THE FIRST CONVENT AND LATER THE NEW CONVENT. AS WAS USUAL AT THE TIME BOARDING FACILITIES WERE ALSO PROVIDED. LATER THE HIGH SCHOOL TOOK THE NAME OF ST PATRICK'S FROM THE CONVENT. FOR MOST OF ITS EIGHTY-FOUR YEAR HISTORY IN BULTJE STREET THE SCHOOL CHANGED LITTLE APART FROM ADDITIONS TO THE BOARDERS WING IN THE 1960's AND PERIODIC CHANGES TO THE 'UNIVERSITY', THE FORMER STABLE WHICH LATER BECAME A SCHOOL, THEN A MUSIC STUDIO AND FINALLY THE SPORTS STORE BEFORE BEING DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE THIRD PRIMARY SCHOOL IN 1968 (BOTTOM LEFT). DESPITE THE SUCCESSES OF THE COLLEGE CHANGES IN EDUCATION AND AN EXPANDING POPULATION LED TO THE TOUGH DECISION TO AMALGAMATE THE BOY'S AND GIRLS SCHOOLS IN 1968 TO FORM A NEW ST JOHN'S COLLEGE. IT ALSO MEANT AN END TO THE ST PATRICK'S TRADITION AFTER 88 YEARS OF PEDAGOGICAL SERVICE TO YOUNG WOMEN.

IN 1909 A CHURCH / SCHOOL TITLED ST MARY OF THE ANGELS WAS BUILT IN NORTH DUBBO (BELOW LEFT). A YEAR LATER TWO SISTERS FROM ST PATRICK'S COMMENCED ST MARY OF THE ANGELS INFANTS SCHOOL. FOR THE NEXT FIFTY-ONE YEARS THE SISTERS WERE DRIVEN TO THE SCHOOL BY PHAETON. IN 1953 ST MARY OF THE ANGELS BECAME A PARISH IN ITS OWN RIGHT AND IN 1961 A WEATHERBOARD SCHOOL (BELOW RIGHT) WAS ERECTED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MYALL STREET BETWEEN BOURKE AND DARLING STREETS. IT WAS TO SERVE AS THE SCHOOL FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS. FROM 1969 UNTIL 1973 THE SCHOOL WAS TAKEN OVER BY THE DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY FROM LOURDES HOUSE. AFTER A BRIEF PERIOD OF LAY LEADERSHIP, THE SISTERS OF MERCY RETURNED TO THE SCHOOL IN 1980. DURING THIS PERIOD THE SCHOOL WAS EXPANDED WITH TWO DEMOUNTABLES AND A BRICK TUCK SHOP. IN 1979 LAND WAS PURCHASED ON THE CORNER OF MYALL STREET AND WHEELERS LANE AND IN 1982 A BRAND NEW SCHOOL (ABOVE) WAS OPENED ON THE SITE. THE SCHOOL RETURNED TO LAY LEADERSHIP IN THE SAME YEAR. IN 2001 THE ENLARGED SCHOOL COMMENCED ITS FIRST PRIMARY CLASSES AND BY 2004 HAD BECOME A FULL PRIMARY SCHOOL.

IN 1953 A CHURCH / SCHOOL (BELOW) WAS OPENED IN TAMWORTH STREET SOUTH DUBBO TO CATER TO THE EXPANDING POPULATION OF THE AREA. THE SISTERS OF MERCY FROM ST PATRICK'S TOOK CHARGE OF THE INFANTS SCHOOL AT ST LAURENCE'S IN 1954. THEY PROVIDED THE TEACHING STAFF TILL 1969 WHEN THE DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY FROM LOURDES HOUSE TOOK OVER. IN 1971 THE SCHOOL RETURNED TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY. IN 1972 THE NEW CHURCH OF ST LAURENCE O'TOOLE WAS OPENED AND THE OLD CHURCH / SCHOOL CONVERTED TO SCHOOL USE ALONE. IN 1977 ADDITIONS WERE MADE TO THE SCHOOL (ABOVE AND BOTTOM RIGHT) TO CATER FOR A GROWTH IN SCHOOL NUMBERS. IN 1980 THE SISTERS WITHDREW FROM LEADERSHIP OF THE SCHOOL AND THE FIRST LAY PRINCIPAL WAS APPOINTED. THE LAST SISTER ON STAFF RETIRED IN 1984. FROM 1964 TO 2008 ST LAURENCE'S WAS THE PARISH SCHOOL OF SOUTH DUBBO PARISH. SINCE THE RETURN OF ST LAURENCE'S TO DUBBO PARISH THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN INTEGRATED INTO THE LATTER'S BROAD EDUCATIONAL MISSION.

IN 1908 WHEN ALL EXISTING MERCY CONVENTS IN BATHURST DIOCESE WERE AMALGAMATED INTO A SINGLE CONGREGATION A NEW CENTRAL NOVITIATE WAS REQUIRED AND THIS WAS PROVIDED WHEN ST JOSEPH'S MOUNT IN SOUTH BATHURST WAS OPENED IN 1909. NOT LONG AFTER THIS CONVENT ALSO BECAME THE CONGREGATIONAL HOUSE. IN 1966 UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MOTHER M. THERESE A CONVENT FOR THE SICK AND AGED SISTERS, ST CATHERINE'S WAS ALSO OPENED IN SOUTH BATHURST. THIS LATER BECAME ST CATHERINE'S NURSING HOME. TODAY THE CONGREGATIONAL HOUSE AT ST JOSEPH'S MOUNT HAS BECOME THE LOCUS OF THE MERCY SISTER'S APOSTOLATE WITHIN THE DIOCESE AND THE SYMBOL OF ALL THAT BATHURST OWES TO THE PIONEERING SPIRIT OF THE MANY DEDICATED MEMBERS OF THE ORDER.

FOLLOWING THE AMALGAMATION OF THE EXISTING DIOCESAN MERCY HOUSES IN 1908 A CENTRAL NOVITIATE BECAME THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE NEW CONGREGATION. IN WHAT CAN ONLY BE CONSIDERED AN ANSWER TO PRAYER MR JOHN MEAGHER MLC DONATED THE BEAUTIFUL OLD HOME, 'LOGAN BRAE', TO THE SISTERS OF MERCY FOR JUST THIS PURPOSE IN 1909. BY THE END OF THE YEAR NOVICES FROM EACH HOUSE HAD MOVED TO WHAT SOON BECAME THE ST JOSEPH'S MOUNT TRAINING SCHOOL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER IT ALSO BECAME THE NEW PROVINCIALATE. OVER THE YEARS SEVERAL ADDITIONS HAVE BEEN MADE INCLUDING THE BEAUTIFUL CHAPEL ADDED IN 1916, THE NEW SCIENCE BLOCK IN 1961 AND THE NORTH WING NOW DESIGNATED THE MERCY AND JUSTICE CENTRE FOR EDUCATION AND ACTION IN 1962.

THE LOVELY GOTHIC JUBILEE CHAPEL WAS ERECTED IN 1916 ON THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY IN BATHURST. BISHOP JOHN DUNNE WAS THE FOUNDER AND BENEFACTOR OF THE CHAPEL A FACT MEMORIALISED ON A PLAQUE IN THE CHAPEL.

THE SIMPLE INTERIOR OF THE CHAPEL WAS REMODELLED FOLLOWING THE REFORMS OF VATICAN II BUT THE ATTRACTIVE LINES OF THE ORIGINAL ARE EVIDENT IN THE APSIDAL CHANCEL AND THE DARK ROOF PANELS. THE TRADITIONAL DEVOTIONAL STATUES HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH MODERN CARVINGS AS WELL AS AN ALTAR AND TABERNACLE.

TWO MODERN CARVED STATUES OF ST MARY (LEFT) AND ST JOSEPH THE WORKER (RIGHT) WITH THE MORE TRADITIONAL CRUCIFIX (CENTRE)

THE CHANCEL CONTAINS THESE FOUR BEAUTIFUL STAINED GLASS WINDOWS WHICH REPRESENT FROM LEFT TO RIGHT THE HOLY FAMILY, THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY, ST JOSEPH AND OUR BLESSED LORD OF THE SACRAMENT. AT THE BACK IS THE ATTRACTIVE WEST WINDOW.

TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE 20th CENTURY THE CONGREGATION TOOK STEPS TO PROVIDE A HOME FOR ITS AGED AND SICK SISTERS. INITIALLY THIS NEED WAS MET BY THE OPENING OF A CONVENT IN WAHROONGA BUT IN 1966 THE MOTHER PROVINCIAL M. MARIE THERESE DECIDED IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE OLDER SISTERS TO BE LOCATED CLOSE TO THE CONGREGATIONAL HOUSE. FOR THIS REASON SHE SET ASIDE LAND AT ST JOSEPH'S MOUNT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW MODERN CONVENT OF ST CATHERINE, NAMED IN HONOUR OF THE ORDER'S FOUNDER MOTHER CATHERINE McAULEY (ABOVE). WITH THE DECLINE IN THE CONGREGATION'S NUMBERS THE FACILITY PROVED IN EXCESS OF THE NEEDS OF THE SISTERS AND TOWARDS THE END OF THE CENTURY IT WAS CONVERTED INTO A PRIVATE NURSING HOME.

WITH THE CONVERSION OF THE CONVENT INTO A NURSING HOME (ABOVE LEFT) AMBITIOUS PLANS WERE UNDERTAKEN TO EXPAND THE HOME THROUGH THE ERECTION OF ST CATHERINE'S HOSTEL (ABOVE RIGHT and BELOW) COMPRISING MODERN HIGH AND LOW-CARE NURSING UNITS. TODAY ST CATHERINE'S IS OPERATED BY THE CATHOLIC HEALTH AGENCY, CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE, ON BEHALF OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY.

IN EARLY 1972 THE NEW CHURCH/SCHOOL OF ST PIUS X WAS BUILT IN WEST DUBBO ON LAND RECENTLY BOUGHT BY THE DUBBO PARISH. THE BUILDING WAS INTENDED TO PROVIDE FOR CATHOLICS LIVING ACROSS THE RIVER. SUBSEQUENTLY IN 1973 THE SISTERS OF MERCY FROM ST PATRICK'S OPENED ST PIUS X INFANTS SCHOOL. IN 1977 A SMALL COMMUNITY OF FOUR SISTERS FOUNDED A CONVENT IN WEST DUBBO FROM WHICH THEY CONTINUED TO STAFF THE SCHOOL. DURING 1982 ST PIUS X BECAME A FULL PRIMARY SCHOOL AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE SISTERS WITHDREW FROM A LEADERSHIP ROLE. SHORTLY AFTER THE WEST DUBBO CONVENT WAS CLOSED AND THE SISTERS REASSIGNED.

AMONG THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY VATICAN II REGARDING RELIGIOUS LIFE WERE SOME PROMOTING INTERACTION BETWEEN RELIGIOUS AND LAITY. IT WAS SOON REALISED THAT LARGE BUILDINGS TENDED TO MILITATE AGAINST THIS DESIRED INTERACTION SO IN 1977 A SMALL COMMUNITY OF FOUR SISTERS MOVED INTO A SIMPLE DOMESTIC RESIDENCE (LEFT) AT WEST DUBBO. THIS EXPERIMENT OF A SMALL-GROUP HOUSE HAD A SPECIFIC INTENTION THAT THE SISTERS WOULD BE A PRESENCE WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THE CONVENT WAS CLOSED IN THE 1980's AS A RESULT OF THE DECLINE IN THE SIZE OF THE MERCY COMMUNITY.

ST PIUS X SCHOOL BEGAN IN 1973 IN THE BLONDE-BRICK CHURCH/SCHOOL ERECTED IN 1972. IN 1982 WITH A RAPID INCREASE IN ENROLMENTS IN DUBBO'S CATHOLIC SCHOOLS EXTENSIONS WERE BUILT CONTAINING FOUR CLASSROOMS. THE OLD WEATHERSHED WAS CONVERTED TO A LIBRARY AND SCHOOL TUCKSHOP AND LATER A NEW ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK WAS BUILT. IN 1980 THE FIRST LAY PRINCIPAL WAS APPOINTED AND ST PIUS X THEN BECAME A FULL PRIMARY SCHOOL. TODAY ST PIUS IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE DUBBO CATHOLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.

SEVERAL IMAGES FROM AROUND THE SCHOOL SHOWING THE DARK-BLONDE BRICK BUILDINGS AND THE ATTRACTIVE CENTRAL COURTYARD WITH WIDE SHADE SAILS. THE PHOTO AT BELOW LEFT SHOWS THE BUILDING WHEREIN THE CHAPEL OF ST PIUS X IS LOCATED. THIS CHAPEL IS USED FOR WEEKLY WORSHIP BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY OF WEST DUBBO. THE PHOTO AT RIGHT BELOW SHOWS THE FORMER WEATHERSHED, NOW THE LIBRARY AND TUCKSHOP AT THE FAR RIGHT-HAND SIDE.

MUCH OF THE INFORMATION AND MANY OF THE HISTORICAL PHOTOS USED FOR THIS PAGE ARE TAKEN FROM CENTENNIAL BOOKLET THE SISTERS OF MERCY - BATHURST PUBLISHED BY THE CONGREGATION IN 1966. IT IS HERE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH GRATITUDE. A SPECIAL ACKNOWLDGEMENT ALSO GOES TO THE SISTERS OF MERCY THEMSELVES WHO WERE UNSTINTING IN THEIR ASSISTANCE. I AM ALSO INDEBTED FOR INFORMATION ON DUBBO TO THE CENTENARY COMMEMORATIVE BOOKLET OF ST PATRICK'S CONVENT AND DUBBO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS 1870-1987 BY MARIE WALKOWIAK WHOSE KNOWLEDGE AND HELP WERE ALSO GREATLY APPRECIATED.