From the Archives 

Mr Anthony Kelly & Mrs Caroline Chapman

We were fortunate at the College Archives this week to receive a donation of an old photo postcard with a post date of 8 August 1908.  Not only is the post mark clear, the writer has dated the message which is a little unusual for cards of that time. 

One of our Alumni, Justin Reading was fortunate to win an auction on eBay to secure the card and has generously offered it to the College. It is a significant photograph and one that we don't already have in our collection. 

Although the oldest of the  original St Patrick's College buildings shown was partially constructed in 1889, De La Salle College opened in 1906 on spacious grounds totalling 23 Acres which were acquired by the Patrician brothers 15 years prior. 

BROTHER EUGENE SETS UP THE FUTURE OF DE LA SALLE AND O'CONNOR CATHOLIC COLLEGES: Source - Freeman's Journal 17 February 1894, p 15.

There are a number of things that can be observed in the photograph of the College. The elms can be seen on the left but interestingly, the original Presbytery of Father Tim McCarthy is seen behind them (1848). The first Catholic Chapel in Armidale as mentioned in previous newsletters was positioned  just behind the two-storey building but was demolished quite a few years prior.  With the first wing of this building completed in time for the 1889 school year, the main building stands proud in the centre of the photograph with the chapel believed to be located downstairs on the right hand side.  On the right is the building now known as the Duffy Building. It was an addition to accommodate growing numbers De La Salle College following it's opening in 1906. Again, one wing was built first and the second wing added.  Finally, the entrance road runs through our current main oval and provides a grand entrance to the De La Salle College in those early years.

The historical significance of the site in relation to the Roman Catholic Church in Armidale was mentioned in the Maitland Mercury on 19 October 1889, noting the continuance of the faith on the site through Catholic Education. 

FAITH OF THEIR FOREFATHERS: A 1889 NEWSPAPER REPORT FOLLOWING THE BLESSING OF ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE. (Maitland Mercury 19.10.1889)

Mr H E Elliott was the architect employed to design the St Patrick's College building and the journalist reporting the Blessing Ceremony must have asked to have a look at the architects plans to enhance his writing. Unfortunately they were destroyed in a fire of a local hotel just prior to the Ceremony along with many possessions of the Architect. This implies he may have been staying temporarily in Armidale while the building was being completed. These architect plans are one item the College Archives will never obtain but we are sure that items such as the postcard above will continue to be gratefully received. 

 Thank you to Justin for thinking of us as the best place to deposit this fascinating photo postcard. 

FIRE!: THE PLANS DESTROYED BUT LUCKILY AFTER THE FIRST STAGE OF BUILDING WAS COMPLETE.  (Maitland Mercury 19.10.1889)

POSTCARD FROM WILL: THE CARD WAS POSTED TO NEWCASTLE 113 YEARS AGO THIS SUNDAY.