Heritage Matters

The convent 1910 

Thanks to Bob Douglas from Lost Wagga Wagga Facebook page for sharing

When this photo was taken, it would still be another 5 years before the chapel was built. The first students on the Mt Erin site were taught in the room on the ground floor on the western end. It is significant that the Mt Erin Heritage Centre now occupies that room.

Rice House - Boys Boarding is now located in the convent.

SHORT HISTORY OF MOUNT ERIN/Narelle da Silva        

Taken from typed pages in a Year 9 School Folder, produced mid-1995

The Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary arrived in Wagga Wagga in 1874 in answer to the need for Catholic education for girls in the Riverina area, and more specifically, in the fast growing township of Wagga Wagga, already boasting a population of 2,500 people. The five pioneer sisters began the task of instructing the 130 enrolled children in converted stables plus two wooden rooms, behind the present St Michael's Cathedral. The Catholics of Wagga Wagga responded financially and plans were immediately underway to construct more permanent buildings, both school and convent, suitable for sisters. On the eve of Presentation Day 1876, the sisters occupied the newly completed convent buildings - set on the hill site of Mount Erin, donated by pastoralist John Donnelly. The official opening by Archbishop Roger Vaughan OSB, Coadjutor to Archbishop Polding of the Sydney Archdiocese took place on 10 December, 1876. In 1877 a Novitiate Training School was opened through whose doors eventually passed many postulants to take up vocations in the Presentation order. Eventually the 'Stables' were vacated by the sisters, who took up their instruction of pupils (primary) in St Mary's School, located behind the convent buildings. This is now part of Mount Erin High School complex - serving at present as the Home Science, Textile and Design, and the Art block. The sisters continued to teach at St Michael's primary school in-town for another year, travelling to and fro each day in a closed carriage, as at this time the Presentation order was an enclosed order. By 1878 the classes were transferred to Mount Erin to form St Mary's primary school. In 1886, to cope with increasing numbers of pupils in Wagga Wagga, a second primary school was opened - St Joseph's, in Johnston Street, and the sisters travelled there each day in a horse-drawn cab. This school underwent various changes over the years with the coming of the Patrician Brothers (1889-1898), and later the Christian Brothers in 1914. The sisters from Mount Erin taught there continuously until almost 1970. By the 1880's the convent high school at Mount Erin - called St Brigid's - was firmly established and consisted of day pupils only. No boarding school was permitted at this stage even though regular appeals had been made to Bishop Lanigan for permission to open a boarding section. The scholastic reputation of Mount Erin had by this time won wide acclaim, and the levels of musical and artistic talent developed in the high school had become widely known. 3 The boarding school dilemma was eventually solved in 1887 by Dr John Gallagher, newly appointed parish priest, who initiated a new building project to solve the accommodation difficulty. On 11 February, 1890, the Wagga Daily Advertiser gave considerable coverage to the 'new Convent Boarding School, Mount Erin - a wing measuring 62' x 22', two storeys high and containing a fine study hall and dormitory'. By 1892, with increasing numbers of boarders being further additions to the building were necessary. This time, the name St Brigid's was changed to 'St at the wish of Dr Gallagher, after the college of in Derry, Ireland. received, Also at Eugene's' St Eugene Boarders came from the Riverina and beyond to Mount Erin, and by the 1890's the school was well known for its Exhibition Days. Students performed musical items, poetry, and exhibited displays of fine needlework and art work. From the mid-1890's candidates were prepared for examinations of the University of Sydney, at junior level, senior level and matriculation. By the early 1900's many students had gained honours in languages (English, French, Latin) Geography, Mathematics and Theory of Music. and in There was a gradual transition at Wagga, as elsewhere, from a curriculum focussing on 'accomplishments' preparation for examinations. to a more functional At the Silver Jubilee Celebrations held in July 1899, Bishop Gallagher said that 'that year Mount Erin had the unique distinction of being the only girls' school in NSW to obtain a matriculation pass'. However, the 'accomplishments' still had a great emphasis and each year large numbers of pupils were prepared for music examinations by the Sydney College of Music, with great success. Further additions were made to the school buildings in 1908, 1920 and 1928 to accommodate the ever increasing numbers of students, both boarders and day pupils. 

The Boarding House  in 1908

From the Mt Erin Heritage Centre's Facebook Archives.

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