From the Archives

Can you help to add to our archive collection? We would love to receive some more photos and memorabilia. Photos can be scanned and returned to you. Please contact our Archivist Barbara Kowalski if you can assist.

(1948 Elementary Class pictured above)

130 years of Sacred Heart Education

A small notice in the Catholic newspaper The Advocate in February 1888 announced that “The nuns of the Sacred Heart …are about to open a School at Balaclava.” 

The Sisters had already established a school in Sydney and had been invited by the Archbishop to come to Melbourne. The school opened on 22 February 1888 with ten students; however, they soon realised that the property in Balaclava was not suitable. In May came news of a “desirable property situated in one of the most beautiful and healthy suburbs of Melbourne” and so on 9 August 1888 the school with twelve children was transferred to Burke Road and three more were to start a few days later.

What was Sacré Cœur like 130 years ago? Brynmawr was a two storey villa in a garden setting (the red brick building was not completed until 1892). The area was rural with few houses and with cows and horses grazing in the surrounding fields. Burke Road was made of gravel and there were no trams or buses although there was a steam train service – the Inner Circle.

The Sisters brought with them to Australia a comprehensive system based on the Society’s Plan of Studies covering the spiritual, intellectual, moral and social education of girls. In those early years the Prospectus offered “Christian Doctrine, and all those which go to form a liberal education for girls”. According to the Plan of Studies subjects included History, Literature, Art, Natural Science, Geography, Mathematics, Latin, French, Music, Needlework, Housekeeping, Cooking, Physical Exercises, Drawing and Painting. 

Students were taught by the RSCJ Sisters though there were also some lay teachers who would visit to provide specialist instruction in areas such as singing or instrumental music. Even in this new property, space was at a premium and there were no rooms for the Sisters. Every evening apparently they collected their mattresses and slept wherever they could find space.

In those days Sacré Cœur was a boarding school so students were required to bring everything they needed – clothes for day and night as well as sheets, towels, cutlery, stationery and toiletries. All packed into their trunk! Parents said their goodbyes and then were rare visitors to the School.

In 2018 we celebrate our heritage of 130 years. Many new buildings and resources have been added. Classrooms have whiteboards rather than blackboards. Students and teachers have laptops and iPads. The curriculum includes subjects such as Digital Technologies, Media Studies and Global Politics but alongside these are many that were listed in the Prospectus 130 years ago. 

Much may have changed but St Madeleine Sophie Barat’s vision of educating young women remains as strong as ever.

Barbara Kowalski

Archivist