By Bridget Spinks
SEVERAL 19th and early 20th century buildings and areas of the Catherine McAuley Centre in Barret St, Wembley were heritage listed on 17 December, including the former Benedictine stables, olive trees and consecrated cemetery.
The Register for Heritage Places assessed the Catherine McAuley Centre in June last year for its cultural heritage significance and value as well as its rarity, representativeness, condition, integrity and authenticity.
The site, now owned by MercyCare, boasts a rich Catholic history with its early Benedictine and later Christian Brothers’ presence and, primarily, that of the Sisters of Mercy. The Sisters administered the site from 1876-2002 except during 1897 and 1901 when it was under the control of the Christian Brothers.
The former Benedictine stables and remaining olive trees are now heritage listed. The olive trees were subsequently used by the Sisters to make olive oil; a venture which brought in funds for the operation of the orphanage and St Vincent’s Foundling Home.
The site’s heritage listed buildings includes St Vincent’s Orphanage for Boys which operated from 1872-1901.
When the first 12 boys moved in to the former Benedictine Monastery in 1872, this was the first non-Government orphanage for boys in Western Australia.
Interestingly, in 1883, Fr (later Bishop)Gibney reported to the Colonial Secretary that as well as schooling, the orphans (who numbered 39 in 1877) were also occupied with carpentry, gardening, olive oil manufacturing and printing of The Record (first published in 1874).
In 1901, the Orphanage became the St Joseph’s Orphanage for Girls. Today, it is simply called the Old School and is in the centre of the complex.
The girls who were living in the St Joseph’s Orphanage for Girls in Victoria Square around 1901 moved to the new location and took up residence on these grounds under the care of six Sisters
In the early 20th century, the Sisters of Mercy also established St Vincent’s Foundling Home (1914-71 and now heritage listed) on the grounds to care for deserted or homeless infants up to the age of six.
Also heritage listed is Davis House, formerly known as St Gerard’s Maternity Hospital (1938-71), which is currently in use in the Aged Care programme as a Dementia Day Care Respite Centre.
Today, MercyCare, a lay company, owns the Catherine McAuley Family Centre, after ownership was transferred with Vatican approval in 2002 from the Sisters of Mercy, Perth. It provides residential aged care, child day care, and family and youth support services.