Sister of Mercy Joan Smith RSM is one of a number of Sisters and associates who are preparing the 1871 Sisters of Mercy convent for a public viewing over the City of Perth heritage weekend 13-14 November.
The Sisters of Mercy have opened over 100 schools and convents since they first arrived in 1846 including the first Catholic school in the Swan River Colony, Mercedes College.
They opened the school the day after they arrived, after a six-month voyage, Sr Joan said. The Holy Cross convent behind the pro-Cathedral was the first Mercy convent. It is now used by Mercedes College for art classes.
The 1871 Convent of Mercy on Victoria Square is the second convent that was built in the area to accommodate the growing number of religious.
It held 80 sisters at its peak.
During the open days, visitors will be able to enter through the original gate on Victoria Square, stroll through the convent and see the side door, which was once used to receive the poor and afflicted.
Since one of the charisms of the Sisters is hospitality especially to the poor, Sr Joan said, a number of original teacups and saucers in cabinets will be on display.
The kitchen, dining, sunroom, hall, chapel, common room, music room and two reception rooms will all display original pieces of furniture and even paintings which have been around as long as Sr Joan – professed in 1952 – can remember.
Harkening back to the old days when the Sisters of Mercy used to serve breakfast to the Bishops after 7am Mass at the Cathedral, the Reception Room closest to the Cathedral will be set up as if ready to receive a Bishop for breakfast.
Bishops Brady, Griver and Gibney among others would have all had breakfast here, Sr Joan said.
Five of the founding seven Mercy Sisters are buried on the Perth convent grounds while Mother Ursula Frayne and Sr Anne Xavier Dillon are buried in Melbourne, Sr Joan said.
The ground floor of this religious convent in the heart of Perth now being transformed into the Mercy Heritage Centre will be open to the public during a City of Perth Heritage weekend on 13-14 November from 10am-330pm.
For more information about the heritage of Mercedes College, visit their website .