Loreto Primary School & Convent Group, Nedlands

Statement of Significance

The Loreto Nedlands Comvent and School has significant aesthetic, historic, social and rarity cultural heritage value. The building has a high integrity as it has been maintained in excellent order with few changes to its exterior since the first stage was built in 1931. The school, convent and chapel are fine examples of Inter-War architectural design. For over 65 years the Loreto Order has provided a Catholic religious education to the children of the district. This institution is unique in the City of Nedlands area and along with the Carnielite Convent provide a sanctuary for those women who have chosen to serve God in this way.

Physical Description

The Foundation Stone for Loreto Primary School is dated 21 November 1930. The site slopes down west with other school buildings being single storey and two storey generally facing north. Later single storey buildings have been added with the assembly area being the latest addition (1990s). The main building has a steep pitched tile roof and has an ecclesiastical style. The verandah posts have simple detailing on the northern verandah, The pairs of timber columns and the timber infill arch have a cross cut in the infill between them. The two storey building with Gothic detailing has a series of six arches to the colonnade at the front, facing onto Webster Street. It has vertical sash windows at ground level, with Gothic heads and projecting bay windows at the first floor level. These windows have cross lattice lead lighting. The other buildings on site have less detail and are less imposing than the main original two storey block.

History

The Loreto Order first arrived in WA in 1897. Established in Adelaide Terrace, Perth (1897) and then in Osborne, Claremont (1901), the Nedlands School was not established until 1931. The Convent was built on bush land purchased for nearly £3,000 in 1928. For two years the land was left uncleared. (Almost simnllaneously the Catholic people of Nedlands and Dalkeith received their own parish, separating from Subiaco.) A Foundation Stone for the Convent and school was blessed and laid by Archbishop Clune in 1930. Designed by architects, Henderson and Gamble, the building programme was to be completed in two stages. The first stage was completed for the beginning of the school year in 1931. It was opened with a blessing from the Archbislmp in March 1931. The convent community included six nuns led by Mother Superior Mercedes, and during the first term nine pupils were enrolled. Mass was celebrated in a small chapel on the second floor of the two storey building. With all surplus funds spent on building the convent, furniture became a luxury that the order could not afford. Packing cases doubled as shelving until furniture could be purchased. Funds for this was aided by bridge parties nm by the Loreto Ladies Society. Financial difficulties were not limited to the Loreto Convent. Western Australia in 1931 was still in the middle of the Great Depression. The Nedlands Catholic community were stretched to provide the funds for the building of the Holy Rosary Church. However, finances improved for the Loreto Convent with an increase of students to 28 in 1932. History of the Loreto Convent and School, which was primarily a girls school (but took boys up until their First Holy Communion) has coincided with the development of St Theresa's Parish School. St Theresa's was established by Father Moss who believed Loreto was a private school and did not fill the requirements of a Parish School which would be directly under his control. Interestingly, Father Moss expected the Loreto Nuns to staff the school and did not seem at all bothered by the situation of having two Catholic schools situated so close together. Both schools struggled to exist as the number of school age children in the Parish of Nedlands did not increase sufficiently to maintain viability, particular!)' at Loreto. The lower tuition fee at St Theresa's and the fact that the children were learning the same curriculum as at Loreto and were taught by the Loreto Nuns was a strong lever in drawing pupils lo the parish primary school, rather than to Loreto. Why pay more for a product when the same quality is offered at a cheaper price! Student numbers to Loreto eajoyed a boost by the Adelaide Terrace girls who joined Nedlands after the closure of the Perth School in 1938. In 1939 the second stage of the Loreto Convent was constructed at a cost of £8,375. This extension included the chapel, new kitchen and dining room. The building was carried out by W Ralph and Sons (also involved at St Paul's, the Nedlands Road Board offices aud the Windsor Theatre) and made ready for the new school year in 1940. Archbishop Prendiville officially blessed and opened the additions, 2 February 1940. Loreto Nedlands (K-12) pupil numbers increased from 1938 until they peaked at 212 in 1953. From then they stayed fairly steady except for a shortfall in the late 1960s. Owing to difficulties in numbers for Year 11 and 12 during the 1960s students were transforrcd after Year 10 to Loreto Osborne to complete their Leaving. The 1960s also saw changes in the Convent. The Rule of Enclosure that the Loreto order had lived under for many years was released. Visits to their families. eating in public and attendance at marriages and funerals were permitted, changing the lifestyle of the nuns dramatically. In 1970 declining numbers (owing to an ageing population in Nedlands and Dalkeith) at both St Theresa's parish school and Loreto Nedlands sent alarm hells to the Order and Church. Rationalisation led to the closure of Loreto's senior school and St Theresa's, leaving Loreto Nedlands the only Catholic primary school in the district. Over the next few years Loreto Nedlands also had to provide a convincing rationale for continuing on as a primary school. The decision to allow for co-education through until Year 7 increased the population markedly. In a 1974 review it was reported that expectations for the school had increased and the threat of closure had passed. Today (1998) the Convent and school (population 281) are run independently of one another. The last nun taught in the school in 1996. However, the Loreto Order still own the school and therefore have a position to represent the Order on the school board.

Integrity/Authenticity

Good

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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