The foundations of the Convent commenced on 11th June 1889. The first donation towards the building of the Convent was received from an old Irish woman of five shillings. Mr McCabe, a Catholic gentleman from Ararat, deeded a piece of ground on 30th June 1889.The start of the first Catholic school building in Ararat.Two storey Brigidine Convent built with red bricks. Building of the convent commenced on 11th June 1889. Convent was blessed by Bishop Moore on 18th March 1890.brigidine convent

White marble fireplace in the Parlour of Brigidine Convent.

Photograph of The Brigidine Convent taken in 1913 featuring a group of finely groomed pupils on the balconies. The Convent was home for the Brigidine Sisters and the Boarders who attended their St. Josephs School. The Bridgine Convent is now known as 'The Old Priory' and is privately owned , it currently operates as accommodation in Beechworth.Sepia rectangular photograph printed on card.Reverse: Historic Beechworth / THE BRIGIDINE CONVENT / 2573 (in pencil) brigidine convent, brigidine sisters, old priory, beechwoth

Formerly the home of Henry Hopwood. Apsley House, No. 1 Echuca. This was purchased for the Bridgine nuns to establish a catholic co-education school in Echuca. Extensions were made to the original structure (to the south of this building) with outbuildings and brick stables converted to school rooms during the late 1886 and opened as St Joseph's in 1887. The front section of the school was built in 1888. At the time of this photograph the upper floor of the building was the boarding house. The school building holds historical, social and spiritual significance to Echuca being the former home of Echuca's founder, Henry Hopwood. The diocese purchased the original building for 1,000 pounds. The school opened as a co-educational school on 22/3/1886 with 16 boys and 7 girls. It's first enrolment was a non-Catholic boy. By the end of 1886 there were 30 pupils. The boarding school opened on 4/5/1886 with 6 students. The chapel (to the north of this building) was built in 1889. For 60 years the school provided both primary and secondary schooling but in 1960's it changed to secondary schooling. The boarding house closed around 1986 and the school continued as a co-educational catholic college.Colour photograph (post-card size) of Bridgine Convent, Echuca (St.Joseph's College), showing arched facade over the verandah and the upper louvred windows of the boarding house.On front above the entrance "Brigidine Convent A.D. 1886.. Printed on the reverse:" this paper manufactured by Kodak"echuca- secondary schools, st joseph's college, echuca, brigidine convent, echuca

2 girls from Tatura (Joan Nyhan, nee McNamara (with plaits) and Mary Quinn nee McNamara, with 2 girls from internment camp 3. All were boarders at the Echuca Brigidine Convent. Photograph taken by Father Owens. Black and white photograph of 4 girls in a field picking mushrooms. Photograph is in a dark brown frame with dark tan mat.echuca brigidine convent, father owens, internment camp 3 children, joan nyhan, mary quinn, joan mcnamara, father arthur owens

Carla Hreglich interned with her Italian parents and brother Giuliana in Singapore, transported to Camp 3 on the "Queen Mary" 1940. Both children released to attend Catholic schools. Carla & her friend Marissa Georgio attended Brigidine Convent in Echuca. Carla School Captain, musician, post war interpreter for Italian Opera Company.Black and white photograph of two girls with sheep dog, tree lined fence behind.Carla, Hreglich & friend Joan Hands at Moira Station, NSW. 1947italian families, singapore group, camp 3, brigidine convent echuca, carla hreglich, giuliana hreglich, marissa georgio

Sister Elizabeth McGovern, Sister Mary Lacey, Sister Mary Griffiths, and Sister Gerardus Thistlewaite were all nuns of the Brigidine Order in Beechworth in the second half of the twentieth century. They had backgrounds in teaching and office work. As nuns, their contributions to the community included teaching, running camps, being there for community members wishing to talk to them or pray, and visiting prisons and hospitals. During their time in the order, the role of the nuns in Beechworth shifted due to the closing down of the Priory School, and changes in where housing for nuns was provided. The oral history also includes stories of boarding at the convent in the 1950s, and reflections on how the experience of being a nun has changed due to increasing immersion in the modern world, and the move from convent to house. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Sister Elizabeth McGovern, Sister Mary Lacey, Sister Mary Griffiths, and Sister Gerardus Thistlewaite's interview with Jennifer Williams is revealing of the history of the Brigidine order in Beechworth, and the role religion and nuns played in the wellbeing, education, and life of the community in the latter half of the twentieth century. It is significant both for what it illustrates about the lives and motivation of the Sisters, and for what it tells us about how the role of religious education and figures shifted in Beecjhworth from 1950 onward. It is especially illuminating about the experience of women in education. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a series of digital recordings that were originally recorded on multiple cassette tapes. The cassette tapes are black with a horizontal white strip and are currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. They up to 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Sister Elizabeth McGovern, Sister Mary Lacey, Sister Mary Griffiths, Sister Gerardus Thistlewaitelisten to what they say, listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century beechworth, nuns, brigidine sisters, brigidine convent, school, religion, prison, boarding school, modernization, food, women's history, teaching, teachers, education, hospitals, beechworth hospital, charity, old priory, father stockdale, easter, beechworth 1950s

Colour negative portraying the former Coffee Palace at Mentone, now Brigidine convent, with a view down Mentone Parade. There are children standing in a group out the front of the convent.

Original organ located in the Parlour of Brigidine Convent.Original pieceElaborate carved wooden organorgan

Sister Chanel, was later known as Sister Julia Williams. She was professed on the 7th December 1963. She is mentioned in a history of the Brigidine Sister, by Morna Sturrock, Women of Strength, Women of Gentleness: Brigidine Sisters - Victoria Province, David Lovell Publishing, Victoria Australia, 1995, page 290. Sister Chanel (Sister Julia Williams) undertook a study of Ardeer in 1985, as part of her university studies. At the time, she was based at the Brigidine Convent in Blanche Street, Ardeer, opposite the Mother of God Catholic Primary School. Some years later, she was living at Unit 3, 387 Station Street, Bonbeach, Vic, 3196. Today, the Brigidine Convent at Ardeer no longer exists. The buildings have been demolished. The local schools begun by the Brigidine Sisters are now entirely staffed by lay teachers. There is a Brigidine Centre in Malvern, which contains archives relating to the Brigidine Sisters' history.The Brigidine Sisters (often misheard as “Bridiline”) are a long‑established Catholic religious congregation with a major historical presence in Melbourne, especially in education and social justice work. They arrived in Victoria in the 1880s and continue to operate schools, ministries, and community programs across the state.5384.01 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Envelope.jpg Text - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 1.jpg Text - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 2.jpg 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 3.jpg Text - Subject HU211 Regionalism And Australia 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 4.jpg Text - Ardeer Regions Selected 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 5.jpg Melway Map 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 6.jpg Text - Ardeer Never Heard Of It. Wheres That? 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 7.jpg Text - Study The Region of Ardeer. There's Northing To Study 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 8.jpg 1978 Municipal Directory 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 9.jpg Text - Who Fosters It Image - House 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 10.jpg Image - Market Gardens Yallourn Street Image - Yallourn Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 11.jpg Image - Mother Of God Catholic Church Blanche Street Image - Mother Of God Catholic Church Blanche Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 12.jpg Image - Scotch Thistles Image - Kororoit Creek Bridge West Street To Esmond Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 13.jpg Image - Kororoit Creek Bridge Yalloun Street to Ballarat Road Image - Mother Of God Catholic Church Blanche Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 14.jpg Text - Councillors, Politicians, People 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 15.jpg Reality 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 16.jpg Text - Geography Of The City Of Sunshine 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 18.jpg Melway Map 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 20.jpg Image - Kororoit Creek From Ballarat Road 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 22.jpg Text - Basalt Sample Of A Basalt Rock When Laying Foundations For The Polish Community Hall In Helene Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 23.jpg Image - Corner Yallourn Street And Rockbank Road Image - Tower Road Proposed Freeway Site (Now Scrapped) 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 24.jpg Image - Kororoit Creek Bridge West Street To Esmond Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 25.jpg Kororoit Creek Bridge West Street To Esmond Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 26.jpg Image - Sunshine Swimming Pool Kororoit Creek 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 27.jpg Text - Industry 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 28.jpg Text - ICI 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 29.jpg Text - ICINZ 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 30.jpg Image - ICIANZ Ballarat Road Entrance 1979 Image - ICIANZ Explosive Reserve View From More Park Esmond Road 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 31.jpg Image - Forrest Street Corner Fitzgerald Road Image - Entrance To ICIANZ Forrest Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 32.jpg Image - Explosive Train Shunting Across Forrest Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 33.jpg Image - Besco Batteries Forrest Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 34.jpg Image - Queen Of Heaven Catholic Church Holt Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 35.jpg Image - Ukrainian Catholic Church Forrest Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 36.jpg Image - Mother Of God Catholic Church Blanche Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 37.jpg Image - Ukrainian Hall Suspension Street Image - Polish Hall Helene Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 38.jpg Image - Mother Of God Catholic Primary School Blanche Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 39.jpg Image - Ardeer State School Looking From Suspension Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 40.jpg Image - Polish Soccer Club Playgroup 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 41.jpg Image - Holt Street Shopping Centre Image - Holt Street Milk Bar And Post Office 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 42.jpg Image - 29 - 31 Maxwell Street Shopping Centre Image - 60 - 62 Maxwell Street Shopping Centre 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 43.jpg Image - Motor Rail Train At Ardeer Station 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 44.jpg Image - Ardeer Railway Station 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 45.jpg Image - Railway Line Pedestrian Crossing Ardeer Station Ridgeway Parade To Forrest Street Image - Railway Line Pedestrian Crossing Ridgeway Parade To West Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 46.jpg Image - Half House Image - Half House 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 47.jpg Image - Small House Image - Vacant Block 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 48.jpg Image - House Image - New House 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 49.jpg Image - House 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 50.jpg Image - Horse Riding School Forrest Street Image - Horse Riding School Forrest Street 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 51.jpg Image - Kororoit Creek Image - Playground 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 52.jpg Image - More Park Women's Sport Centre Esmond Street Image - Old Service Station Old Service Station 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 53.jpg Image - Vegetable Garden Image - Vegetable Garden 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 54.jpg Text - Open Space Analysis 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 55.jpg 1976 Census 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 56.jpg 1976 Census 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 57.jpg 1979 Statistics 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 58.jpg Text - Some Significant Realities 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 59.jpg Text - A Typical Story From An Ardeerite 5384.02 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer Page 60.jpg Text - Bibliography 5384.03 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer - Donation Letter.jpg 5384.04 - A Regional Study Of The Region Of Ardeer - Sister Chanel Details.jpg

Sister Chanel, was later known as Sister Julia Williams. She was professed on the 7th December 1963. She is mentioned in a history of the Brigidine Sister, by Morna Sturrock, Women of Strength, Women of Gentleness: Brigidine Sisters - Victoria Province, David Lovell Publishing, Victoria Australia, 1995, page 290. Sister Chanel (Sister Julia Williams) undertook a study of Ardeer in 1985, as part of her university studies. At the time, she was based at the Brigidine Convent in Blanche Street, Ardeer, opposite the Mother of God Catholic Primary School. Some years later, she was living at Unit 3, 387 Station Street, Bonbeach, Vic, 3196. These photographs have been scanned from her university work "A Study Of The Region Of Ardeer" Today, the Brigidine Convent at Ardeer no longer exists. The buildings have been demolished. The local schools begun by the Brigidine Sisters are now entirely staffed by lay teachers. There is a Brigidine Centre in Malvern, which contains archives relating to the Brigidine Sisters' history.These black & white photographs capture Ardeer's street scenes and other points of interest in the 1980's5383.01 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Holt Street Shopping Centre.jpg 5383.02 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Holt Street Milk Bar And Post Office.jpg 5383.03 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - 29 - 31 Maxwell Street Shopping Centre.jpg 5383.04 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - 60 - 62 Maxwell Street Shopping Centre.jpg 5383.05 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Mother Of God Catholic Church Blanche Street.jpg 5383.06 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Mother Of God Catholic Church Blanche Street.jpg 5383.07 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Mother Of God Catholic Church Blanche Street.jpg 5383.08 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Mother Of God Catholic Church Blanche Street.jpg 5383.09 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Mother Of God Catholic Primary School Blanche Street.jpg 5383.10 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Ukrainian Catholic Church Forrest Street.jpg 5383.11 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Ukrainian Hall Suspension Street.jpg 5383.12 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Polish Hall Helene Street.jpg 5383.13 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Queen Of Heaven Catholic Church Holt Street.jpg 5383.14 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - More Park Women's Sport Centre Esmond Street.jpg 5383.15 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Kororoit Creek Bridge West Street To Esmond Street.jpg 5383.16 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Kororoit Creek Bridge West Street To Esmond Street.jpg 5383.17 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - ICIANZ Ballarat Road Entrance 1979.jpg 5383.18 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Ardeer Railway Station.jpg 5383.19 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Motor Rail Train At Ardeer Station.jpg 5383.20 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Railway Line Pedestrian Crossing Ridgeway Parade To West Street.jpg 5383.21 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Railway Line Pedestrian Crossing Ardeer Station Ridgeway Parade To Forrest Street.jpg 5383.22 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Old Service Station.jpg 5383.23 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - New House.jpg 5383.24 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Ardeer State School Looking From Suspension Street.jpg 5383.25 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Besco Batteries Forrest Street.jpg 5383.26 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Corner Yallourn Street And Rockbank Road.jpg 5383.27 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - House.jpg 5383.28 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Kororoit Creek From Ballarat Road.jpg 5383.29 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Forrest Street Corner Fitzgerald Road.jpg 5383.30 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Half House.jpg 5383.31 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - House.jpg 5383.32 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Entrance To ICIANZ Forrest Street.jpg 5383.33 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - ICIANZ Explosive Reserve View From More Park Esmond Road.jpg 5383.34 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Explosive Train Shunting Across Forrest Street.jpg 5383.35 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - House.jpg 5383.36 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Kororoit Creek.jpg 5383.37 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Market Gardens Yallourn Street.jpg 5383.38 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Playground.jpg 5383.39 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Polish Soccer Club Playgroup.jpg 5383.40 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Scotch Thistles.jpg 5383.41 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Small House.jpg 5383.42 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Tower Road Proposed Freeway Site (Now Scrapped).jpg 5383.43 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Vacant Block.jpg 5383.44 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Vegetable Garden.jpg 5383.45 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Yallourn Street.jpg 5383.46 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Half House.jpg 5383.47 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Horse Riding School Forrest Street.jpg 5383.48 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Horse Riding School Forrest Street.jpg 5383.49 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Kororoit Creek Bridge Yalloun Street to Ballarat Road.jpg 5383.50 - Images of Ardeer By Sister Chanel - Vegetable Garden.jpg

The first Brigidine Sisters to arrive in Victoria.The original Sisters of the Brigidine Convent.Photograph of Brigidine Sisters taken in 1888.Named black and white photographbrigidine sisters

1.Photocopy of letter dated 24/12/1914 handwritten by William Thomas Byrne of Docker's Plain whilst at training camp - 3rd light horse brigade train - to his sister. 2.Photocopy of brief summary of W.T.Byrne's life to when he was discharged in 1918 - photocopied from Docker Plains School Honor Book William Thomas BYRNE was born on 21/9/1890 at Docker Plains to William and Johanna Byrne. He was educated at Docker Plains and Wangaratta State schools. A farmer when he enlisted on 13/10/1914. He trained at Broadmeadows and embarked on Hororata on 17/4/1915. He served with the 3rd Light Horse and 12th and/or 27th ASC - Army Service Corps as a Driver. Newspaper article dated 7/11/2003 states letter was found inside second hand book and the writer of the letter identified as the uncle of local Wangaratta resident and historian Bill O'Callaghan. The letter written prior to embarking overseas was addressed to Mrs Connell Ford Street Wangaratta but intended for his sister Nora, a Nun at Brigidine Convent, Albert Park. Photocopy of handwritten letter and life history summary in black ink on white paper 3rd Light Horse Brigade train 24/12/14william thomas byrne 5692, docker's plains

Black and white image of the double storey convent titled "Carmelite Convent, Port Melbourne". This building is actually on the corner of Beaconsfield Parade and Foote Street, Albert Park. In 2019 it is a convent of the Brigidine Sisters after previously being used as Kilbride Girls Secondary College. It is the home of the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project. carmelite priory, port melbourne, albert park, beaconsfield parade, foote street, brigidine sisters, albert park