Celebrating our 85th Anniversary 1935-2020
A history of the Buildings and Grounds on Newtown Hill from 1857 - 2020 • Since 1857, when St Augustine’s Orphanage opened there have been boys present on Newtown Hill. 2020 will be a year that St Joseph’s Community, and the world will never forget. For most of its 85th Anniversary year the buildings and grounds of St Joseph’s College have been almost deserted, the soul of the college, its boys isolated from their friends, and teachers.Yet as they have done many times in the past 85 years I am sure the ‘Boys on Newtown Hill’, will overcome the difficulties of this year. • In honour of the last 85 years, I am sharing photographs and drawings of the buildings and grounds from 1854, when the corrugated church school opened on what is now O’Driscol Oval.
1859 St Augustine’s Sandstone church on Noble Oval (Now O’Driscol Oval) Built in1858 this sandstone church replaced the original corrugated iron church/school, it was demolished in 1900, because the sandstone was crumbling.
A charcoal drawing by Old Collegian William (Bill) Smith, of the corrugated iron shed School/Chapel on Noble Oval. The building was imported from Bristol – England. The chapel faced South on Noble Street and was constructed in 1854.
Front view of St Augustine’s after completion of the Chapel in 1904
Circa 1920s St Augustine’s Farm
In 1900, the Brothers purchased 53 acres of farm land which was bordered by Shannon Avenue, West Fyans Street and the Barwon River. These photos from the 1920s show the Dairy Herd, and the St Augustine’s boys cutting the hay. .
1909 Wheat Silo In order to be self sufficient St Augustine’s grew vegetables on Zampatti Oval and kept pig cows, the pig sties and cows, livestock can be seen grazing in the 1925 aerial photograph. Having a dairy and keeping pigs which ensured the boys were well fed, while preparing them for future occupations. The photograph on the right is of a large four-storey Wheat Silo that was built by the boys in 1908.
Circa 1920s St Augustine’s Band and boys practicing for a St Patrick’s Day March The buildings in the photograph from left to right are the Chapel, the Brothers Residence (demolished in 1974) and the back view of the original St Augustine’s building constructed in 1857.
Circa 1930s Brothers Residence In 1869 the extension to the main building constructed in 1857 of St Augustine’s were completed, this is the building on the left. The bluestone walls were two foot, six inches thick. The second story provided a large dormitory, fifteen beds lined each wall with individual wash basins in the centre of the room. In one corner, provision was made for ‘the attendant’ to sleep. The building on the right was constructed in 1879 , and was sadly demolished in 1974.
Circa 1908 This is the rear of the original St Augustine’s Orphanage built in 1857 and the 1869 extension. Behind these doors were the lockers and facilities for depositing and collecting the St Augustine’s boys laundry. This building now overlooks the Asian Garden
Circa 1940s A later photograph of the original building. The upper balcony has now been enclosed and was probably part of the dormitory for the Boarding School
A photograph of a dormitory from the 1939 prospectus.
1948 The front view of the Brothers Residence, This building was demolished in 1974 and replaced with the current Administration Building. It is a shame that such a beautiful old building had to be demolished, however there were problems with rising damp, and subsidence, the cost of rectification work was considered to much. As you can see these buildings are grouped very closely together. At the time of construction it was suggested to Brother Canice Butler that it would be better for the new building to extend the frontage of the Building on Queens Road.
Circa 1940s Chapel Interior It is interesting to note the changes to the chapel interior since this photograph was taken around 80 years ago. If you look closely you can see the Alter rail, at the time this photograph was taken boys would have knelt along the rail to receive Communion. After Vatican II the Alter rails in church’s were removed, however this was not at the direction of the Vatican Council.
1911 In 1911 the pool was opened. The St Augustine’s boys had done the work of digging out the hole. Its not hard to imagine what today’s society would think of orphan boys digging a large swimming pool (77 feet x 36 feet).
Circa 1940s I wonder if these St Joseph’s boys, knew that this swimming pool had been excavated by the St Augustine’s boys. The swimming pool would have been very popular with the boys, particularly the Boarders who would have been able to swim on warm summer evenings. The pool was also used for the College swimming sports and competitive events against Catholic schools from Melbourne. In 2000 the pool was filled in because it was leaking and with the changing times swimming in unheated water during colder months would have been very unappealing.
1935 College Opening Day From 1935 until 1939 St Augustine’s and St Joseph’s shared the site on top of Newtown Hill. The first enrollment in February 1935 was 128 boys, by the end of the year there were 141 boys enrolled and six staff members
Circa 1935 Constructed in 1889 to house the first St Joseph’s College which opened in 1890 and closed in January 1893. When St Patrick’s in Ballarat opened Brother Treacy contacted the ‘parents most regular paying boarders at St Joseph’s’, requesting that they instead send their sons to St Patrick’s in Ballarat. These actions ensured the success of St Patrick’s and directly caused the closure of St Joseph’s boarding school. Most of the students transferred to St Mary’s school in Little Myers Street Foreground: Palms Oval now known as Aphrasia Street Oval
Handball Courts Circa 1940s I have been unable to confirm the date the Handball Courts were constructed, however they are noted on a 1918 Plan of the College. The Handball Courts were demolished in 2000 to make way for the Performing Arts Centre Below is a photograph of the Handball Courts in 1920. In the background you can see the Matriculation Room.
1920 photograph of a Handball Match
Circa 1940s College Hall Two different College Hall photographs, the insert is the upper floor of what is now the VCE Building. I have been unable to confirm the location of the hall in the main photograph, it may possibly be in the building that was demolished in 1974
1969 a science room in the new science room constructed in 1962
1940s science rooms
Circa1940s Main Oval View of Main Oval on Sports day 1940s, this is now Zampatti Oval
1955 Dressing Shed on Main Oval This dressing shed was situated on Lesley Street and Main Oval (Now Zampatti Oval) All these buildings with the exception of the one behind the Heritage Centre have been demolished. At one point the College owned all the land bordering Lesley Street and Zampatti Oval.
Circa 1940s Tennis Courts These tennis courts were situated on what is now part of the Quad, E, and F Blocks
1918 Plan of St Joseph’s College Buildings & Grounds Drawn by Old Collegian William Smith this plan shows the layout of the College as it would have been in 1918
1925 St Augustine’s Orphanage These 1925 aerial views of St Augustine’s show many buildings that have been demolished over the years. Where the tennis courts are today is a lovely parterre garden and livestock are grazing either side of what is now the Aphrasia Street entrance. The Wheat Silo is clearly visible. On the site of the current Cricket Pavilion is the Orphanage Hospital
1953 Aerial View of the College In this 1953 photograph, the parterre garden and vegetable garden are gone as is the Wheat Silo. The main oval is constructed. Note the buildings along Leslie Street, also around the Old Newtown Library which is now the Heritage Centre.
1962 Aerial View of the College This was taken after the construction of D Block, most of the earlier buildings have been demolished, however the cottages intersecting the Quad are still present.
1969 Aerial View of the College In this photo the buildings across the Quad have been demolished and the science wing and F Block have been constructed. Carey oval has been developed and the quadrangle sealed.
1974 Aerial View This photograph was take after the demolition of Brothers Residence and prior to the construction of current Administration Building
1975 Aerial View of the College This photograph was taken after the construction of Administration Building
1993 Aerial View of the College In this photograph, you can clearly see the Handball Courts and swimming pool. The Brother O.S. Adams Gymnasium and the Library have been constructed.
2003 Aerial View of the College In this photograph the Handball Courts have been demolished and the Peter Cannon Performing Arts Centre constructed in its place. The Edmund Rice Centre and the Music Centre have also been constructed. The Administration building has a formal entrance, the quad is completely transformed with the addition of shade sails and shelters.
2016 Aerial View of the College The Gymnasium had been extended to doubled in size. To the left of the tennis courts is the Trade Training Centre which was constructed to assist students to obtain employment in the building and construction industry. The Paul Tobias Centre, constructed to house Careers, Student Services and also the new staffroom. A new carpark is seen on Queens Road to assist with the growth of staff at the college
References • • • • • •
St Augustine’s and the Christian Brothers – An archival history by Peter Chapman cfc The Boys on Newtown Hill – A History of St Joseph’s College Geelong by Roy Hay and Marnie Haig-Muir A history of Catholic Education on Newtown Hill by Fiona Russell A Brief History of St Joseph’s College by Fiona Russell Geelong Advertiser 150th Anniversary Editions St Joseph’s College Geelong Heritage Centre