No. 1627 - Lymington - St Teresa's Convent School and Church (1931-1946)
Lymington is a coastal settlement south of Cygnet. It was the site of a convict probation station established in the 1840s and by the late 19th century it had developed as an orchard-growing district.
St Teresa’s replaced St Patrick’s Convent School at Upper Lymington which had been established in 1900 [See No.1623]. The new convent school, which also served as a church, was built at a more central location. The foundation stone for the new school was laid by the Archbishop of Hobart, Dr. William Hayden on Sunday 21 December 1930. The Mercury reported:
“The parish priest (the Rev; A. Cullen) explained the reasons that had prompted them to abandon the old convent at Lymington, and concentrate on the new and central position. He said he had personally purchased 10½ acres of land for the purpose, and deemed it the greatest honour of his life to be able to give the deeds to the Archbishop that day…. The Catholic schools were the very heart of the church, and he hoped that the new school would be the equal at least of any other in Tasmania. The extensive work done on the site had been the gift of the men of the parish, and he acknowledged assistance from many who were not members of the church….”
“The Archbishop said he had the greatest admiration for the work they had in hand, and thought great wisdom had been displayed in the change of site. The Catholic community owed a great deal, to the Sisters of St. Joseph, who had done so much noble work, in education. He hoped that from the school there would be many aspirants among the girls for admission to the Order. They needed more teachers, and parents should encourage those who had a vocation to devote themselves to that work. Father John Cullen gave an earnest address on Catholic educational ideals. He made an appeal for financial assistance, and £63 3s. 9d. was subscribed on the spot”.
The building was officially opened on Sunday 18 October 1931 and the ceremony was described in a report published in the Huon Times:
“The opening and blessing of the new convent and school at Lymington was favoured by the almost rare circumstances of fine weather last Sunday afternoon, and a very large number of well-wishers from all parts of the Huon district were present at the ceremony”.
“The building is situated in delightful surroundings, being, on a knoll of land overlooking some of the finest orchards in the district, with a pretty view of the river in the middle distance, and beyond this the high hills, that form portion of the range that runs almost parallel with the coast line. The property comprises 10 acres, and was secured some time ago by the parish priest, Rev. Father A. Cullen, for the purpose to which it is now devoted. The little school building then used as a convent school was about four miles further up the valley, and, was in conveniently situated for the majority of the school children. It was Father Cullen's ambition to move the school to a more central site and to provide a residence for the teachers' alongside it. Having secured such an admirable site, it was only a matter of organisation to carry out the rest of the scheme, and by means of working bees, benefits and donations, it was found possible to move the old school building to the new site and build a most comfortable convent. The total value of the new property is about £1300, nearly half of which has already been paid for”.
“The blessing ,and opening of the building was performed by the Administrator, the Very Rev. Denis Murphy, B.A., and associated with him were the parish priest, Rev. Father Cullen, Rev. T. J. O’Donnell (of Moonah), Rev. J. Ryan (of Franklin), Rev. John Cullen (of Hobart), and there were also present Sisters of Charity from St. Joseph's Orphanage; Sisters of St. Joseph's Convent, Cygnet; Sisters of St. Joseph's Convent, Franklin; and Sisters of St. Joseph's Convent, Lymington….”.
By the 1940s a decline in numbers of students enrolled at the school led to its closure in 1946. In the 1950s the building was used to house newly arrived migrants. In he 1970s it was used as holiday accomodation for Sisters of religious orders. The property was eventually sold in 1983.
A full a detailed history of St Teresa’s can be found in David Coad’s recent publication ‘Lymington’.
St Teresa’s replaced St Patrick’s Convent School at Upper Lymington which had been established in 1900 [See No.1623]. The new convent school, which also served as a church, was built at a more central location. The foundation stone for the new school was laid by the Archbishop of Hobart, Dr. William Hayden on Sunday 21 December 1930. The Mercury reported:
“The parish priest (the Rev; A. Cullen) explained the reasons that had prompted them to abandon the old convent at Lymington, and concentrate on the new and central position. He said he had personally purchased 10½ acres of land for the purpose, and deemed it the greatest honour of his life to be able to give the deeds to the Archbishop that day…. The Catholic schools were the very heart of the church, and he hoped that the new school would be the equal at least of any other in Tasmania. The extensive work done on the site had been the gift of the men of the parish, and he acknowledged assistance from many who were not members of the church….”
“The Archbishop said he had the greatest admiration for the work they had in hand, and thought great wisdom had been displayed in the change of site. The Catholic community owed a great deal, to the Sisters of St. Joseph, who had done so much noble work, in education. He hoped that from the school there would be many aspirants among the girls for admission to the Order. They needed more teachers, and parents should encourage those who had a vocation to devote themselves to that work. Father John Cullen gave an earnest address on Catholic educational ideals. He made an appeal for financial assistance, and £63 3s. 9d. was subscribed on the spot”.
The building was officially opened on Sunday 18 October 1931 and the ceremony was described in a report published in the Huon Times:
“The opening and blessing of the new convent and school at Lymington was favoured by the almost rare circumstances of fine weather last Sunday afternoon, and a very large number of well-wishers from all parts of the Huon district were present at the ceremony”.
“The building is situated in delightful surroundings, being, on a knoll of land overlooking some of the finest orchards in the district, with a pretty view of the river in the middle distance, and beyond this the high hills, that form portion of the range that runs almost parallel with the coast line. The property comprises 10 acres, and was secured some time ago by the parish priest, Rev. Father A. Cullen, for the purpose to which it is now devoted. The little school building then used as a convent school was about four miles further up the valley, and, was in conveniently situated for the majority of the school children. It was Father Cullen's ambition to move the school to a more central site and to provide a residence for the teachers' alongside it. Having secured such an admirable site, it was only a matter of organisation to carry out the rest of the scheme, and by means of working bees, benefits and donations, it was found possible to move the old school building to the new site and build a most comfortable convent. The total value of the new property is about £1300, nearly half of which has already been paid for”.
“The blessing ,and opening of the building was performed by the Administrator, the Very Rev. Denis Murphy, B.A., and associated with him were the parish priest, Rev. Father Cullen, Rev. T. J. O’Donnell (of Moonah), Rev. J. Ryan (of Franklin), Rev. John Cullen (of Hobart), and there were also present Sisters of Charity from St. Joseph's Orphanage; Sisters of St. Joseph's Convent, Cygnet; Sisters of St. Joseph's Convent, Franklin; and Sisters of St. Joseph's Convent, Lymington….”.
By the 1940s a decline in numbers of students enrolled at the school led to its closure in 1946. In the 1950s the building was used to house newly arrived migrants. In he 1970s it was used as holiday accomodation for Sisters of religious orders. The property was eventually sold in 1983.
A full a detailed history of St Teresa’s can be found in David Coad’s recent publication ‘Lymington’.
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| St Teresa's at Lymington. Photo: The Catholic Standard, October 1931 |
Sources:
Mercury, Monday 22 December 1930, page 3 (2)
Huon Times, Tuesday 23 December 1930, page 5
Huon Times, Friday 23 October 1931, page 2
The Catholic Standard, 29 October 1931
Coad, David, Lymington - Southern Tasmania, David Coad. Battery Point, Tasmania. 2023.
Southerwood, W. T Planting a faith in Tasmania : the country parishes. [W. T. Southerwood], [Hobart], 1977.
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