No. 1650 - New Town - Wendover House - Redemptorist Monastery and Chapel (1947)
This article is one of a series about buildings associated with Tasmania’s historical churches. These buildings include Sunday schools, parish halls, convents, schools and residences of the clergy. Ancillary buildings are often overlooked and rarely feature in published histories. My aim is to create a simple record of these buildings, including of those that no longer exist.
New Town was settled in 1805 and is one of Hobart’s first suburbs. Wendover house is located off Risdon Road. The two-storey section of Wendover House was built in the mid 1830s for John Offor, school-master at the nearby Orphan School (St John's Park). The property was originally named Risdon Park. In the 1850s the property was redeveloped by Lavington Roope, a successful merchant and landowner. The name of the property was changed to Wendover around the early 1920s.
In the mid 1940s the property was purchased by the Catholic Church for use as a monastery for the Redemptorist Order. The Order (officially the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer) is a missionary order founded in Italy in 1732 by St. Alphonsus Liguori. Australian Redemptorists are focused on preaching the Gospel to the poor and marginalised. The order established a monastery in New Town in 1947. The monastery served as a base for missions and retreats.
The monastery was officially opened by Archbishop Tweedy on Sunday 16 March 1847:
“More than 1000 people attended the opening of the Redemptorist Monastery at New Town yesterday afternoon. The Archbishop of Hobart (Dr. E. V. Tweedy) officiated at the solemn blessing and opening. The properly, which is on Risdon Rd., was acquired by the Archbishop last year. At his invitation the Redemptorist Order resolved to extend its work to Hobart and establish a monastery.
The Vicar-General (Monsignor J. H. Cullen) appealed for funds to meet the cost of the venture. He stressed the importance of the work carried out by the order in Australia. A special visitor for the opening ceremony was Very Rev, Father M. J, Hannigan, Newcastle, one of the principals of the order in Australia. He reviewed the development of the order.
The Redemptorists were an order of priests founded in Italy for the purpose of working among the neglected country people in the vicinity of Naples. The first Australian house of the order was established at Singleton in 1882, but was transferred to the Maitland Diocese. Religious houseshave been established in Victoria. N.S.W., Queensland. W.A.; and N.Z.
Father Glover, Superior of the order in Tasmania, said that with improvements the property would cost more than £8000. In Tasmania the order would be responsible for conducting missions in various parishes and retreats for priests and laity.
Dr. Gaha, M.H.R., donated the altar and monstrance for the monastery chapel. About £300 was taken up in the collection at the opening service”.
Little is known about the chapel or oratory and I have been unable to find a photograph of it or determine in which part of the house it was located.
The property was subdivided in the 1960s. The Redemptorists vacated Wendover in the early 1970s and the building was sold and redeveloped as a ‘Bed and Breakfast’ business. Wendover is a heritage listed building of State significance.
The Redemptorist order maintains an active presence in Tasmania with Redemptorist priests serving directly within local Tasmanian parishes.
Sources:
New Town was settled in 1805 and is one of Hobart’s first suburbs. Wendover house is located off Risdon Road. The two-storey section of Wendover House was built in the mid 1830s for John Offor, school-master at the nearby Orphan School (St John's Park). The property was originally named Risdon Park. In the 1850s the property was redeveloped by Lavington Roope, a successful merchant and landowner. The name of the property was changed to Wendover around the early 1920s.
In the mid 1940s the property was purchased by the Catholic Church for use as a monastery for the Redemptorist Order. The Order (officially the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer) is a missionary order founded in Italy in 1732 by St. Alphonsus Liguori. Australian Redemptorists are focused on preaching the Gospel to the poor and marginalised. The order established a monastery in New Town in 1947. The monastery served as a base for missions and retreats.
The monastery was officially opened by Archbishop Tweedy on Sunday 16 March 1847:
“More than 1000 people attended the opening of the Redemptorist Monastery at New Town yesterday afternoon. The Archbishop of Hobart (Dr. E. V. Tweedy) officiated at the solemn blessing and opening. The properly, which is on Risdon Rd., was acquired by the Archbishop last year. At his invitation the Redemptorist Order resolved to extend its work to Hobart and establish a monastery.
The Vicar-General (Monsignor J. H. Cullen) appealed for funds to meet the cost of the venture. He stressed the importance of the work carried out by the order in Australia. A special visitor for the opening ceremony was Very Rev, Father M. J, Hannigan, Newcastle, one of the principals of the order in Australia. He reviewed the development of the order.
The Redemptorists were an order of priests founded in Italy for the purpose of working among the neglected country people in the vicinity of Naples. The first Australian house of the order was established at Singleton in 1882, but was transferred to the Maitland Diocese. Religious houseshave been established in Victoria. N.S.W., Queensland. W.A.; and N.Z.
Father Glover, Superior of the order in Tasmania, said that with improvements the property would cost more than £8000. In Tasmania the order would be responsible for conducting missions in various parishes and retreats for priests and laity.
Dr. Gaha, M.H.R., donated the altar and monstrance for the monastery chapel. About £300 was taken up in the collection at the opening service”.
Little is known about the chapel or oratory and I have been unable to find a photograph of it or determine in which part of the house it was located.
The property was subdivided in the 1960s. The Redemptorists vacated Wendover in the early 1970s and the building was sold and redeveloped as a ‘Bed and Breakfast’ business. Wendover is a heritage listed building of State significance.
The Redemptorist order maintains an active presence in Tasmania with Redemptorist priests serving directly within local Tasmanian parishes.
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| Wendover House. The lower section of double story was built in 1835. The house was significantly expanded in the 1850s. Photograph: Wendover Playce Facebook page |
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| Photograph: realestate.com |
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| Archbishop Dr. E.V. Tweedy - Photograph: hobart.catholic.org.au |
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| The Mercury - 12 March 1947 |
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| A section of report on the opening of the monastery published in the Examiner |
Sources:
Mercury, Friday 16 August 1946, page 2
Examiner, Friday 16 August 1946, page 1
Mercury, Wednesday 12 March 1947, page 20
Examiner, Monday 17 March 1947, page 2
Mercury, Monday 17 March 1947, page 6
https://cssr.org.au/about/our-history/australia-new-zealand/
https://hobart.catholic.org.au/2024/07/11/newly-arrived-priest-ready-and-excited-for-ministry/
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