Arrival in the area of Bishop Serra and his band. Initial plans underway for Benedictine foundation, which he named Subiaco.
Completion of 2-storey Benedictine Monastery on the hill.
Bishop Serra departed for Rome and did not return. Rome had decreed against another Benedictine foundation besides New Norcia.
Last of the monks left Subiaco for New Norcia. A few chose to join the Perth Diocese, including Fr. Anselm Bourke, Vicar General.
Bishop Griver became Bishop of Perth.
The old Benedictine buildings occupied as an Orphanage for Boys (initially a very small group of Catholic lads from the Government “Home”) under the sponsorship of the St. Vincent the Paul Society, managed by Fr. Matthew Gibney with the help of a laymen’s Committee and lay staff.
Printing press set up on the strong upper storey of the Subiaco Boys’ Orphanage and on July 6, the first issue of THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC RECORD was published.
Huge storm struck the Orphanage building and, sadly, one lad was killed by a lightning strike. The building was badly damaged.
Sufficient money could not be raised in the Diocese to repair the Orphanage, so Father Gibney received permission to visit the Eastern Colonies to beg for funds. He embarked on a series of what were called “charity sermons” in various parishes. On the morning of June 28 at Kilmore, Victoria, he boarded the train for Sydney via Albury; the train stopped at Benalla where the passengers heard the startling news of Ned Kelly and his “stand” at Glenrowan. The train moved on to Glenrowan and Fr. Gibney moved into the history books for the outstanding help he rendered at the site, and for his ministrations to the injured Ned Kelly. (The incident is covered fully in Fr. Bourke’s History of the Catholic Church in W.A.)
Fremantle-Guildford Railway completed and platform erected at “Subiaco” - there was, as yet, no township.
The Jones family, first family to settle in the area, built and occupied their home opposite the little platform.
Bishop Gibney appointed Bishop of Perth.
New School/Chapel opened at the Orphanage.
St Kevin’s Industrial School, Subiaco (now Glendalough) opened in the care of the Oblate Fathers. In 1895, the site was part of the Subiaco Church land; since 1921, the original building still stands as part of the Little Sisters’ Home.
Subiaco Road Board established.
Local Governing body changed to “Subiaco Municipality”.
Sisters of St John of God arrived, occupying, on their present site, a tiny cottage-convent and a 10-room hospital, with a small stone “Convent Church”, which doubled as a school.
(Formally blessed the next year by Bishop Gibney and opened by the Premier, Sir John Forrest)
Christian Brothers accepted responsibility for the Boys’ Orphanage.
St Joseph’s Parish, Subiaco, created. Fr.P. Verling [later, Monsignor] first Parish Priest; the Presbytery, 11 McCourt Street. The Church, the 1897 Church/School built by the St. John of God Sisters.
Christian Brothers, with the orphan boys, left Subiaco for their new establishment at Clontarf.
Sisters of Mercy returned to the orphanage site, this time with orphan girls (for whom they had cared at Victoria Square since 1868).
The big St. John’s Convent we remember, was opened (demolished 1983).
First section of the Home of the Good Shepherd opened on the hill at the top of McCourt Street (foundation stone laid the previous year), and occupied by the Sisters and girls from the first Convent in Adelaide Terrace.
Church-School built in Henry St., Rosalie (Shenton Park) by Fr. Verling and dedicated to St Aloysius.
St Aloysius School opened and staffed by St. John of God Sisters, who remained in charge until the Easter of 1912, when the Sisters of Mercy took over.
Home of the Good Shepherd building (a second one). Foundation Stone laid by Hon. Newton Moore, Premier of WA. (This building later occupied by the Catholic Pastoral Institute of WA, currently by the Catholic Education Office)
Bishop (later Archbishop) Clune appointed.
Sisters of Mercy took over administration of St. Joseph’s School.
October: Foundation stone, new St. Joseph’s (private).
December: St John’s Hospital wing opened (the old one nearest Salvado Road and now demolished).
February: New St Joseph’s Church building and classrooms opened at corner of McCourt St and Salvado Rd. Some classes still in old stone building.
September: Foundation stone of St Vincent’s Foundling Home laid by Bishop Clune.
Three new wards opened, St John’s, facing Cambridge Street, and now demolished
Blessing and opening, new Chapel at St Joseph’s Orphanage with Sisters’ accommodation above.
Additions to St Aloysius’ School (still in Subiaco Parish at this time).
St. John of God Hospital main building completed (demolished 1983).
Archbishop Prendiville appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Perth.
5 November: Foundation stone laid, new St Joseph’s Church (present).
12 August: Blessing & Opening of new St Joseph’s Church.
Archbishop Clune died and Archbishop Prendiville succeeded him.
August: Monsignor Verling died.
Monsignor Bernard Fagan appointed Parish Priest.
March: Rosalie created a separate parish, with Fr. P.M.F. Doddy first Parish Priest.
Presbytery next to the new Church blessed and opened (builders: Berry Bros.).
January: F. Doddy, Rosalie, died and Mons. Fagan administered the Parish until Dr Collins’ appointment.
Arrival of Brigidine Sisters, who took responsibility for the Parish school from first term.
August: Monsignor Fagan died.
November: Monsignor Edmund Kennedy appointed Parish Priest.
New Convent wing blessed and opened for Brigidine Sisters, Salvado Road.
Bell installed in St Joseph’s Church tower and blessed 4 May. “Bell of pure copper and tin, note G, weighing 12 cwt. 2qrs 19 1b, imported from England on M.V. Taranaka.”
Subiaco raised to status of a City.
December: New secondary school blessed and opened by Archbishop Prendiville for the Brigidine Sisters at Convent site.
The first little Church of St Joseph’s was demolished.
The first little Church of St Joseph’s was demolished.
February: St Joseph’s Marist Brothers Boys’ School blessed and opened by Bishop Goody. The Marist Brothers occupied a cottage at 6 Salvado Road, improved and enlarged for their Monastery. A chapel and extensions were added later. (Buildings subsequently occupied by Catholic Education Commission)
25 May: Extensive fire in Sacristy of the Church- Insurance payment of cover four thousand five hundred pounds received. (Mr. Ross Yates, a young man returning home from his job with WA Newspapers in the early hours of the morning, raised the alarm, which resulted in the fire being confined to the Sacristy)
March: Mass said for the first time in Mass centre established in private home at 11 Daglish St, Wembley.
October: Blessing and opening of new Chapel for the St. John of God Sisters.
December: New Church (Chapel of Ease) blessed and opened by Bishop Rafferty at Scadden & McKenzie Streets, Wembley, and dedicated to the Holy Family.
May: St Joseph’s Brigidine Primary School transferred to Station St/Salvado Rd site (vacated by Brigidine Secondary School which moved to Peebles Rd, Floreat). Two new primary classrooms blessed and opened on May 16. Three building blocks (with house on one) fronting Cambridge St had been purchased by the Parish for extra space.
St. Joseph Hall and School (built 1913) sold to the Sisters of St. John of God, and later on demolished.
September: New marble altar and reredos imported from Italy and installed in St Joseph’s Church. The altar is of white Carrara marble, yellow Siena panels and pillars of red Franchia.
Archbishop Goody appointed Archbishop of Perth, following the death of Archbishop Prendiville.
Holy Spirit Institute (Provincialate and Novitiate) opened for St. John of God Sisters on the old 1913 St Joseph’s site.
Monsignor Kennedy retired.
Father Michael Ryan took up his appointment as fourth Parish Priest of Subiaco.
September: New Parish Centre blessed and opened by Bishop Healy.
October: Monsignor Kennedy died. He had lived at the Presbytery since his retirement.
Archbishop Foley appointed Archbishop of Perth, on the retirement of Archbishop of Goody.
New Convent for St John of God Sisters opened on old 1902 Convent site.
Extensive repairs and renovations to St Joseph’s Church.
12 August: Celebrations to mark the Golden Jubilee of the building of St Joseph’s Church
