Holy Rosary Convent & Catholic Church

Author

Shire of Meekatharra

Place Number

25164

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Location

Darlot St Meekatharra

Location Details

Local Government

Meekatharra

Region

Midwest

Construction Date

Constructed from 1967 to 1975

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	21 Sep 2013	Category C	Category C Encourage retention of the place, and document and undertake photo record of the place prior to any development or if retention is not possible.

Statement of Significance

Holy Rosary Convent & Catholic Church are significant for the associations with the Catholic community and the sense of place for events that have taken place. The convent’s significance also lies in the education role and associations during its 60 years.

Physical Description

Church: Single storey face masonry with a pavilion gable roof with front gable. The symmetrical frontage has a central double entry and flat roof porch with masonry piers. A geometric pattern of 9 small square windows flanks each side of the entry. The building is elevated from the street where a concrete block wall and double gate open to expansive stepped concrete pathway. The adjacent building is clad with fibrocement “boarding, and the window and door openings are boarded over with sheets of corrugated iron.

History

In 1909, the Lennonville Catholic Church was acquired and rebuilt by Harry Pidgeon on the corner of High & Regan streets, Meekatharra. It was opened 9 May 1909 by Bishop Kelly as the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer. In 1911, the adjoining Lot 184 was purchased and the Convent of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary was built for the Dominican Sisters. The foundation at Meekatharra was founded on 16 May 1911 with three Sisters from the Mother House at Dongara. Classes of the Dominican Convent School began in the Church on 22 May with 40 pupils. A presbytery was built in 1912. The school soon grew to 100 pupils and in 1916 a School building, 60ft x 25 ft with verandahs on 3 sides, was constructed between the Church and the Convent. By 1970, the number of pupils had fallen to 30 and the School closed on 16 December that year and the Sisters withdrew from the town. 1400 children attended the School at Meekatharra over the 60 years of its operation and it was the last of the Murchison convent schools to close.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY High degree
AUTHENTICITY High degree

Condition

Good

Other Reference Numbers

Ref Number	Description
19	Municipal Inventory

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Original Use	RELIGIOUS	Church, Cathedral or Chapel
Present Use	VACANT\UNUSED	Vacant\Unused
Present Use	RELIGIOUS	Church, Cathedral or Chapel

Architectural Styles

Style
Other Style

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Roof	METAL	Corrugated Iron
Wall	BRICK	Face Brick

Historic Themes

General	Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES	Religion

Creation Date

30 May 2014

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.