St John of God Convent (fmr), Broome

Author

Shire of Broome

Place Number

05307

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Location

11 Barker St Broome

Location Details

was 14

Other Name(s)

Centacare

Local Government

Broome

Region

Kimberley

Construction Date

Constructed from 1926

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
Heritage List	Adopted	28 Aug 2014
State Register	Registered	26 Aug 2008	Register Entry Assessment Documentation	Heritage Council

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	28 Aug 2014	Grading A	Grading A A place of exceptional cultural heritage significance to Shire of Broome and the state of Western Australia, that is either in the Heritage Council of Western Australia’s Register of Heritage Places, or worthy of consideration for entry into the Register. A place worthy of recognition and protection through provisions of the Shire of Broome’s Town Planning Scheme. Recommend: Maximum encouragement to owners to retain and conserve the place. Full consultation with property owner prior to making the recommendation.

Statement of Significance

St John of God Convent is significant for the associations with the St John of God sisters, and the continuous use as a community care facility.

Physical Description

The single storey timber framed building with perimeter verandah is located central within a flat-grassed setting. The roof is hipped and the main roof covers the verandahs.

History

The Sisters of St John of God arrived in Broome in 1908. Their first home was a tin hut where they lived by day, sleeping in the church at night. The Chinese and Japanese shopkeepers gave them bedding and crockery. The Sisters nursed in the Japanese and District hospitals. A verandah, two bedrooms, kitchen and storeroom were added to the hut in 1909. A Catholic school was built in 1911, at which they taught. In 1926, the convent was built for them by Japanese carpenter Hori Gorokitchi. Gorokitchi arrived in Western Australia in May 1891, at the age of twenty-three. He worked as a builder and contractor in Broome, employing Japanese carpenters and constructing many buildings, including the former McDaniel Residence (Ref 45). The Sisters of St John of God occupied the Convent until 1967. Two Sisters spent over 60 years at Broome. Sisters Alphonse and Ignatius celebrated their Diamond Jubilee in Broome in 1975, and for their work in the North, Sister Alphonse was awarded the OBE and Sister Ignatius the MBE. The building has served a number of community needs, and was occupied by the Binagarra Counselling Service in 1996.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree
High degree

Condition

Good

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	Register documentation
	L Gray & I Sauman	Conservation Plan	2012

Other Reference Numbers

Ref Number	Description
No.5	MI Place No.

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id	Title	Medium	Year Of Publication
10017	St John of God Convent (fmr), Broome	Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan}	2012
9462	A pearler's wife: chapter extraction from 'A pearling master's journey'.	Book	2009

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Original Use	RELIGIOUS	Monastery or Convent
Present Use	SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL	Other

Architectural Styles

Style
North-West Vernacular

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Roof	METAL	Corrugated Iron
Wall	TIMBER	Other Timber

Historic Themes

General	Specific
OTHER	Other Sub-Theme
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES	Education & science
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES	Religion
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY	Racial contact & interaction
PEOPLE	Aboriginal people
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES	Community services & utilities

Creation Date

06 Feb 1997

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

20 Oct 2020

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.