Former Sisters of Mercy Catholic Convent, 66 Alma Street, ST ARNAUD

The former Sisters of Mercy Catholic Convent is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates original design qualities of an eclectic Federation Gothic style (with interwar additions) formed by a central hipped roof section, with flanking one and two storey steeply pitched gabled wings. The significant design qualities include the slate tiled roof cladding, terra cotta ridge capping, terra cotta finials, parapetted gable ends adorned with cement rendered crosses and cast iron cross, unpainted brick chimneys with cement rendered dressings, timber framed double hung and pointed metal framed and leadlighted windows, cement rendered quoins, quatrefoil motifs, drip moulds and dressings about the windows, large oculi niches with quatrefoils, and the main timber door with decorative leadlighted highlights and sidelights. Other intact qualities include the projecting brick buttresses with cement dressings, cement rendered stringcourses, dormers along the gabled wing and the rear double hipped wing. The substantial grounds, exotic cypress, palm and native gum trees, and the visual connections to St. Patrick's Catholic School also contribute to the significance of the place.

The former Sisters of Mercy Catholic Convent is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with the development of the Catholic Church in St. Arnaud from the late 1850s, and particularly with the founding of the Sisters of Mercy order in St Arnaud in 1901 by five nuns from Ballarat. The main part of the building is further associated with the architects Clegg and Miller, who were based in Ballarat, while the later additions, of which the Chapel is the most notable, are associated with the architects E. J and K. B. Keogh, who were based in Bendigo. Both partnerships were responsible for numerous buildings in central Victoria commissioned by the Catholic Diocese.

The former Sisters of Mercy Catholic Convent is socially significant at a LOCAL level. It is recognised and highly valued by sections of the St. Arnaud community for its past religious and educational roles.

Overall, the former Sisters of Mercy Catholic Convent is of LOCAL significance.

Group

Religion

Category

Convent/Nunnery