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Stella Maris Convent , Residence

Location

39 Bay Street, NORTH GEELONG VIC 3215 - Property No 277473

Level

Included in Heritage Overlay

Statement of Significance

The two storey Italianate mansion formerly known as 'St. Helens' and now the Stella Maris convent was erected in 1848 for G.F. Read (jnr.). This two storey ashlar Barrabool stone house with encircling verandah is a transitional Italianate design, symmetrically arranged.

The forme 'St. Helens', is one of the earliest mansion houses in Geelong and now substantially defaced. G. F. Read (Jnr.) was an important pioneer squatter in Western Victoria. The building has been occupied by the Sisters of Mercy since 1923 as a convent and teaching institution.

References

Geelong Advertiser, 11th April, 1848. "stone residences of G. F. Read. Jnr. And Manifold Bros. now in course of construction...Sites overlooking the bay between town and Cowie's Creek".

18th February 1864 - tenders for slating the residence of Mrs. Geo. Read. St. Helens, West Geelong. J.L. Shaw Architect.

8th August 1883 - tenders for alterations to "St. Helens" for Charles Shannon, Watts & Jackson, Architects.

Ignatius, Sister M., The Wheel of Time, Advocate Press, Melbourne, 1954. p. 350. Details of the work of the Sisters of Mercy in Victoria, 1857-1953.

Langdon, H.C.C. 'George Frederick, Read (Snr.) (1788-1860)' in Pike, Douglas, Australian Dictionary of biography, M.U.P., Melbourne, 1967, Vol. 2, pp. 365-366.

Billis, R.V. and Kenyan, A.S., Pastoral Pioneers of Port Phillip, Stockland Press Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, 1974, p. 129.

National Trust of Australia (Victoria), File No. 1729.

G.F. Read (Jnr) married Helen Patterson, daughter of the Hobart Crown Solicitor, and after whom the property was probably named.

Wynd Ian, 'So Fine a Country, A History of Corio Shire', Draft Copy, to be published in late 1980.

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House