| Originally
the suburb of Redfern was a part of the Mt Carmel, Waterloo, parish; so
when the Patrician school in Redfern began (1886) it was part of the Mt
Carmel parish. But by 1890 Redfern became a parish in its own right and
Mt Carmel lost it boys' school - even though the boys of the Mt Carmel
parish still attended.
In 1908 Mt Carmel, Waterloo, opened the
doors of its own boys school. The first Patrician Brothers to work in this
school were Brother Alphonsus Eviston as Principal and Brother John Lee.
They were soon joined by Brother Clement Howlin.
The new school was opened and blessed by
Cardinal Moran. It still stands today as a part of the Catholic complex
on top of a fine little hill at the coner of Elizabeth and Kellick Streets.
The Brothers school runs along Elizabeth Street and a large verandah runs
along the western side of the 32m by 11m structure.
 |
 |
The
western side
of the school
with verandah
|
As
it is in 2003.
You can see the Sisters'
school in the background. |
 The
Brothers who taught at Mt Carmel resided at the Brothers' monastery at
the corner of George and Turner St. This meant a fifteen minute walk to
the school each morning and then again in the afternoon returning to the
monastery after school and sport training.
Reports and statistics on the school are
rare, but there is no doubting the sporting success of the school and from
the occasional speeches of parish priests it seems they were grateful for
the "fine faith foundation" the Brothers were providing.
With the massive population shifts that
were going on in the 50s and 60s, numbers at Mt Carmel - as well as Redfern
- were dropping dramatically. In 1963, after fifty-five years, the
boys' school at Mt Carmel was closed. (Photo: Stairs from Elizabeth St
adjoining school.) |
