Firstly, we would like to acknowledge and thank the Sisters of Mercy for their support in putting this website together, especially for allowing us to use the information in “A Journey…Through Light and Shadow” by Colleen Kelly RSM. Published by The Sisters of Mercy (Singleton). Designed, Typeset & Printed by Cambridge Press Pty Ltd, 289 King Street, Newcastle NSW.
We would also like to acknowledge and thank Monte Pio Court (now known as The Mercure Maitland, Monte Pio) for their generosity in supplying a booklet they put together called “The History of the Hill”.
Last but certainly not least, to Julie Cox and her team at the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle Archives, we extend our appreciation and thanks for the many hours of research, resulting in the supply of accurate information, newspaper articles and photos.
It is from these three sources that the historical information for this website was obtained.
1900-1950
1909-1910
In 1909-1910 the Bishop of Maitland decided to utilise the Diocesan property, the former ‘Sacred Heart College for Boys’ and develop an orphanage for the benefit of the community. Alterations were made to the buildings to accommodate the future Orphanage, Convent and School.
June 1909
The school at Campbell’s Hill opened at the end of June 1909 with about twenty-seven children, both boys and girls. Three Sisters of Mercy travelled daily from East Maitland Convent where they resided until renovations had been satisfactorily completed, prior to the opening of the Convent and Orphanage, eleven months later.
23 May 1910
The official opening of ‘Monte Pio’ was on Trinity Sunday, 23 May 1910. Several days prior to the opening of the Bishop Murray Memorial Orphanage, nineteen girls and three more Sisters of Mercy arrived from Singleton to form a nucleus of the institution. At the beginning there was one dormitory with about forty beds, but as the number of orphans rapidly increased, it became necessary to extend.
Part and parcel of Monte Pio was the kindly Tom Dwyer, a former Patrician Brother, who remained as the handyman for many years. Generations of Sisters and girls experienced his goodness and generosity, as well as his witty sayings. He was a familiar sight on the roads in his horse and cart, travelling as far as Raymond Terrace and Millers Forest. The Diocesan Almanac of 1920 pays tribute to the charity of this locality: “On the fourth Thursday of every month the Orphanage cart, after calling at the various depots, would return laden with groceries, vegetables, butter and eggs.”
December 1910
The Continental had its humble beginnings at Christmas 1910, when a concert held on an improvised stage in the schoolroom raised the princely sum of seventeen pounds. This became an annual event of Monte Pio, the more familiar name of the establishment. Entertainment was provided by the children, followed by various fund-raising activities. At one period Mr Joe Enright auctioned many kinds of produce as well as animals, all donated. The goods would be donated back again, sold and resold. With goodwill in their hearts people came from near and far to support this yearly fund-raising effort.
May 1911
Outstanding were Mr and Mrs JF O’Brien, who provided food, clothing, shoes and other necessities over many years. About twelve months after the Orphanage was opened Mrs O’Brien formed a committee of ladies to assist in this charitable work. From the beginning Mrs Winifred Tobin sewed and mended for the girls. Mr and Mrs Puxty and so many others gave generously of their time, their goods and their talents.
1915 – 1919
An additional wooden building was erected in 1915 consisting of a dormitory, refectory and pantry. By 1919 the number of girls increased to ninety, with eight Sisters in residence. This meant a corresponding growth in the school attendance, which reached one hundred and sixty nine in that year.
For the first five years, apart from a small payment for some children, the Orphanage depended almost entirely on the generosity of the Maitland people, with some contributions from other areas.
18 August, 1918
Owing to the growing population of Campbell’s Hill and Telarah, the Bishop of Maitland, Dr Dwyer made plans to erect a church on the adjoining property to Monte Pio. Built by Andrew Burg the Sacred Heart Church was blessed and opened by the Most Rev Bartholomew Cattaneo on 18 August, 1918. The Church became the centre of many spiritual activities of both parishioners and the Sisters and girls of Monte Pio. For over fifty years the home girls cared for this Church under the supervision of a Sister – it was always a model of cleanliness. On his death in 1931 Bishop Dwyer’s remains were entombed in a vault at the rear of the Church. Although Monte Pio (the former ‘Sacred Heart College’) held many memories for Bishop Dwyer of his teaching career, he loved it as a place where so many homeless girls were cared for by the Sisters. Many stories could be told of his kindness to the children.
1934
Monte Pio girls excelled at their choral singing at concerts, as well as at liturgical functions. It is generally agreed that it was the appointment of Sister M Augustine O’Hara as Superior in 1934 that raised the tone of this establishment. She was a gifted musician and a dramatic artist, as well as an able administrator, who used her talents to lead her community in improving the emotional and cultural life of the children under her care.
1942
A great change came to Monte Pio during World War II when in 1942 a Japanese submarine discharged shells from Newcastle Harbour, hoping to destroy the Steel Works. In this vicinity the Daughters of Charity conducted the Murray Dwyer Home for Boys, so it was decided to move the Orphanage from this dangerous zone to share the facilities of Monte Pio. A dormitory was made available for the evacuees, while the Sisters resided in the cottage vacated by Fr Carey for the time being. Some of the Daughters of Charity joined the teaching staff of the Sacred Heart School, where the boys became pupils. This sharing of resources, together with the cheerful acceptance of many inconveniences for about three years, forged strong bonds of friendship between the two Religious Congregations.
1915 – 1936
Many minor alterations were made to the buildings between 1915 and 1936
1940-1945 (circa)
In 1940-1945 (circa), a new wing of the Orphanage replaced the original 1870’s buildings on the same site. Further renovations were carried out in the 1950’s.
June 1949
Monte Pio Orphanage billeted evacuees during the devastating Maitland floods in June 1949. Monte Pio was again utilised for the storage of furniture and belongings during the floods of 1955.
1950-Present
1953
From the 1930’s the fact that secondary education was not available to those older girls who had the necessary ability to benefit from this, had been a source of concern. However, the crowning achievement was the establishment of the Home Science School on the premises in 1953, with Sister M Jude Murray as the first teacher. She began with ten students from the local Sacred Heart Primary and fifteen from the Monte Pio Home. A small kitchen, a dining room, a bedroom and a bathroom were part of the new building project, but no provision was made for classrooms so the old Sacred Heart dormitory had to serve as a regular classroom.
December 1962
As a result of the Wyndham scheme and limited resources, the high school closed down in December 1962. At this time the high school’s curriculum was varied and well rounded, providing the pupils with a solid basis for further education and the opportunity to pursue careers in any field. Subjects taught at the school included English, Maths, History, Physiology, Business Principles and Bookkeeping, Home Science and Cooking, Textiles, Sewing and Drafting, and of course Religion. Shorthand and Typing were extra subjects taught after school hours.
1963
From 1963 to the closure of Monte Pio, the older girls travelled to the Dominican College and the local Public High School for secondary education.
1972
Over the years there was a growing trend in government social welfare circles to favour placing children needing care into smaller cottage groups with a more homely atmosphere. It was decided to close Monte Pio and transfer the remaining girls to the Convent at Adamstown, where they passed into the care of a married couple, Mr and Mrs Ellery, at the beginning of 1972.
An acknowledgement to the work of the Monte Pio Men’s Committee under the leadership of Peter Zifovitch and the devoted participation of Jack McLeod should be made. For many years these men were concerned with raising funds as well as other areas connected with the welfare of the children.
Last but not least, one needs to pay special tribute to the large number of unnamed Sisters, who contributed in their own individual way to the well-being of the children over a period of sixty-two years, often in difficult circumstances and struggling with their own limitations.