Dawson Street

Loreto Convent Dawson Street opened on 4 November 1875 when Mother Gonzaga Barry realised the need for a day school for the town community.

Originally the Loreto Sisters travelled from Mary’s Mount to Dawson Street each day, until the convent community was established in 1882.

Officially the school was called ‘Convent of Our Lady of Loretto’, but was generally referred to as ‘Loreto Ladies’ College’, ‘Loreto Convent’, or simply ‘Loreto Dawson Street’.

In 1922 the South Wing was built, which included the front entrance hall, parlour, library, dining room and cells on the ground floor, and chapel, classrooms and cells on the first floor. The stained glass windows were also installed. These are now located in the Mary’s Mount Centre, Loreto College.

Loreto Convent also included a school for younger students; this primary school was closed during the 1970s.

During this time, it was also decided that Loreto Abbey Mary’s Mount and Loreto Convent Dawson Street would amalgamate to form one school: Loreto College Ballarat. Leaving and Matriculation classes had already been transferred to Mary’s Mount in 1958.

In 1978, the Dawson Street site became the junior campus of Loreto College Ballarat, for students in Years 7 and 8.

Training College for Catholic Women Teachers, 1884-1905

By the 1880s, the need for trained teachers in Catholic schools was increasing rapidly. Mother Gonzaga Barry opened the Catholic Training College for Teachers at Dawson Street in 1884. Trainee teachers were able to practice in the classrooms of St Joseph’s Primary.

The Prospectus stated that the aim of the Catholic Training College was “to supply efficient Teachers for Catholic schools, by training young girls who intend to adopt teaching as a profession.” Students started at the age of 14 and trained for five years.

The Teachers’ College closed in 1906 when the Archbishop encouraged a Melbourne college, the Central Catholic Teachers College in Albert Park (also run by the Loreto Sisters).