Mother Gonzaga Barry’s vision of education was that of a ‘Sensible School for Girls’, which would teach both academic and technical skills to each individual student based on her interests and needs.
From the beginning, Loreto Abbey Mary’s Mount students participated in technical and academic classes, as well as physical education, music and the arts, and Religious Education.
Academic Education
Students were able to study a variety of academic subjects to a level that would enable them to pursue higher education at university. The Loreto sisters themselves were highly educated in the areas they taught: Literature, Modern Languages (eg: French, German), Latin, Mathematics and the Sciences (Botany, Geography, Chemistry, Physics)
Technical Education
Mother Gonzaga Barry and the Loreto sisters were interested in progressive educational ideas, such as the Scandinavian ‘Sloyd’ Movement which promoted handicrafts and applied learning.
“Mary’s Mount, whose motto would appear to be en avant, so eager is dear Rev. Mother to keep her young people abreast with all the latest educational movements, now boasts among its environments a “Sloyd” room. Lest this uneuphonious odd looking word should puzzle our readers, we must explain that it is taken from the Scandinavian word slöjd, signifying “cunning’’, ‘’clever’’, ‘’handy’’, and that the Sloyd system of education aims at implanting a respect for work in general, even the courser forms of manual labor, and develops activity, order, cleanliness, neatness, and accuracy. Our ‘’Sloyd’’ room already contains a printing press, which has turned out some exceedingly good work, a washing machine, a cooking range, where our Domestic Economy Class prepare all kinds of delicacies, a sewing machine, &; and in the near future we are to have there a class for wood carving, and another for fine art house painting and decoration under the supervision of competent artists, or should we rather say artizans?’’Mother Gonzaga Barry‘Eucalyptus Blossoms’ June 1889
Loreto students also studied music, fine arts and the performing arts. They participated in orchestras, created detailed tableaus and performed in stage productions held in St Cecilia’s Hall.
Physical education at Loreto Abbey saw students play and compete in a range of sports such as calisthenics, tennis, cycling and dancing, as well as some of the earliest examples of women participating in archery, hockey and basketball.
Bella Guerin
Bella Guerin was born in Williamstown in 1858, and became the first women to graduate from an Australian university when she achieved her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Melbourne in 1883.After achieving her M.A. in 1885, she taught at Mary’s Mount and edited the first editions of the school publication ‘Eucalyptus Blossoms’. During her time at Loreto she advocated for the higher education of women and the establishment of scholarship to enable all girls the opportunity to attend university.After Loreto, Bella became the principal of Ballarat School of Mines university classes. From the mid-1890s she was involved in the women’s suffrage movement, becoming Vice-President of the Women’s Political Association from 1912-1914, and she led the Women’s Anti-Conscription campaign in 1916.Bella Guerin died in Adelaide in 1923. She was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2001.
Welcome for Duke and Duchess of York
Welcome for Duke and Duchess of York
In 1927, the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) visited Australia.They passed through Ballarat on Friday 29 April 1927, for…
Learn MoreLaying of Chapel Foundation Bricks
Laying of Chapel Foundation Bricks
The Loreto Chapel was long desired by Mother Gonzaga Barry, who wished to be able to replace the original temporary (and very small) chapel built for the…
Learn MoreFirst Pupils Mary's Mount
First Pupils Mary's Mount
Loreto Abbey Mary’s Mount opened as a boarding school on 29 September, 1875.
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Junior Students and Activities
From the beginning, Loreto Abbey Mary’s Mount students participated in technical and academic classes, as well as physical education, music and the arts, and…
Learn MoreDawson Street
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…
Learn MoreAerial of Mary's Mount
Aerial of Mary's Mount
This aerial photo of Loreto Abbey, Mary’s Mount is estimated to have been taken c.1930, possibly as early as the late 1920s. The tennis courts that can be seen…
Learn MoreKindergarten at Mary's Mount
Kindergarten at Mary's Mount
Just inside the front gates of Loreto College is a small building that has served many purposes throughout its history.
Learn MoreThe Arts at Mary's Mount
The Arts at Mary's Mount
A Loreto Education always included the Arts: Music, Dance, Theatre and Fine Arts. The Loreto Sisters who taught these lessons had extensive educations and…
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