"On April 15, 1917, the Dominican Sisters took up residence in a house bought from Mr Julian Windeyer at the corner of Kerr and Bull Streets, and opened a school on the following day with 50 children. In 1919 they moved to the present site of San Clemente on the corner of Crebert and Havelock Streets. Adjacent properties were acquired later."
(50 Years of Progress 1900-1950. Mayfield Jubilee Celebrations Souvenir Booklet p. 23)
"Later in 1917 the enrolment had risen to 107, demonstrating the need for the school in the area.
(Booklet of the Golden Jubilee St Mary’s Dominican Convent Maitland 1867-1917. St Mary's Dominican Convent, Maitland, 1917)
The pupils at Kerr St. included both boys and girls, with some girls boarding.
"About the middle of June 1917 I was accepted as a pupil at our first Catholic Primary school at Mayfield. Coming from the country and being taught by Mum it seemed huge to me, I made the twentieth pupil.
"The long desks were used then. All fitted on one seat. It was nothing to land on the floor; we were squashed. ... We were very happy, loved our teachers and our school."
(Sr. M. Julianna Cooge O.P. in St Columban’s, celebrating eighty years of history, 1917-1997 p. 6)
"The Windeyer house was built in 1880, and "Julian Windeyer was a prominent Newcastle solicitor. The Windeyers, like other wealthy families of the time, had indentured servants, including girls as young as 13, who would work as maids."
(Mayfield, the Toorak of Newcastle?. <http://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/mayfield/walks> (30/5/17))
The Convent and school remained at Kerr St until the end of 1919.
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"San Clemente" Dominican Convent, Mayfield, North Waratah
Golden Jubilee 1867-1917 of the Dominican Nuns of N.S.W.
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"Windeyer house", Bull Street, Mayfield
50 Years of Progress: Mayfield Jubilee Celebrations 1900-1950 Souvenir Booklet.
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Kerr St. house
(St. Columban's Primary School. <http://www.schools.ash.org.au/stcol/history.htm#san>, 21/5/07)
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Reverend Mother Concepta O'Donohoe O.P.
Foundation Principal/Prioress
San Clemente Dominican Convent/Boarding school
Source: San Clemente Archives
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A meeting to arrange a fete to raise funds for the new school was held in March 2017
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Advertisement for the new school, in the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, Saturday 14 April 1917
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The fete was "supported by Mr Julian Windeyer, whose residence the school formerly was, and he congratulated the nuns on having already an enrolment of 70 pupils, although the school has been open only three weeks."
5 May 1917
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Dominican Convent Fair
District news, Mayfield, 7 May 1917.
"It is charmingly situated on the three-acre property, until recently the home of Mr. Julian Windeyer, at Kerr-street. The surroundings are delightful and from the grounds views may be obtained of the Hunter River and the steel works at Port Waratah."
Text of article
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Newcastle and thereabouts, 24 May 1917
"The beautiful home and grounds secured by the Dominican Nuns at Mayfield is looking at its best"
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Visit of the Bishop to open the Convent school at Mayfield, 31 May 1917
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New South Wales 16 June 1917
"The school has three fine classrooms with accommodation for 90 children. The school opened with 50."
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Newcastle 19 July 1917
"The Dominican Nuns are very pleased with the progress of their new school at Mayfield, 90 children attending their day school. They are now prepared to receive boarders"
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Mayfield Convent School Annual Concert
was held on the 17 December 1917, and was reported on in both the Catholic Press and the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate
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Waratah. Convent school concert 3 January 1918
"The school at Mayfield was a young school. He (the Bishop) was glad to see the people of Waratah had taken so kindly to it, and that they were encouraging the Sisters in so many ways."
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Waratah. Garden fete 6 April 1918
"..the convent school had been opened a year ago, and in that time it had almost trebled its numbers, and the presence of the nuns had changed the whole atmosphere of the district. The object of the sisters was not only to give good secular instruction, but to produce good men and women, who would become good and useful members of society."
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Dominican Convent. Kerr-Street, Mayfield, North Waratah 1 February 1919
"Boarding and Day schools will Reopen Tuesday, JANUARY 28. Special Classes in Bookkeeping, Shorthand, Typewriting, English, and Arithmetic have been organised for those who wish to embrace a Commercial course."
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Basketball 24 June 1919
"Two teams from Merewether Public School gave and exhibition of basket ball. "At the close Merewether won, and, considering it was the first attempt on the part of the "San Clemente" pupils, they acquitted themselves creditably."
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