When the Nuns first moved to Redcliff the building was used as a Convent and accommodation for Primary and Secondary boarders.
"The building 'Redcliffe' was never used as a School only as a Convent, but part of the first floor was used as boarder's accommodation when Senior School was in the Cottage. A covered way connected Cottage to 'Redcliffe'."
(The Blessing and Opening of the School Extensions by His Lordship Bishop Leo Clarke, 26th May 1985.)
The Cottage was at the other end of the playing field, on Church Street near St. Columban's Church. The Cottage was purchased by St Mary's Convent, Maitland, and leased to San Clemente Convent to use as the school.
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The Cottage can be seen in this aerial photograph from 1971.
The photographs of the Cottage below were taken in 2018.
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"The Primary section of the school remained on the San Clemente site until 1922 when it was moved to St Columban's present school site in Church Street. A small Church School and some sheds were erected to provide for the Primary School students and also to enable the parishioners to have a place to attend Mass on Sundays. The new Church School was named St. Joseph's."(St Columban’s, celebrating eighty years of history, 1917-1997 p. 7)
The primary school was renamed St Columbanus in 1924, and anglicised to St Columban's in 1959. It was co-educational, the girls progressing to San Clemente, and the boys to St Mary's Star of the Sea (now St Francis Xavier) which was also a boarding school.
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There was a covered walkway between the Convent and St Joseph's (St Columban's) so that the Sisters and boarders could walk between them in comfort. They both had lunch at the Convent, day students brought lunch from home. The walkway can still be seen in the aerial photograph from 1971.
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The secondary school was officially opened on 28 January 1924, "after the successful effort made to secure passes for candidates in the intermediate certificate examination of 1923."("Dominican Convent", Freeman's Journal, Thursday 1 January 1925, page 17) It was named St Thomas' Secondary school, and was located in the Cottage on Church Street. It was intended to be a secondary school for both boys and girls.
"Mr Coghlan of Mayfield" spoke of "the opening of the new secondary school for girls and boys in Church Street"("Mayfield", Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 29 November 1923, page 3)
The name St Thomas fell away when the school moved into the main San Clemente building in 1927.
"It was a time when Sr M. Anne was in the convent kitchen and we would often see her giving food to passing 'swagmen' who moved from town to town in search of work. It was a special treat to go on a message to the Convent - Sr Anne always seemed to be able to find a piece of cake or a biscuit for the messenger"
(Mary (Lewis) Short in St Columban’s, celebrating eighty years of history, 1917-1997 p. 11)
"In those days (1925), some of the 5th and 6th class pupils were entered for the Irish History Exams. I can remember Sr. Bernadette, herself Irish, teaching us the Irish History Programme. Once or twice a week, Mother Borgia would instruct those doing the course. We 'marched' up to the 'Cottage', located in the corner of the Secondary School Sport's area, next door to the big white B.H.P. House, and facing Church Street. Commercial Class, 1st year and music lessons were conducted in the Cottage.
"I commenced 1st Year in the 'Cottage', then moved to the new 1st Year Classroom, when the new 'San Clemente' Secondary School was officially opened (This was in 1927.)
"We 'skipped' 2nd Year and became 3rd Year students! Think it was because the new Secondary School had to be registered with the State Education Department. (1929) M.M. Madeliene was Prioress and taught us English and Math's. The latter was my forte! We repeated 3rd Year ... Mother called us 'Disobedient Intermediates' ... San Clemente was only registered as a Third Year High School. (I) Think three or four of the girls went to St. Mary's, Maitland as Boarders ... (for Years 4 and 5, some, including) myself, travelled to Maitland by train."
(Cecily McHugh in St Columban’s, celebrating eighty years of history, 1917-1997 p. 13)
There were extensive additions to Redcliff in the 1920s, with an opening ceremony in 1929. These provided boarding facilities as well as the school for Secondary day girls and boarders. Here is a detailed description of the additions.
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This is the current facade of the school, showing Redcliff on the left, and the additions of the 1920s on the right, when it became a Dominican school.
(Stitched photo by Carmen Janos, 2007)
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Kindergarten for both boys and girls remained in the basement at San Clemente until the 1930s. Kindergarten was accessed from the right of the building.
(Reg Coghlan, pers. comm. 2017)
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The Convent was blessed and opened on Sunday 18 January 1920
("Mayfield". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 17 January 1920, pg. 8)
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1920
A description of the Blessing and Opening
("Mayfield". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 22 January 1920, pg. 27)
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Boarders at the front of Redcliff, early 1920s (before the additions)
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"The pupils of the new Dominican Convent, "San Clemente," Mayfield, held their first picnic up the Hunter River yesterday"
("Mayfield". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 22 January 1920, pg. 27)
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"San Clemente," Dominican Convent, Mayfield
(The Dominican)
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1920 - "The new convent school of the Dominican nuns in Church-street, Mayfield, was blessed and opened yesterday"
("Mayfield Convent School". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 18 October 1920, pg. 4)
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"The old days in Mayfield"
M.M. Concepta O'Donohoe and
her brother Father Joseph P O'Donohoe
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1921 - Blessing of new Grotto
"The grotto complete forms rather a unique spectacle."
The Grotto was donated by MM Concepta's brother Father Joseph P O'Donohoe, and the statue by Mr and Mrs Vincent of Hamilton
("Dominican Convent. Blessing of new grotto". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 19 February 1921 pg. 8)
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1st Year 1922
Students photographed by the grotto, which is still a feature at the school.
The Grotto along with other amenities was provided by MM Concepta's brother, Father O'Donohoe
(San Clemente Dominican Convent Mayfield School Report, 1958)
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1922 - Mayfield Dominican Convent Concert
The annual concert in the Mayfield Picture Palace featured a song and dance by the junior pupils, and an amusing feature by the boys, as well as a Highland fling and other performances.
("Mayfield Dominican Convent Concert". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 16 December 1922, page 2)
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A ticket to the 'Grand Concert given by pupils of Dominican Convent'
1923
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1923 - the report on the Grand Concert.
("Mayfield", Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, Friday 14 December 1923, page 7)
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1923 - Mayfield
"A garden fete was opened yesterday afternoon by Mrs. Ireland, the Mayoress, in Mayfield Dominican Grounds, in aid of the Dominican Convent."
"Mr Coghlan of Mayfield" spoke of "the opening of the new secondary school for girls and boys in Church Street", which opened in 1924.
("Mayfield", Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 29 November 1923, page 3)
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1924 - Mayfield Convent School
"There was a large gathering at St Thomas' secondary school, Dominican Convent, Mayfield on the occasion of the presentation of prizes."
"the secondary school was opened on January 28 this year"
("Mayfield Convent School". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate 24 December 1924, page 9)
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1925 - Dominican Convent, Mayfield. St. Thomas'Secondary School
"The secondary school was opened on 28th January, 1924"
("Dominican Convent", Freeman's Journal, Thursday 1 January 1925, page 17)
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1926
Dominican Convent at Mayfield
"San Clemente", Havelock Street, Mayfield, beautifully situated on the crest of a hill. Healthy situation, ~ recreation grounds. Ideal house for children. Pupils prepared for all examinations. Commercial subjects receive special attention. For futher particulars, apply to the superior. Tel., 222 Waratah
(Dominican Convent at Mayfield, Newcastle Sun, Thursday 7 January 1926, page 8.)
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Students in the 1920s
- there are 109 students in this photograph
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1920s service by the grotto
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Boarders by the Grotto, wearing navy blouses with Peter Pan collars under their navy tunics.
1928
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The first San Clemente building, taken in 1930 - the chimneys of Redcliff are still visible on the left. This is the school when it was first opened as a school for girls.
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San Clemente
before 1938
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San Clemente, Mayfield
Source : Sr M. Assumpta O'Hanlon. Dominican pioneers in NSW. Courtesy of the Diocese of Maitland Newcastle Archives
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The back wing of the school, comprising music rooms and laundry on the ground floor, and amenities for the boarders on the second floor.
The attic which was the dressing room for boarders also had wash basins where they washed their faces in the morning - in cold water!
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These photographs were taken in 1982 - the wing was demolished during the 1980s construction
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Dominican nuns - new Mayfield school - "San Clemente" Convent
An article on the blessing and official opening of the school in 1929.
It has a detailed description of the building, including the basement "two rooms... which are to be used as a kindergarten" and the attic "a dressing-room... fitted with marble-topped dressing tables, and presses for the children's use."
"The building...has been fitted with electric heaters throughout"
(Newcastle Morning Herald, 2 May 1929)
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Dominican Nuns - Mayfield Convent - Opening Ceremony
"Beautifully situated in seven acres of land, rich in natural decoration, overlooking the Hunter River, and with a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean in the distance, the additions... were opened yesterday afternoon"
"The Children of Mary... sang Congress hymns"
(Newcastle Morning Herald, 6 May 1929)
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A photograph of Mrs Gwen Gilbert, an ex-student, when at 4 years old she said farewell to her father before he left for the Great War, from which he returned. She still lives in Mayfield, and in 2009 was interviewed by 2 students for the school newspaper. The interview appears below.
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Ex-students tell stories of the past
In 2016 San Clemente students had the pleasure of interviewing three ex-pupils, two of whom attended San Clemente during World War Two and compare how different the school is now to how it originally was.
Mrs Gwen Gilbert, one of the ex-students interviewed and San Clemente’s oldest known ex-pupil jokes that "97 has a few creaks here and there". Mrs Gilbert attended the school as a boarder from Narrabri in 1922 and completed her leaving certificate in 1926, which was a rare achievement for girls in this era. Subjects studied included English, Latin, French, Botany, Mathematics, Geography and History.
Mrs Gilbert remarked that attending a school under the control of the Catholic sisters was very strict and the day students were not permitted to associate with boarders as outside information may have had a negative impact on them. Co-educational schools at this time were non-existent and San Clemente students were forewarned that if they were to speak to boys the penalty would be immediate expulsion.
Although the former students made regular comments about the strictness of the nuns, they had great respect for the Sisters. When they were out in public they were on their best behaviour as it was their duty and honour to represent San Clemente and its highly respected first principal, Mother Concepta.
Margaret Anne Davies and Sister Ann Walsh spoke about their experiences of school life during World War Two. The boarders were sent to an institution in Maitland, as Mayfield was considered too dangerous for the students to be permitted to board there. The students continued to attend school at Mayfield, and were obliged to carry a ‘dilly-bag’ in case of an air-raid. Dilly-bags contained emergency and first-aid items. San Clemente had built an air-raid shelter below what is now a tennis court. If an air-raid were to occur the students would take their dilly bags and race down to the shelter.
Erin Richardson and Louise Slowey
