Tasmanian Storyline

1887

Five Foundation sisters arrive in Tasmania from Perthville, NSW

1887

First Josephite school, Holy Trinity School, opened at Westbury for eight students. The school closed in 1971 but Sisters still live at Westbury

1889

Death of co-Founder, Fr Julian Tenison Woods - aged 56

1889

Opening of Sacred Heart School at Ulverstone. The Sisters withdrew from the school in 1994

1891

Opening of Our Lady of Lourdes School at Devonport. The sisters withdrew from the school in 1999

1891

Opening of St Brigid's School at Tunnack. The school closed in 1963

1893

St Paul's School and Convent opened at Oatlands.  This became the Mother House and the Novitiate in 1894. The school closed in 1920

1894

.Josephites opened St Patrick's School at Colebrook. The school closed n 1965

1895

Sister M. Ambrose Joseph, foundress of the Sisters at Lochinvar, was one of the sisters who opened the convent school, St Fursaeus School, at Zeehan. The Zeehan Convent was also the site of the Mother House (1898). The Sisters withdrew from the school in 1976

1896

Opening of school at St Mary's School (now renamed St James College) Cygnet. Sisters still live at Cygnet

1899

Josephites move to Richmond to St John’s School, following the Presentation Sisters. The sisters withdrew from the school in 1983

1900

St Mary's School opened at Franklin. The school was closed in 1973

1900

St Teresa's School at Lymington opened. The school was closed in 1946

1908

Sacred Heart Convent, New Town, opened by Sister M. Hyacinth, former Sister Guardian at Bathurst and later at Whanganui, New Zealand, establishing it as the Mother House. Sisters began to teach at Sacred Heart School, New Town 

1932

Josephites take charge of St Therese’s School, Moonah (until 1950)

1937

New property was bought to be used as a Novitiate for the Sisters until 1972. In 1980 this site was purchased by Sacred Heart College.

1938

Josephites open St Therese's convent and school at Geeveston (since renamed Sacred Heart School). Sisters withdrew in 1991

1938

Sisters of St Joseph took responsibility for St Thomas More’s School at Newstead. Sisters withdrew in 1993 but still live as the community for the Emmanuel Centre

1938

St Joseph’s Juniorate opened and was attached to the Sisters' community at Newstead.

1951

Waterton Hall, Rowella, was purchased in 1947 to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the Sisters of St Joseph in Tasmania. In 1951 it was opened as St Joseph's junior boarding school. The School closed in 1951

1950

Sisters of St Joseph vacated St Therese’s Convent, Moonah and the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart assumed responsibility for St Therese’s School.

1951

St Attracta's convent and school opened at Smithton. In 1979 the school moved to a new site and was renamed St Peter Chanel School. Sisters withdrew from the school in 1995 but continued to live in the parish of Circular Head until 2007

1958

St Joseph’s Convent school opened at Rosebery. The Sisters withdrew in 1994 but returned to administer the school from 1997-1999

1960

Archbishop Guilford Young blessed and opened the new senior school at Sacred Heart.

1961

Sisters of St Joseph opened Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Lenah Valley and administered the school until 1978

1968

Secondary classes at St Attracta’s School, Smithton, and St Joseph's School Rosebery closed.

St Joseph’s Nursing Home opened in Thirza Street, New Town

1969

First Tasmanian Sister went to the Federation Mission in New Guinea - Vanimo. Sisters later went to Swain also but withdrew in 1983. From 1996-2003 a Sister ministered in Good Shepherd Seminary, Banz

1969

Sisters of St Joseph opened and administered Shaw College at Devonport.

1971

Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart withdrew from Moonah and the Sisters of St Joseph returned to administer the school until 1988.

1972

Sisters of St Joseph took over responsibility for St Brigid’s School, Wynyard when the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart were withdrawn. Sisters remained at Wynyard until 1991

1980

Formation House opened at Box Hill, Melbourne. This house was sold in 1995

1981

Shaw College and St Brendan’s College amalgamated to become St Brendan-Shaw College.

1984

St Thomas More’s boarding school closed.

1986

Sisters of St Joseph assumed responsibility for the parishes of St Mary's Penguin and St Michael's Campbell Town (until 1997).

1987

Centenary year of the Sisters of St Joseph in Tasmania.

Planning for the Emmanuel Centre commenced at Newstead

1990

St Brendan-Shaw College extended to Senior Secondary, with Years 11 and 12.

1992

“Bethany”,a house of hospitality, was set up for one year in Devonport

1994

Sacred Heart College extended co-education through to secondary following decisions of the Southern Tasmanian Schools Secondary Restructuring.

1995

Years 11 and 12 classes ceased at Sacred Heart College, New Town.

1995

Guilford Young College opened on two campuses as the Catholic Senior Secondary College for Hobart

1998

Sr. Helen Hickey assumed the role of Pastoral leader in the parish of Beaconsfield on the Tamar River and remained as such until 2003. 

1999

Sister Marlene Binns assumes the role of Pastoral Leader on King Island

2001

Following a chapter decision to open a house in a lower socio-economic area, a Housing Commission house was rented at Clarendon Vale.  Until 2009, two sisters formed a community in this area.

2005

Sr Mechtilde began a “full-time” Josephite presence on Bruny Island.

2006

Sister Helen Hickey was commissioned as Pastoral leader of the parish of St Mary’s on the East Coast. 

2009

Work commenced on the renovation of Sacred Heart Convent, New Town. The Josephite Mission and History Centre was blessed and opened in 2010