251 INVERMAY ROAD - ST FINN BARRS

ST FINN BARRS INVERMAY

The original St Finn Barr's school, established by the Presentation Sisters in 1893 was at the corner of Forster and Holbrook Street, Invermay. It was destroyed by a fire which occurred shortly before 2 am on 25^th March 1925. The blaze was so intense, that according to newspaper accounts of the time “every house on Trevallyn stood out as if in daytime.” This was just one of many unexplained fires that occurred around this time, including several houses and a furniture factory. Some 15 months after the St Finn Barr's fire, the drill hall being leased as a temporary replacement, was damaged by another blaze. The Examiner reported that local residents feared a “fire maniac” was at large.

Funds were quickly raised for the new school, at 247 - 251 Invermay Road, which was consecrated by Bishop Dr W Barry in May 1927. The building, described by the Examiner as “Romanesque”, and by the National Heritage data base as “Inter War Free Classical Style” cost ₤7 000. Speakers complained “bitterly” that despite not making any contribution to the building, the land upon which the school was built was to be taxed by the state government “so that the mud could be taken out of the Tamar.” The architect was “Mr Tandy” and the builders “Messrs Munro and Quinn.”

The Presentation Sisters continued to be involved in the operation of the school until 1993.

(A very readable account of the history of The Presentation Sisters in Australia can be found at http://presentationsociety.org.au/about/our-history/ - its worth noting that this article mentions that the first school established by the order in the southern hemisphere was in Richmond, Tasmania in 1866.)

Additional details (particularly in relation to the building's architecture), as well as a more conventional photo can be found at http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=100199.