Roman Catholic Orphan School

Roman Catholic Orphan School

In 1836 concerns about the Protestant nature of the existing Orphan Schools saw the Catholic community call for the establishment of a Roman Catholic Orphan School in NSW.  In agreeing to this demand the government then allocated funds towards the cost of establishing an Orphan School  at Waverley. The Waverley premises were a temporary arrangement until such time as a purpose built Orphanage was completed. A two and a half acre site adjacent to the Female Factory at Parramatta was selected with building work commencing in early 1840. The Orphan School was completed and occupied on the  8 March 1844 with the transfer of 114 children from the Waverley site.

RCOS Buildings

Designed by Henry Ginn later additions by William Munro most of the buildings were constructed from locally quarried stone utilising convict labour. The Orphan School was a three storey barrack style structure with a basement below. Both upper floors contained  dormitories with a 'schoolroom' located on the ground floor and a dining room in the basement.  Staff quarters were located in an abutting rear annex and a kitchen, servant's room and  lavatories were located in a seperate building a short distance from the main at the rear of the site.

During the 1850s a range of buildings were completed at the rear of the site  (Kitchens, utilities, scullery, dining room with quarters above and a Chapel) and linked to the main by a covered way.  Parrallel to these were lavatories, sheds and a cell block and further along a two storey hospital was added around 1862.  Between 1870 and 1880 additional dormitory wings were added to the main forming a H shape and the land holdings were increased to 69 acres.

 1843 Floor plan Orphan School

Administration

Both religious and lay staff were paid employees of the state and the institution was managed by a Board or Committee with a matron responsible for day to day operations. The first matron was Mrs Martin followed by Mrs. Sutherland, Mrs MacDermott then in 1859 when the Sisters of the Good Shepherd (Good Samaritans) took over management Mother Magdalen Adamson and Mother Gertrude Bryne.

Children

The Orphan School held an annual average of 320 children with eligibility for admission ceasing after a child reaching 9 years of age.  Three classes of children were considered eligible for admission to the Orphan School:

1: orphans of one or both parents

2: Living with vicious and immoral parents or guardians

3: As might relieve the distress of a large family

Conditions

Children rose at 6 am in summer and 7am in winter with breakfast at 8am dinner at 12.30pm and supper at 5pm in winter and 5.30 in summer. Children assisted in the work of the institution including kitchen, laundry, sewing, cleaning, wood cutting, farm work all interspersed with prayers, drills and for those who did not comply punishment. Schooling was provided to children up to the age of 12 years after which they were apprenticed out or placed in service. 

Over the years various reports into the conditions of the Orphan School revealed that it was overcrowded and under resourced; that the children's diet was inferior in quality; that hygiene requirements were defective; dormitories badly ventilated and that children were locked in  at night with no possible escape in the event of a fire; few children had shoes or stockings and none had clothes that were distinctly their own; and that they slept in their undergarments which were changed once a week.

Last Days

In 1884 the Orphan School was given notice not to accept any further children and in  1886 ordered to vacate the site. In August the remaining children and staff relocated to Manly (Manly Industrial School) and in April 1887 the site was proclaimed Parramatta Industrial School for Girls.

What Remains

The buildings of the Roman Catholic Orphan School remain as a rare example of 19th century philosophies regarding the care of orphans and destitute children. Today a section of the original orphan school buildings are owned by NSW Corrective Services.

Other names:

The Institution for Destitute Roman Catholic Children Parramatta.

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