Dardanup Parish – History
Dardanup. a small town in the South West of Western Australia, is a centre for the dairy industry.
The first settler came to Dardanup about 1848. The first Catholic priest to visit Dardanup was Fr T. Donovan in 1851.
On 19th October 1852 Thomas Little drew up a deed in which he donated 50 acres of his holding at Dardanup Park for the purpose of building a church and a monastery, also with a request that a resident priest be appointed as soon as possible. He added a further donation of 100,000 bricks and 50 bushels of calsomine with an approximate value of One Hundred Pounds. The sole condition was that two Masses be offered annually for his intention.
At this time, visits by Catholic priests to the area had been spasmodic. Bishops Brady and Serra from Perth had made occasional visits, as did Bishop Salvado who was the first prelate to pay a pastoral visit to the district on horseback. Bishop Griver also paid periodical visits as did Bishop Gibney.
Bishop Salvado OSB of New Norcia, then acting Bishop of Perth, (Bishop Serra of Perth was away in Rome) laid the foundation stone of the church on 25th March 1854, on the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lady. Canon Martelli preached nn the occasion and described the foundation laying ceremony: “it was in the midst of the woods under the canopy of heaven that the ceremony was accomplished, not with pomp but with great spiritual joy”.
Its title name, however, is its greatest glory The Immaculate Conception of Mary the Mother of God. Catholic Church, Dardanup (1854—1938).
The little church was named in honour of Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception, a Dogma not proclaimed until 8th December 1854. (Although it was not opened until 1st April 1857). It had the distinction of being the first country parish church of Western Australia outside Perth and Fremantle, but also it supported the title of Church of the Immaculate Conception before Pope Plus IX confirmed that belief of the faithful by decree.
Seeing the growing number of children of Irish Catholic settlers in the little hamlet of Dardanup, Mr Little opened his home “Dardanup Park” in 1854 and employed a ticket-of- leave man, Mr Tom Clancey, to teach them. When Fr Aragon was appointed he visited the school to assist Mr Clancey occasionally.
On Bishop Serra’s return in 1855, Fr Peter Aragon OSB was appointed as resident priest. Fr Aragon’s responsibilities included Australind, Bunbury, Dardanup, Vasse, Busselton and Augusta.
He was a permanent guest of Thomas Little during his tenure which ended in April 1856, when he left the Colony to go to Ceylon. The people retained an affectionate remembrance of him, and he once sent the Littles a gift of cinnamon. He died in Ceylon in 1862. Fr Venancio Garrido was appointed in his place. The second Spanish monk to administer to the religious needs of this Irish community was officially appointed Roman Catholic cli apl am in the Bunhury district by Governor Kennedy and received a government stipend of One Hundred Pounds per annum from the Colonial Administration.
Fr Garrido arranged for a parish meeting to boost the drawn-out construction of the church building. A system of interest free loans was devised at a meeting in October 1857. He completed the church and blessed iton 19th April 1857.
When the new church was completed, the school transferred there. The first school examination was held in 1857 and in that year Mr Tom Clancey left Dardanup for Perth, his place being taken by Miss Anne McKinley.
The parish was very extensive, and Fr Garrido travelled often to the Vasse, to Augusta and to the Blackwood River. He states in his returns on lstJanuary 1858 that the population of Dardanup was 130, of whom 100 usually attended Sunday Mass. Fr Garrido was also responsible for helping establish the first school in the district. He introduced a system where each Catholic fanner in the district gave a portion of grain per harvest to support the church and the pastor.
This also was made possible by the generosity of Thomas Little, for he donated extra land and a small school was built in front to the east side of the church which opened on 15th September 1857 with 25 children. The parishioners came to have a deep affection for Fr Garrido, which he reciprocated. This idyllic existence came to an end on 26th April 1858, when Bishop Serra abruptly ordered him to leave the Colony. He left on 29th July 1858. From Ceylon he kept in touch with his friends, eventually he returned at the request of Bishop Salvado, arriving on 31st December 1859. He spent the rest of his days at New Norcia, where he died in 1870.
The school building also doubled as a dwelling place for the schoolmaster In 1860 there were 40 pupils enrolled in the school but by 1870, due to lack of numbers, the school was closed for several months. Miss Ellen Costello, who was born of Irish Catholic parents in Bunbury in 1855, having obtained her Teaching Certificate, came to Dardanup to teach in 1871. Another school examination was held in 1877 with a very favourable report being received. Miss Costello remained there until the end of 1877.
Later Ellen Costello became Mother Angela, the first Australian born superior of the Sisters of Mercy in Bunbury in 1897. In 1881 the little Catholic school of approximately 15 pupils was taken over by the Government and run as a State school under the guidance of Mr J. Macguire, and later in 1885 by Miss Mary Anne Cleary. By 1891 the classrooms were reported to be in a state of disrepair, poorly equipped and with very little facilities. 1897 saw the withdrawal of the pupils from the Catholic owned building to a more modern structure built opposite the church and run as a State school.
Fr Garrido’s place was taken by the colourful Belgian, Fr Ladolphus Lecaille. He arrived in Dardanup on 17th July 1858. In spite of the attractions of the Little household, he found it more convenient to have a presbytery of his own; he built one in Bunbury about March 1860. Fr Lecaille was of small stature, but of bounding energy He threw himself body and soul into the work of his priesthood and the life of his people. He had great organising ability; he was a man of learning and attainments. He left Bunbury early in 1865 to take up his life’s work in the north at Geraldton. He died in 1908, and was buried in Perth. However in 1936 his remains were re-interred in the mortuary of Karrakatta cemetery. A stained glass window in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, Geraldton is dedicated to him. Fr Lecaille was succeeded by several other priests who worked in the South West district: Fr Donovan, Canon Raffaele Martelli, Fr Thomas Lynch, Fr Patrick McCabe, Fr Brady, Fr Delaney and Dean Luigi Martelli (nephew of Canon Raffaele Martelli) who came at the turn of the century. Followed with Dean L.J.Smyth who succeeded him in Bunbury.
On 5th November 1877 Mr Thomas Little died at Dardanup in impoverished circumstances. His property sold and he was permitted to live out his last days at Dardanup Park.
In 1883 the Sisters of Mercy came to Bunbury and established a convent and school, and in their mission visited Dardanup to instruct the children in their catechism and visit the people — no doubt travelling by horse and cart.
In 1920 three Sisters of Mercy leased the local residence known as Prinsep Park in Dardanup to establish a Catholic school. Srs Columba, Finian and Berchmans were the first Sisters. The people were very receptive to the Sisters and set about raising funds to build a convent and school.
School began on 12th April 1920 with 21 pupils. The importance of being able to read and write received much attention at each of the class levels. Resources and financial benefits were afflictions that were more or less experienced by families, teachers and pupils. The Great Depression years rolled in and on, and brought many hardships.
The school and convent buildings commenced on 22nd May 1921 and was completed on 6th February 1922. The new two storey convent and school was officially blessed and opened by Archbishop Clune on 2nd April 1922 as the Convent of Mercy.
With the Catholic population ever increasing, the need for a new church was imminent. The foundation stone of the new Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception was laid on 12th December 1937 by Archbishop Prendiville. It was completed and officially blessed by Archbishop Prendiville on 1st May 1938. Not only was a new church erected at this time, but a much needed presbytery was built. In 1938 the old church was deconsecrated. The old church was now used as a classroom by the Sisters of Mercy due to the ever increasing number of enrolments and convent facilities overflowing.
Meanwhile the contours of the Dardanup parish had changed considerably. In 1929 it was extended to cover Harvey, Wokalup, Mornington and Brunswick. Two years later, Brunswick stayed with us, but the rest returned to the Harvey parish. In 1935 Australind and Picton were added to Bunbury and Donnybrook became a separate parish in 1937.
Again so great were the numbers of children attending the Catholic school (60) and so small the accommodation that the parishioners were asked to face the burden of a new school, which undertaking they readily and willingly accepted. A “busy bee” was called and the foundation of the school was laid by the good number who so willingly gave their labour. The two classrooms were completed. On Sunday 10th July 1949 they were officially blessed and opened by Archbishop Prendiville of Perth. The school was then officially named Our Lady of Lourdes. A third classroom was completed in February 1952; payment being from the farming community who each gave a calf to church funds. School numbers have now swelled to 86 pupils.
In 1954, a Marian year, Dardanup had many celebrations. The centenary of the old church 1854 – 1954.
On 23rd Sunday, with all the children home from boarding schools etc, the Masses were celebrated at Waterloo, Boyanup and Dardanup. Two hundred and fifty received Holy Communion — being over 90% of the parishioners. At 11.00am the Most Rev. L.J.Goody, Auxiliary Bishop in Perth, celebrated Pontifical High Mass.
On 8th December, 1954 Marian Year was concluded with the opening of a shrine built to commemorate the centenary of the church and in gratitude to the Mother of God. The annual Sunday procession was from Bunbury for the occasion. The closing of the Marian Year Most Rev. Dr Goody officiated at the occasion. Many floats depicting Our Lady’s Title formed the procession and by using loud speakers, the singing was made continuous from Bunbury. It was the largest gathering of people ever seen at Dardanup. The rally of the Holy name society held that day at Dardanup helped to swell the numbers.
A bushie school was held annually at Dardanup making use of the existing school rooms and spacious verandahs. Children came from outlying areas to live-in at the Convent for one or two weeks and were instructed in the truths of their Faith and prepared for First Confession, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. The Sisters, together with extra sisters from Perth, gave up their holidays either in May or August to carry out this work. The last bushie schools were held in 1962.
The Sisters of Mercy continued to teach and occupy the convent building until 1972, having celebrated their Fiftieth Jubilee with a Thanksgiving celebration from the Parish for their tireless work at the school for so many years. In December 1974, the Sisters of Mercy withdrew from the school.
For just over fifty years the parish has been blessed with the Sisters of Mercy teaching the children of the parish.
In 1975 Our Lady of Lourdes School commenced being entirely staffed by lay-teachers.
In 1979 for the 125 year celebration of the foundation of the Immaculate Conception Church in memory of the devout Catholic man who gave the church its Birthplace, the church was renamed the “Thomas Little Memorial Hall”.
The old building. recently restored through the combined forces of the Parish Priest, Parish Council and School Board, was dedicated at 2.00pm on Sunday, 30th September during a special Jubilee celebration.
The convent building was used in many ways by the parish and school until 1977. It was then occupied by the Carmelite Sisters as an enclosed – monastery until March 1984 when the Sisters moved to their new convent in Gelorup. The convent was returned to Parish use.
Later that year the Diocese of Bunbury took it over for use as a Retreat House. It was renamed “Hosea House of Prayer”. The school used rooms for staff and administration this situation continued until 1992 when the new classrooms were constructed.
12th December 1987— Bishop Peter Quinn celebrated the Golden jubilee of the Immaculate Conception Church with us.
1990— Our Lady of Lourdes had 60 enrolled students, of which over 25% come from Boyanup area. Earlier that year, the Education Ministry granted our own school bus.
On Sunday, 28th May 1991, Sister Rita Mary celebrated her golden jubilee as a Sister of St Joseph. Over 200 family and friends gathered at the church to celebrate her 50 years of loving service to God and those around her. After Mass a light luncheon was served at the Shire Hall. Sr Rita left Dardanup to take a new position in Redhill, Canberra, to work under the Popes Apostolic Nunciature.
March 1992 — Father John Joseph McGrath was our next Parish Priest, having left the parish of Donnybrook.
Rosaries for Russia were sent to the Patrick Peyton Centre in America and rosaries were distributed to all parts of the world where needed. This has been an ongoing project, approximately 400 prs have been sent each year since May 1992.
In 1992 the new classrooms incorporating pre-primary facilities were completed and occupied. On 21st March 1993 the official opening of the new school took place with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Quinn of Bunbury, followed by an official opening in the grounds of the new school. The old classrooms were refurbished and repaired and were put to use as the school library and administration area.
The school office, which was operating from “Hosea’, ‘was moved back into the school premises. One classroom was removed to make Thomas Little Hall more accessible for public viewing.
In October 1994, to mark the 150th Anniversary of Catholic education, the parish had a re-union of past pupils and teachers of our school.
In March 1996 the first newsletter was sent out to all known Catholic persons in the parish. The small newsletter had developed into a spiritual newsletter as well as social, and many good reports have derived from this way of communication, especially for those who do not attend the Sunday services. Two are sent out each year, in March to include Easter Services, and October which includes the Christmas timetable.
Work commenced on connecting sewerage on 1st April 1996. Deep sewerage was put through the whole Parish grounds, school, “Hosea”, presbytery and church toilets.
On 12th May 1996, Bishop Quinn celebrated Mass at Dardanup to bless five new Special Ministers — three from Boyanup and two from Dardanup.
In July 1996 a special rose garden was landscaped at Our Lady of Lourdes new school site. All former students who wished to help make this garden, donated towards a rose in their name.
1999 — School once again took over the Thomas Little Hall for library purposes and music. At these times if the parishioners wanted to socialise with a cuppa tea etc after Mass, the presbytery verandah was used.
April 1999 — The presbytery was fully electrically rewired. The back room was revamped and used for mini worship classes held twice a month on Sundays at the Dardanup church.
24th May 1999 — Feast of Mary Help of Christians: a South West combined country parish day was held at the Immaculate Conception Church. About 40 in number attended, most of these were visitors from outlying areas.
A Cross Rises in the South…
