Story: Catholic Church

Catholic schools: Sacred Heart school, Whanganui, 1912 (2nd of 3)

Catholic schools: Sacred Heart school, Whanganui, 1912

Known as the 'Black Joes' from the colour of their habits (long dresses), the Sisters of St Joseph opened the Sacred Heart Catholic school for girls in Whanganui in 1880. In 1912, when this photo was taken, they opened a new Sacred Heart convent and girls' secondary and day school on St John’s Hill. The pupils and the nuns who taught them are shown here with a maypole, a traditional focus for Easter celebrations in Europe. In 2003 Sacred Heart College combined with St Augustine's College for boys to form the co-educational Cullinane College.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Tesla Studios Collection (PAColl-3046)
Reference: 1/1-021229-G
Photograph by Frank J. Denton

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Rory Sweetman, 'Catholic Church - Building a national Catholic Church', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/29286/catholic-schools-sacred-heart-school-whanganui-1912 (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Rory Sweetman, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 17 Jul 2018