ST JOSEPH'S CHURCHSt. Joseph’s Church is a red brick gothic style church with a pleasant landscaped garden. It is located in the heart of South Yarra, less than a block from Chapel Street's Jam Factory. There is parking for 25-30 cars on site with hundreds more spaces available at the Jam Factory car park.
HISTORYArchbishop Carr appointed Fr. James Francis Fitzgerald as first pastor of St. Joseph’s, South Yarra some time after October 1887. And thus the Mission of South Yarra and Toorak was created. Masses were first celebrated at South Yarra Hall (presently 140-144 Toorak Road, near the railway station). Father Fitzgerald born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1841, had been educated in an Augustinian Monastery in Callan, County Kilkenny. He was ordained in 1867 and arrived in Australia late the same year. He performed the first baptisms on 27th November and the first marriage on the 31st December 1887. The fact that the name of the street in which the church now stands bears his name is a complete co-incidence. Fr. Fitzgerald died at Carlton in 1893 aged 53. The foundation stone for the church was laid in March 1887 and the church was opened on 25th October 1888 for a total cost of 3,500 pounds. The foundation stone for the present Presbytery (Priory) building was laid in 1901. St. Joseph’s School was blessed and opened in 1889 and staffed initially by lay teachers. A community of Good Samaritan Sisters assumed charge of the school in 1905 and the congregation purchased a property, “Koblenz:”, in Caroline Street (now Caroline House) which became known as Santa Maria Convent. (Interior St. Joseph's 1970) (School classroom 1970) (Tuckshop - coffee room 1970) (The School - c. 1985)
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