MARY’S MOUNT HISTORICAL WALK
Station C – The Cottage and the Laundry
In 1945, the Sisters built a Laundry for their washing needs, using cement bricks made by the Sisters and boys. Initially, it had two rooms and was later converted into a gardener’s cottage after the boarding school closed in 1969.
Over the years, the cottage housed various caretakers and underwent several interior updates. By 2006, it was repurposed to store archives and memorabilia, with the kitchen used for cooking lessons. The Sisters donated artefacts in 2009, including a life-size statue of St Emilie, now in the chapel.
During 2009 renovations, the cottage temporarily hosted a four-year-old kindergarten. Playgroup continues to meet there, utilizing the front room and verandah for activities.
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In 1945 the Sisters also built a Laundry for the mountains of washing they had each week for themselves and the Boarders. It was after the War and bricks were in short supply so the sisters and boys spent many hours after school making cement bricks.
It faces north and was nestled amongst a Moreton Bay, Pine and Gum trees. It was smaller then with just two rooms. Once the Sisters had left, Mary’s Mount was no longer a boarding school and lay teachers had taken the place of the Sisters, it was no longer needed as a laundry and became the gardener’s cottage with a small extension at the front. Mr and Mrs Pagotto lived there for many years when Mr Pagotto was the gardener and they acted as caretakers as well.
Over the years a few young families lived there as gardeners/caretakers and although the outside has not changed very much the inside has had many new coats of paint and the kitchen still reflects the 1960’s.
Since the 75th Anniversary our archives and memorabilia collection had grown considerably and most of it was stored in the choir loft in the chapel, which was quite an awkward spot to bring students, or ex students especially the elderly!
As there was no one living in the Cottage by 2006 and Playgroup was only using the front room and verandah, the Principal George Firns suggested the archives be moved across to the two side rooms of the cottage and he set about having picture rails and cabinets installed for the memorabilia. Classes could still access the kitchen for cooking lessons and visit the Archive rooms in Mary’s Mount Week particularly on my history/ mystery tours.
This allowed me to display a lot more memorabilia, set up old desks and a blackboard as well as providing two cupboards for storage of photo albums and historical registers and admission ledgers.
When the Sisters moved out of their convent at St Emilie’s on Kalamunda Rd in 2009 they kindly gave us various artefacts and religious memorabilia related to our shared history which we were able to house in the two rooms. We were very grateful and thrilled to receive a life size statue of St Emilie which is now resides in our chapel and takes centre stage each year when we have our whole school Mass in the St Joseph Hall on her Feast day on June 17th.
By 2009 renovations for a four-year-old kindergarten classroom and new toilets were underway in the 1951 building. During the renovations the 4-Year-old Kindergarten students attended school in the Cottage and Playgroup met once a week at Holy Family Church.
Playgroup has grown in numbers and still meets in the Cottage with the front room and back verandah providing children with plenty of play equipment and opportunities for interaction.
