MARY’S MOUNT HISTORICAL WALK
Station F – Little Bell Tower and Wisteria
The Angelus bell, “Joseph,” was consecrated and erected in 1934 near the original two-storey building. Sister Adelaide planted a Wisteria seed nearby, which flourished and adorned the tower with purple blossoms each spring. A storm in the 1970s brought down the tower, bell, and Wisteria.
In 1981, for the school’s 60th anniversary, “Joseph” was placed in a new bell tower next to the pruned Wisteria. The bell’s history was commemorated with a plaque in 1996, and it became a tradition for final year students to ring the bell on their last day. The Wisteria continues to bloom each spring, adding to the school’s charm.
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The ringing of the Angelus bell was a common sound every day for many Mary’s Mount students probably up until the late 1960’s.
The bell, “Joseph” was consecrated and erected in the original Bell Tower near the two storey building in July 1934. Nearby, Sister Adelaide had planted a Wisteria seed brought with her from the Fremantle convent.
The plant flourished and climbed the tower making a magnificent sight every spring with bountiful purple blossoms. However years later a storm brought the tower, bell and wisteria down in the 1970’s and it wasn’t until 1981 when the school celebrated its 60th anniversary that ‘Joseph’ was settled into a new, smaller, purpose built belltower next to a very much-pruned Wisteria! Sister Adelaide was a very special guest at the celebration.
In 1996 we celebrated our 75th anniversary and we were very excited to hear from ex student Terry Bourke who had further information about ‘Joseph’. Terry attended Mary’s Mount as a boarder from1933-1938 and was was happy to organise a plaque giving some of the history of ‘Joseph’ which is now set in a laterite rock in front of the bell tower. Our Parish Priest Father Cranley presided over a very special Blessing ceremony for the bell and all students attended with the Principal Thea Smith thanking Terry for his kind donation and a very entertaining and informative letter of Mary’s Mount memories for our archives. Since our 75th anniversary final year students each ring the bell on their last day, as part of their Graduation Ceremony. It is a treasured part of each student’s last day at Mary’s Mount. The Jacarandas are in blossom and add to the drama as the students run up the driveway with a high five for every child in the school ready and excited to take on a new path in their life.
It has also been rung for the Angelus during October, for Weddings in the chapel and before whole school/community Masses for celebrations like the 80th, 90th and 95th Anniversaries.
The Wisteria still blooms each spring and quite often has a second flush for summer.
