Ursula Frayne

At the Baggot Street Convent was Sister Ursula Frayne, a native of Dublin, born in 1816, who became the foundress of the Order both in North America and Australia. A person of enterprising and courageous spirit, prior to her Australian experience she had established a mission in Newfoundland. She and her companions came to Perth at the request of Bishop Brady in 1846.

The discovery of gold in Victoria in 1852 and the subsequent rapid expansion and population increase created many pastoral and educational needs. Bishop Goold of Melbourne sent many pressing requests to Mother Ursula Frayne to establish a convent in Melbourne. In March, 1857 Mother Ursula Frayne came with her two companions, Mother Mary Xavier Dillon and Mother Mary Joseph Sherlock. The Bishop vacated for the Sisters his residence in Nicholson Street; thus Mother Ursula had the distinction of being the foundress of the first religious house in Victoria.

The first task of the Sisters was to provide a school. It was the desire of the Sisters to begin with the children of the poorer class, but it was pointed out by the Bishop that provision was already made for these in what was termed the common schools and that, in fact, the great work of charity at that time was education of the "poor rich". Thus a school for young ladies, The Academy of Mary Immaculate, was opened on April 20 th 1857.

In June 1858 the foundation stone of a new boarding and day school was laid. A House of Mercy, to provide a home for young unemployed and unprotected females, was established in 1860 in, what is known, as Kennedy Cottage, now used as the administration centre.

By 1863, the educational work on the premises comprised three sections - a boarding and day school for young ladies, (closed only at the end of 1971) a middle school for children of humbler means, and an infant school. Part of the rationale of such a system was that fees proffered by the 'young ladies' maintained the school for poorer children.

As a result of growth and overcrowding, a new building was erected in 1869. This 'the Palmer Street building' was constructed in three stages between 1869 and 1881.

Mother Ursula Frayne died on June 9 th, 1885. The Memorial Chapel which adjoins the Palmer Street building was completed in 1889 and her body was re-interred beneath the Celtic Cross which commemorates her labours.