HERITAGE

Penola - 1866: The Beginning of Our History

Penola 1866 | Perthville 1872 | Lochinvar 1883 | Federation 1967

Julian Tenison Woods and Mary MacKillop, inspired by the Holy Spirit, founded the Sisters of St Joseph at Penola in South Australia in 1866. 

Their mission was to serve the poor particularly in the areas of education and the support of families in rural areas of Australia. 

The Sisters of St Joseph became Australia's first religious order which was to educate poor children in remote areas.

"The History. Scottish born Alexander Cameron, a pastoral pioneer who squatted in the area in 1845, formally founded Penola as a private township in 1850. He invited Mary MacKillop to Penola as governess to his children. She co-founded the religious order, The Sisters of St Joseph, with local priest and scientist Julian Tenison Woods." (Source: http://www.wattlerange.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=237 )

"In 1867 the Woods MacKillop Schoolhouse was established for the children of the district, Mary MacKillop taught in this historic building."
(Source: http://www.wattlerange.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=116 )