Sisters of St Joseph Lochinvar

Since our foundation in Lochinvar in 1883 Sisters taught in many schools in response to the needs of people in rural areas, mining towns and working class suburbs.

In all, fifty parish primary schools and ten secondary schools were entrusted to our Sisters in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle and beyond. These are listed below.

Music was always a prominent aspect of our Josephite education through classroom teaching, private tuition and the training of choirs and orchestras.

Today the Josephite spirit lives on in the schools through the work of dedicated lay principals and staff.

A history of schools, including those now closed, can be found in the publication, Snapshots in Time: 1822-2021 A Focus on schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle by Frances Dunn, Marie Hughes rsj and Elizabeth Latham

For illustrated historical details click here.

Constitutions: A Future and a Hope

Click on the blue links below to be taken to an existing school’s website and learn more about that school and its history.

Parish Primary Schools

Location Established
LOCHINVAR 1883
MERRIWA 1885
QUIRINDI 1885 – 1887
KNOCKFIN 1886 – 1900
NULKABA (CESSNOCK) 1887 – 1937
CARRINGTON 1888 – 1971
DUNGOG 1888
MEREWETHER (Burwood) 1888
BROOKFIELD 1889 – 1957
LARGS 1889 – 1968
KRAMBACH 1893 – 1989
WINGEN 1896 – 1958
ABERDEEN 1896 – 1976
GLENDONBROOK 1900 – 1920
WYBONG 1901 – 1916
CUNDLETOWN 1906 – 1969
CESSNOCK (Mt St Joseph) 1906 – 1966
ABERMAIN 1908
KURRI KURRI 1908
WEST WALLSEND 1912 – 1982
PORT MACQUARIE 1913
DENMAN 1915
CARDIFF 1917
GLOUCESTER 1919
TAREE 1923
Location Established
CHARLESTOWN 1927
WAUCHOPE 1928
WINGHAM 1935
BELLBIRD 1937 – 1957
CESSNOCK (Wollombi Rd) 1937
SUMMER HILL 1949
BELMONT 1950
CLIFTON GARDENS 1950
GRETA (Migrant Camp) 1950 – 1960
KENDALL 1952 – 1982
SWANSEA 1952
BULAHDELAH 1955
MEREWETHER BEACH 1956
SHORTLAND 1957
FORSTER 1959
WINDALE 1959
NEWCASTLE (Star of Sea) 1961 – 1969
EDGEWORTH 1962
MORISSET 1962
PARKSIDE – QLD 1962 – 1973
GATESHEAD (St Paul’s) 1964
MUSWELLBROOK 1973
KILABEN BAY (Toronto) 1973
LAURIETON (Kendall) 1982

Secondary Schools

Location Established
LOCHINVAR 1915
TAREE  1926
GATESHEAD (St Mary’s)  1964
PORT MACQUARIE  1930
WAUCHOPE 1930 – 1968
WINGHAM 1935 – 1961
Location Established
CESSNOCK (Mt St Joseph’s)  1936 – 1968
MERRIWA  1954 – 1968
BULAHDELAH  1955 – 1966 
SUMMER HILL  1957 – 1962 
ABERDEEN 1972

Wall Hanging in St Joseph’s College Lochinvar Design: Sr Dorothy Woodward Artwork: Chelsea Gordon