Prospect citizens rally to stop proposed demolition of Rosary School Hall

Locals are concerned the redevelopment master plan will erase Rosary School’s Catholic identity and sense of community.

A group of Prospect residents is aiming to stop the proposed demolition of the Rosary School hall by pursuing state heritage status.

About 50 old scholars and citizens from Friends of Rosary Hall say the

school had not adequately consulted with the community before being given the green light.

Friends of Rosary Hall spokesperson Anna Graves said she remained determined to prevent a “shortsighted vision” for the community.

Opened in 1908 by the Dominican Sisters, the Hall was the original

school building, as well as the City of Prospect’s Catholic church until

1937. The school’s maiden priest, Father Vincent Candler, was the first

Dominican priest to be ordained in Australia.

The Hall will be knocked down as part of a redevelopment master plan.

Opened in 1908 by the Dominican Sisters, the Hall was Rosary School’s original school building.

“The motivation for demolishing the Hall appears to us to be an

intention to increase the school’s open space and therefore enrolment

capacity,” Ms Graves said.

“Rosary is a dear little parish school of over 400 children... Its size is a

feature that enables a high standard of pastoral care and parents find the

school desirable because of this.”

Graves says that discussions with the principal have been fruitless and

describes Rosary’s response to letters of concern as dismissive.

Principal Susan Hennessy says the needs of the school community have

changed.

“We need to ensure that our facilities are suitable for contemporary

teaching and learning,” she said.

Hennessy said the plan was presented to the school’s AGM in March,

which 35 people attended. She says the majority of feedback from

families has been “overwhelmingly positive”.

Ms Hennessy said the North Adelaide Prospect Parish and the

Dominican Sisters of North Adelaide support the master plan.

“Every step of the way, we have ensured that the school’s Catholic

identity and Dominican spirituality, along with our sense of community

and history, has been at the centre of our discussions,” she said.

Some of the stonework and the proscenium arch will be preserved in an

open gathering space.

Prospect mayor David O’Loughlin said the matter is out of the council’s

hands due to regulations introduced by the previous state government.

As a result, only proposals for new developments can be assessed by the

council.

Rosary School has not yet set a date for the hall’s demolition.