More than 300 of the 600 [sic] acre settlement were destroyed by the fire, which got as close as 30 yards to the church, opened last year. Nearly all night the small working party at the settlement worked diligently to protect the homes which are in course of erection in different parts of the area. (17). Perhaps Saint Mary herself did indeed protect her namesake settlement.
In 1955, the name of the settlement was changed from St Mary's to Maryknoll, to avoid confusion with other towns named St Mary's. The Pakenham Gazette of August 19, 1955, published the following Berwick Shire report about the forthcoming opening of the Post Office, and the fact that they have put quotation marks around the word Maryknoll, suggests that the term was new and novel then.
The Maryknoll Post Office was officially opened on October 3, 1955, by the Berwick Shire President, Cr C.F. Greaves, and it was officially blessed by the Archbishop, Dr Daniel Mannix. Three hundred people attended the event. The Pakenham Gazette reported that the Archbishop pointed out that as far as he knew this was the first time in history a post office had ever been blessed. The report also noted that Mr Strange, Director of Post and Telegraphs, congratulated Father Pooley and said it was the first time he had attended the opening of a non-official post office and he wished them great success and assured them of further co-operation from the Department. The Post Office building also housed the general store (18).
Smith, Tracey, Lyon and Brock worked on many projects for the Catholic Church including Christian Brothers College in Warnambool in 1950; St Joseph's School in Springvale in 1952; St Joseph's Benalla in 1953 and St Vincent de Paul's Homeless Men's shelter on Flemington Road (Ozanam House) in 1954 (20).Their other projects are listed on the Built Heritage website, referred to above.
They also designed the Holy Family Church at Maryknoll.
Smith, Tracey, Lyon and Brock also designed houses for the Maryknoll settlement. One of these designs was reported upon in The Argus in November, 1954.
This is the transcription of the article about the Maryknoll house -
The plan is a simple rectangle in shape and has a low pitched roof, covered with corrugated asbestos cement sheets. External walls are of 10in. Baltic weatherboards. Provision has been made for another bedroom and a verandah to be added. The door into the third bedroom will be in the space now used for a cupboard between the bathroom and bedroom. The two bedrooms are 11ft. x 10ft. and 13½ft. x 10ft. and both are fitted with built-in wardrobes.
The kitchen, 13½ x 10ft., is divided by a fitment so that one section can be used for meals or other purposes. For economy, the kitchen and living room fireplaces have been combined in a common chimney stack. The sun room, 10½ x 10ft., is another interesting and useful feature of this part of the house. The living room, 15 x 12ft., has deep windows and double doors opening on to a 6ft. wide verandah. There is a service hatch from this room into the kitchen.
The house is one of a series of low cost houses designed by Smith, Tracey, Lyon and Brock, architects, for a rural community at St. Mary's, via Nar Nar Goon, in Gippsland. (21).
Trove list - I have created a short list of newspaper articles from Trove on the establishment of Maryknoll, access it here. I also have a list of articles which mention the firm of Smith, Tracey, Lyon and Brock, you can access it here.
FootnotesPerhaps Amanda wanted a more settled life because she did not move to Meeniyan with her husband; from the 1937 Electoral Rolls she is listed at 10 Holyrood Street in Hampton. Reginald lived with her until he enlisted in the Army in December 1938, he said he was 18 years and 8 months old. In reality, he was two years younger as he lied about his age. In April 1942, Reg was discharged from the Army and joined the Navy, where he served until December 1945. Amanda died on Christmas Eve, 1949, aged 64; and William on December 20, 1952, aged 71. They are buried together at the Brighton Cemetery.