Saint Dominic's Priory

In 1870, the new Diocese of Otago, Southland and Stewart Island was established, with Bishop Moran appointed by Pope Pius IX as its first bishop. He left Dublin for New Zealand on 5 October 1870, accompanied by ten Sisters who were described as “some of the brightest stars in Sion’s firmament”. They arrived at Port Chalmers on 18 February 1871 and faced a challenging start in their new home. Financial resources were limited and their accommodation was inadequate; however, within a week of their arrival, the Sisters had opened a small high school for girls.

To support their work, the Sisters organised fundraising events, raffles and variety concerts, while also offering a wide range of after-school classes, including piano, singing, needlework and European languages. The proceeds went towards the construction of St Dominic’s Priory, designed by architect F. W. Petre, also known for Cargill’s Castle, and completed in 1877.

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  St Dominic’s Priory, 2026. Photo: Prue Milbank

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  Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, AG-264-A-022/008

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  Te Papa Collections, C.011902

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  Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, AG-264-A-024/003

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  Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, AG-264-A-024/062/004

The Priory was designed in the “stripped Gothic” style, chosen because it was regarded as the “most economical of all the ecclesiastical styles”. Although originally intended to be built in brick, concrete was ultimately selected as a more affordable option. At the time, the Priory was the largest unreinforced concrete building in the Southern Hemisphere.

The building originally comprised 54 rooms, including a parlour and infirmary, as well as 24 cells, or sleeping apartments. There were five bathrooms, all supplied with hot water, and the principal rooms were fitted with fireplaces. In 1899, a bluestone extension was added to accommodate senior students attending the newly established St Dominic’s College. This change in style enabled the building to blend more harmoniously with neighbouring St Joseph’s Cathedral, which had been completed in 1886.

By the early 1970s, student numbers had begun to decline, and in 1971 only 27 boarders remained in the Priory. The building was also showing signs of deterioration, and in 1976 the school merged with St Philomena’s to form Moreau College.

Today, the Priory is recognised as one of New Zealand’s most significant Victorian buildings. Petre’s innovative construction methods and use of the neo-Gothic style were highly unusual for the period, with few comparable examples in early New Zealand architecture. The building also forms an important part of the St Joseph’s ecclesiastical precinct, occupying a commanding position above Dunedin’s commercial centre.

References:

Mackie, E. (2021) ‘God’s work awaits in Otago’, Tui Motu, 1 April, pp. 18–19.

St Dominic’s priory (former) (no date) Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4837, 18 August 1877, Page 3

Trinity Catholic College, Dunedin (2026) Wikipedia.

Images:

Image 1: St Dominic’s Priory, 2026

Image 2: Conceptual drawing of Smith Street elevation of St Dominic's Priory, Dunedin, F.W. Petre architect (Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, AG-264-A-022/008)

Image 3: Saint Joseph's Cathedral, Dominican Convent and High Schools (Te Papa Collections, C.011902)

Image 4: Music pupils at St Dominic’s College (Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, AG-264-A-024/003)

Image 5: Boarders, St Dominic’s College (Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, AG-264-A-024/062/004)

We are grateful to Prue Milbank for the above article.