First built in 1910 as a Presbytery, The Old Parkes Convent was given to the Sisters of St. Joseph to replace their old Convent soon after its completion. When Parkes became part of the Wilcannia-Forbes Diocese in 1918, there were eight Sisters stationed at the Convent, and the number of students in the school totalled 240. The Sisters of St. Joseph from Perthville (near Bathurst) were stationed in Parkes from 1883. The Sisters taught for almost forty years before returning to Perthville, providing a solid education to as high a level as students wished to study.
In 1923 The Old Parkes Convent was remodelled and extended to its current form for the Sisters of Mercy who took over the work of the Sisters of St Joseph. However, on their arrival towards the end of January, the work was incomplete and some of their furniture was yet to be installed. For some time they had to carry packing cases from room to room to make up the required number of chairs. The Sisters promised to offer space for twenty to thirty borders within a few weeks of the start of the school year on Monday 29th January. On 4th March 1923 the building was blessed and officially opened as the Convent of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Owing to the generosity of crowd at the opening, including many non-Catholics, the Convent opened debt free.
With Postulants and Novices training under their supervision in all areas of the School, the Sisters set high standards. Tuition in both music and commercial classes met with great success from the earliest years. So much so that the Convent became a kind of employment agency with local business people applying directly to the Sisters for suitable students to fill job vacancies. When the Novices moved from Parkes to Broken Hill during 1932, the sisters were able to use the available space in the Convent to extend their boarding school. The Sisters of Mercy continued with their teaching role until 1986, brining to an end a 63-year association with Catholic Education in Parkes.
In 1983 The Old Parkes Convent was sold to private owners after being uninhabited for many years. The building, with its then inclosed verandas, was in a bad state of disrepair. However, over the years its owners have been slowly restoring it its former glory.
SOURCE: Ryan, M. 2004, For Whom Alone We Go Forward or Stay Back, Sister of Mercy, Wilcannia-Forbes Congregation.
