PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION

The Library in the Indian Room, 1940

The Indian Room in Mandeville Hall was converted into a library for Senior School students. 

During the 1940s, there was a well-equipped domestic science kitchen, a library for staff and students in the Indian Room, and a reference collection and lending library in two glass-fronted cabinets in St Cecilia’s Hall.

In 1956 the Loreto community extended the Senior Library, in the Indian Room of the mansion, by making a doorway to the right of the fireplace to provide access to St Luke’s Study, which became a reading room.

Jillian Lambert recalled, At the end of my Leaving year in 1953 I was shocked when my name was read out as the winner of the Marian Poetry Competition, more shocked because I had experienced such resistance and effort at having to write such a poem and submit it. At the evening study time I recall sitting at the centre round table in the small school library room; our library was no bigger than an average room in the big old house and we did not borrow books. I was complaining to myself and out loud to Mother Assumpta (my English teacher, Mistress of Schools, mother figure and guardian) that I just couldn’t write a poem – it was impossible for me – it wasn’t fair that we should be forced to do such a thing and that I would never be able to do it no matter how hard I tried –so what was the use? Mother Assumpta gently yet firmly insisted that I get on with my work and write the poem that was asked for. I often wondered who judged those poems.

By the 1960s modern educational thinking was shifting to research-based learning. Libraries were evolving into study centres, where students, driven by intellectual curiosity, could discover knowledge for themselves – or such was the theory. In this context the library annex off the Indian Room seemed quaint and outmoded. As a reading room for fiction it was adequate and always well patronised. As a study centre, however, it was quite inadequate. Mother Emilian considered that the school needed a purpose-built library with plenty of space for study, discussion and research.

In 1970 Patricia Moylan joined the junior school as a grade teacher for Year Five. Patricia had been a pupil at Loreto Dawson Street before boarding at Sacred Heart School, Ballarat. After graduating from Aquinas Teachers’ Training College, Ballarat, Patricia worked in local Sisters of Mercy primary schools before coming to Loreto Toorak. In 1977 Patricia was appointed Deputy Principal of the junior school and served in the position until 1996. She would arrive at 5.45 am to start organising rosters, timetables and emergency teachers. During her long service Patricia established a junior school library and could put her hands on any book or resource regardless of how obscure the request or topic.