Mount St Mary's Convent

Mount St Mary's Convent is a heritage building in Toowong sitting on about 1.2 hectares at Grove Street, marked by broad verandahs and tall walls built from greenstone and quartz. The structure displays solid construction with these materials giving it a distinctive appearance and lasting strength.

The Sisters of Mercy bought the property in 1902 and turned the former Goldicott residence into a convent to support their teaching mission. This change marked the start of many years of school activity serving the local Catholic community.

The Sisters of Mercy taught music and speech to local students here for many years, making the convent a center for education in the Toowong parish. People in the area remember it as a place where young lives were shaped through schooling and cultural training.

The building went through major restoration in 1992, uncovering historical details like a hand-painted mural in the entry hall that had been hidden under layers of wallpaper. When you visit, you can see these carefully revealed details that show the care taken to bring past elements back to light.

This building was Brisbane's first poured concrete house, made using an innovative method that engineer Charles Lambert Depree patented. The construction technique was ahead of its time and shows early skill in using new building methods.