This year the archives Christmas display features items from St Joseph’s Orphanage in Takapuna..
St Mary's School opened on this site in 1849 . It was closed in the late 19th century and reopened in 1894 as St Joseph's Industrial School and Orphanage for boys under the care of the Sisters of Mercy. In 1923 a fire gutted the building leaving the walls standing. It was rebuilt and a three storied wing was added. It reopened in 1924.
The building still stands today-
For the display we have the nativity figures from the orphanage and the 1925 orphanage diary opened to Christmas day.
The display was entitled “Home for Christmas.”
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