Published on Tuesday, 17 June 2025 at 12:05:16 PM
Welcome to #TimeWarpTuesday! This week we bring to you the next part of our mini-series on heritage places from the Town’s Municipal Heritage Inventory (MHI) published in June 2000.
Heritage Places - Part 18
Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church
Address: 68 Balmoral Street, East Victoria Park [more accurately, 43 Camberwell Street, East Victoria Park]
PH00258-01 Our Lady Help of Christians Church, East Victoria Park, c1998.
Photographed by HeritageToday for the Town of Victoria Park Municipal Heritage Inventory, that was published in 2000.
“Historical Notes
“The Our Lady Help of Christians Church (OLHOCC) started along with a school in 1935. The parish was set up by Archbishop Prendiville. The School, with Sisters of Mercy staff, began in 1936. The hall built on the school premises (opened 8 December 1935) had a multifunctional use. During the week it was used for school classes and on the weekend for parish purposes and worship under the ministrations of Frank O’Connor who served as Parish Priest from 1935-1971.
“It is hard to separate the history of the church from the history of Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School. In 1950 the Sisters of Mercy built a convent on the premises. In 1963, the Christian Bros. (also living at the school) took over the education of boys from Year 8-10 starting St Francis Xavier College. When OLHOCC school combined with St Francis Xavier College in the 1970s it became known as Xavier College but the Church kept the name OLHOCC. In 1960 after much hard work, the Church that stands today was opened. The parish members’ contributions allowed the Church to be opened free of any outstanding debts. It was opened on 8 December, exactly 25 years after the opening of the Church Hall. The Church continues to serve the parish and school including the school population of Ursula Frayne Co-Educational College.
“Ursula Frayne College was erected by the amalgamation (not without controversy) of Xavier College and St Joachim’s in 1990. In 1998 the school and parish were tended by Fr Brian Harris, who in his 13 years as Parish Priest has instigated extensions to include a meeting hall to the side of the Church. The hall is used every day for a variety of purposes including playgroups and senior citizens meetings.
“Description
“The Church is set on a prominent corner of Berwick Street. A stunning large stained glass window dominates the Church. Constructed of plain brick, the Church has a functional architectural style that remains unchanged except for a meeting room built on to the side of the Church. The Church is located next to Ursula Frayne College, which evolved from the Old Xavier Catholic School.
“Statement of Significance
“The church has historic and social significance, with some aesthetic aspects. The Catholic community in the area has been served by the church and adjacent school (originally Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School, now part of Ursula Frayne College) since they were built c1935.” (1).
Do you attend Our Lady Help of Christians Church or have memories or photos of attending? We’d love to be able to add to the story of this church in our Local History Collection. Please reach out as we can make a time to scan and copy images. You might also like to consider writing an entry in the Personal Memoirs or Original Research category of the next Local History Awards, or enter the Photographic Memories category with some photos of the church, inside or out, church function in a park, whatever story you have to share about the church and connected schools, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch via telephone: 08 9373 5500, email: vicparklibrary@vicpark.wa.gov.au or in person at 27 Sussex Street, East Victoria Park.
#LoveVicPark
Reference:
- Heritage Today 2000, ‘Town of Victoria Park Local Heritage Inventory’, Heritage Today, Mount Lawley, pp. 157-160.
PH00258-01 Our Lady Help of Christians Church, East Victoria Park, c1998.
Photographed by HeritageToday for the Town of Victoria Park Municipal Heritage Inventory, that was published in 2000.
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