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The Sisters of Charity and their Arrival in Sydney

On 31st December 1838 after over four months at sea the sailing ship Francis Spaight arrived in Sydney. On board were five "Sister of Charity" nuns, an Irish religious order, sent out at the request of Bishop John Bede Polding. These nuns were the first religious community of women to come to Australia, with the simple mission of bringing care to the poor and needy.

Their first task was working with the female convicts at the Parramatta "Female Factory" and later with the inmates of the gaols of Parramatta and Darlinghurst. As their numbers grew their role extended to ministries at the "Institute of Destitute Children" at Waverley, the "Refuge for Women" at Carter's Barracks, at Schools and the "Catholic Orphan School" at Parramatta.

When the transportation of convicts to Sydney ended the Sisters continued visiting patients at the Sydney Infirmary at the same time raising funds to open their own hospital. This ambition was achieved in 1857 when the hospital named St Vincent's was opened at "Tarmons" in Potts Point.

Initially operating as an outpatient hospital, a woman's ward was opened on 4 November 1857 and a men's ward followed in April 1858. St Vincent's was successful and soon it was realised that larger premises were needed. Generous donations were obtained and in 1870 St Vincent's Hospital was relocated to its present site in Darlinghurst.

Today the "Sisters of Charity" still work at the hospital although their numbers are now tiny compared to previous years. The wearing of flowing habits has now given way to modern dress but their aims are the same as they always have been and in this they represented a tradition that started, as with many things in Australia, with the convicts.

St Vincent's Hospital celebrated its 150th Birthday this year. (2007)