St Chad's is one of the earliest houses in Trentham. Built in 1864 by Donald McPherson, a local miner & timber miller, the original homestead was built of weatherboards with a shingle roof. Internal ceilings were 12 feet high and walls were lathe and plaster on bluestone foundations. Most rooms had open fires and the house covered an area of approximately 40 squares. As was the custom in the mid 1800's, the kitchen was built separately from the main house to reduce the risk of fire engulfing the whole building.

In 1889 the house was acquired by the Murphy family who ultimately donated the property to the Catholic Church in the early 1900's.

The house was used as the first presbytery and from 1906 as a convent, housing 5 nuns and a housekeeper. The nuns belonged to the order of the Sisters of Mercy and they taught at both Trentham and East Trentham.

The first Catholic Church was built in 1888 and with the completion of a new church in 1906 it was moved across High Street and relocated next to St Chad's, where it was used as a school until 1938. The old church/school was then dismantled and re-erected as a shed on a neighbouring property.

The house was named "St Chad's" after an English bishop who lived during the 7th century AD. He became a priest in 653 and following his appointment as bishop of the Mercians in Lichfield in 669 he founded monasteries, evangelized, travelled and preached, reformed monastic life in his see, and built a cathedral on land that had been the site of the martyrdom of 1,000 Christians by the pagan Mercians. Miraculous cures were reported at the wells he caused to be dug for the relief of travellers.

Unfortunately, St Chad could only conduct his good work for three years as he died on 2 March 672, probably from the plague; Thirty-three ancient churches and several wells were dedicated to St Chad, mainly in the Midlands. There are also several modern dedications.

There was no water service at St Chad's in the early days. Baths were taken in an old style tin bath on the back verandah of the convent before daylight. One can only imagine what this would be like in winter.

The original property covered 2.5 acres, which besides the main house block, included a "cow paddock" and an area of Chinese market gardens. Still standing in the garden next to Chad's there is a small weatherboard hut, which housed a caretaker up until the 1960's.

Dr Gweneth Wisewould (left) was a respected Trentham and Blackwood doctor from 1937 to her death in 1971. Her book, "Outpost: Doctor on the Divide" ( Lowden Publishing Co, Kilmore, 1971) contains fascinating recollections of district life. The convent closed in 1964 and Dr Wisewould subsequently purchased and lived at St Chad's.

She achieved almost impossible cures, the patients always came first, and she would travel to outlying places in the worst weather anyone could imagine. She was often paid in goods; many times she did not charge a fee. She was an avid dog lover and she said animals told her where they were hurting.

Her brusque manner and mannish dress disguised a brilliant mind, and a devotion to the town that made her universally respected and admired.

St. Chad's Bed and Breakfast, 69 High St Trentham Victoria
Historic Homestead and Convent Accommodation
03 5424 1581     0409 966 140