St Ambrose's Catholic Precinct

The building is situated on land which was granted to Robert Davidson in 1859. The 61 acres purchased by Davidson were subdivided during the 1880s. It changed hands several times before being bought by Archbishop Duhig in 1928.

At the turn of the century, Newmarket was established as a residential suburb with mostly middleclass residents. However, the areas of vacant land retained a semi-rural character in the district. As the route to the saleyards at Newmarket and the northern towns of Gympie and Kilcoy, Enoggera Road was a busy thoroughfare for both people and stock, and by the 1890s boasted a Wesleyan church, a hotel and several businesses including a wheelwright, blacksmith and butcher. The tramline was constructed along Enoggera Road at Kelvin Grove in 1901 and extended to Newmarket in 1903, encouraging further residential development.

Frederick Brown's house, Corinthia, was purchased for ₤4 100 by Archbishop Duhig in 1928. It was used as a temporary church for the newly created parish of Kelvin Grove, later St. Ambrose's Parish.  The first parish priest was Fr. Brian Bolton, previously secretary to Archbishop Duhig. The first mass in the new parish was celebrated by Fr. Bolton on 10 March 1928 in the presence of some 30 people. Within twelve months, the house and verandah had become too small to accommodate the growing congregation and plans were made for the erection of a church-school. 

When a new church designed by Hall and Prentice was opened on the site by Duhig on 8 July 1929, the former house became the presbytery. That church has since been demolished and replaced by a modern church which was opened by Archbishop Rush on 19 August 1973. The iron gates used for the new church were previously the gates to "Dara" the residence of Brisbane's Catholic Archbishops which was demolished to make way for the planned Holy Name Cathedral.

In 1936, Fr. Bolton moved from the presbytery to a recently purchased residence adjacent to the church facing Enoggera Rd. This house was formerly the home of Police Inspector, Jim O'Brien and is thought to have been constructed around 1899.  On 5 July 1936, Archbishop Duhig performed the blessing of the new presbytery and the blessing and opening of a newly constructed timber and brick school designed by Frank Cullen.

In 1936 five Sisters of the Good Samaritan arrived to teach at the newly opened St. Ambrose's School. The first Reverend Mother was Sister Ignatius, a sister of Archbishop Duhig. The former presbytery then became the convent. The convent was substantially renovated and extended in 1961. In 1975, lay teachers took over the school, with two Sisters remaining on the staff until 1977. Soon after, the pre-school moved into the vacant convent. From 1994, the kindergarten/pre-School was managed by the Creche and Kindy Association.

1. Catholic Advocate, 11 April 1929

2. Catholic Leader, 9 July 1936; 6 July 1961; 2 July 1978

3. Hinkler, Father Stephen. "History of St. Ambrose Parish - 1928-1996", typed manuscript, nd

4. Lawson, Ronald Brisbane in the 1890s: A Study of an Australian Urban Society. St Lucia U of Q Press, 1973

5. Post Office Directories.

6. Titles Office Records