Little Company of Mary SistersPrint Page

The Blue Plaque recognises the The Little Company of Mary, a Catholic religious order, established the Calvary Hospital in Wagga Wagga in 1926. The Sisters of this order – also known as the ‘Blue Sisters’ after the blue veils they wore – played a vital role in providing compassionate healthcare to the people of the Riverina district and beyond.

The New South Wales Blue Plaques program celebrates heritage by recognising noteworthy people and events from our State’s history. The program aims to capture public interest and fascination in people, events and places which form the story of NSW. It is inspired by the famous London Blue Plaques program which originally started in 1866, and similar programs around the world.

Wagga’s Little Company of Mary Sisters have been recognised as part of the NSW Blue Plaques program. Sir John Sulman and Bishop Sydney Linton from Hay also received a Blue Plaque.

The scheme recognises the extraordinary events and people who shaped NSW’s history. It aims to capture public interest in, and fascination with, people, events and places that are important to the stories of NSW, helping people learn about their local region and history.

The Little Company of Mary Sisters founded Wagga’s Calvary Hospital in 1926. The Catholic sisters were also known as the ”Blue Sisters” because of the blue veils they wore. They played a significant role for the people of the Riverina by providing compassionate healthcare.

Architect Sir John Sulman was commissioned to design and build a home for the Riverina’s first Anglican Bishop, Sydney Linton. Together they designed the simple and charming Bishop’s Lodge in Hay, which was tailored to the natural environment.

The building took more than two years to complete and still stands as a defining architectural collaboration. The structure is cool inside even in the peak of summer due to sawdust packed between two sheets of iron, providing insulation. The flood-proof building was put to the test in 1891 when the river level rose more than 7.5 metres. The building remained a metre above the water.
Region Riverina. 17 November 2022.

 

 

Location

Address:	23 -36 Hardy Avenue, Calvary Riverina Hospital, Wagga Wagga , 2651
State:	NSW
Area:	AUS
GPS Coordinates:	Lat: -33.731481 Long: 151.134171 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.

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Details

Monument Type:	Plaque
Monument Theme:	People
Sub-Theme:	Religion
Link:	https://blueplaques.nsw.gov.au/

Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:	November-2022

Source: Blue Plaques Program