Our Story

'Knoyle' for Claude Fairfax                     

The property now called "Kerever Park" was originally built for Claude Fairfax who named it "Knoyle", possibly after an old home in England, since Mrs Fairfax was an Englishwoman. It was she who designed the interior of the house and many details of the spacious rooms are evidence of this.

"Woodside", Moss Vale, built in 1887 for Claude's brother, James Reading Fairfax, founder of the Sydney Morning Herald, has features similar to "Knoyle": massive chimneys each with four flues, wide verandas, bay windows with small panes of glass, and several carved mantlepieces. English architect, Maurice B. Evans drew up plans for both the Fairfax brothers.

The Fairfax family laid out the park and garden which were much more extensive than they are today, requiring the services of three or four gardeners.

The outbuilding called the Mews was erected as a coach house, stable and hay loft.

It is known that the Claude Fairfax family did not settle long in the village of Burradoo. The property changed hands several times. Owners included the Westmacotts and from about 1930, the Finlays.

Junior School of Rose Bay Convent

During World War II the Junior School of Rose Bay Convent of the Sacred Heart had been evacuated to the "RIFT" in Carlisle Street, Bowral and the country setting having proved so suitable for a Junior boarding school, it was decided to look for a property in the Southern Highlands. Though “Knoyle” was not for sale at first, the Finlays, when approached by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, decided that the place had become too large for them, and so it was acquired by the Society of the Sacred Heart on July 9th, 1943.

Mother Alix de Kerever

Mother Alix de Kerever, a French member of the Society, died the previous year in Sydney and it was decided that this school should be her memorial, hence the present name of the property. The carved oak alter in the Chapel, in particular, is dedicated to her memory, and, if you look at the carving under the altar table, you will see the crest of the Society of the Sacred Heart and a scroll bearing the words: "In memoriam Alix de Kerever, RSCJ". This altar was the gift of the children in. the school at Rose Bay Convent at the time.

Boarding

Soon brick additions were made to enable about 40 boarders to be accommodated (dormitories and bathrooms). A fibro building used by the boarders of Kincoppal, Elizabeth Bay, Sydney, during their period of evacuation at Greenways, Bundanoon, was transported to Burradoo and re-erected to serve as study room. Later, a second floor was added to the brick dormitory, and the ground flour became a more solid study room. The western end of the original house was extended in 1941 to enlarge the Chapel, Dining Room, and upper Dormitory, as well as to provide an Assembly Room. This was so skillfully done, using the same windows and doors, and even identical roof tiles luckily obtained from a house being demolished, that it is difficult to detect the addition.

The farm

Soon a registered Jersey herd was acquired providing milk and cream for the school' s needs, and in addition winning many ribbons at the Moss Vale and Camden Shows. Pigs and poultry were added and vegetables grown; all under the care of Mr Charles Stevenson and his wife. The garden was restored to some of its former beauty. On two occasions it won First Prize in the Bowral Garden Show. Some of the boarders had their own ponies and every week there was a riding lesson.

Numbers in the school increased to about sixty, then in 1965, it was decided to combine Kerever Park School with the Junior Preparatory School at Vaucluse.

Chevalier

From 1966 Kerever Park was handed over to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart to use for their First Year Secondary students whilst Chevalier was building additions.

A community of sisters and house of retreats

It 1968 Kerever Park was put up for auction but it was handed in. A community of sisters occupied the premises in 1969 and Kerever Park’s new apostolate began - a House for Retreats, a House of Prayer and Retirement for some elderly sisters, as well as a Centre of holiday relaxation for young and old.

Family days and school groups

A Community House for sisters was built in 1982. From 1982 to 1989 there was informal use of the grounds for family days, school groups etc.

Retreat and Conference Centre

Sr Betty McMahon (the current Program Director) joined the community in 1987.

In 1989 there was a formal beginning to the Retreat and Conference Centre.

Kerever Park became know as a place of prayer and spirituality. Week end programs included retreats, the enneagram and days of reflections.

As life became busier for people afternoon or twilight sessions have become more popular, particularly for local people.

Spirituality Centre

Over time the work of the Kerever Park evolved into a Spirituality Centre - the focus of the work today. We are responding to peoples need for spirituality - searching for something deeper in their lives.

In 2004 the Kerever Park Retreat and Conference Centre changed its name to the Kerever Park Spirituality Centre.

Governance

Kerever Park Spirituality Centre was incorporated in 2006 as a public company limited by guarantee.

The single member is the Trustees of the Society of the Sacred Heart.

There is a Board of Directors made up of individuals from a range of professional backgrounds.