St Dominic’s Road
Priory Hotel
The Dongara Hotel was situated on the original main road to Dongara and the Port and was s built as a single storey limestone rubble structure by William Criddle in 1881. The Dominican Sisters purchased the building in 1902 for the purpose of opening a school, added a second storey, and renamed the building St Dominic’s Priory. The large building to the west was opened in 1926 and named the Dominican Ladies College. The new building incorporated both classrooms and boarding facilities.
Boys and girls attending the school could receive primary education; girls could also receive secondary education as day pupils or boarders. The school operated until 1971, when a flood from the Irwin River destroyed the tennis courts, school playground and inundated the building with mud. The sisters closed the college, ending 70 years of devoted teaching in the area. After being restored the building had its historic inn licence reinstated. It ceased business operations in 2019.
Students on front step of the Dominican Ladies College, c1920. I IRME2562
