Brief History of the Parish

Originally the Claremont Parish was part of the Cottesloe Parish. The parish as an entity began in 1904 with Mass celebrated in Bowers Hall by Fr. Masterton. A Catholic School was established in Reserve Street and this school doubled as a place for Mass and other parish activities until burnt down in 1913. Whilst rebuilding was in progress Mass was held at the Council Chambers and again at Bowers Hall. As the parish expanded, various organizations, for example St. Vincent de Paul began to develop.

The new Church was opened in 1936 and Fr. Tom Masterton was the first Parish Priest.

After World War II, the once isolated area surrounding the Church flourished with Graylands and Mt. Claremont expanding rapidly. The development of these areas created increased parish numbers and duties.

In 1953 a new presbytery was built, adjacent to the Church. The then parish priest, Fr. McCormack and his curate took up residence. Subsequently, in 1954, a new school on the Church land was erected and opened in 1955.

Between 1955 and 1958 the new parish of St. Mel’s (St. Pauls) incorporating Swanbourne and Mt. Claremont was formed, taking these areas from within the Claremont boundaries.

In the 1960’s the Church was found to be too small for the expanding parish and designs were drawn up for the extensions which were completed in 1964.

The first Parish Council was established in 1969. Fr. J. Boylen succeeded Father McCormack in 1971 and remained Parish Priest until his death in 1981.

A house next door to the Church was purchased in 1976 for $40,000. Prior to this tine the Timorese refugees had a temporary classroom in the Church. The house provided space for them as well as for various parish activities. With increasing school enrolments, additions to the school were completed and opened in 1977 by Bishop Healy.

In 1981 , the Vietnamese Chaplain, Fr. Dominic, came to join the Claremont community, in order to be of assistance to his people in the nearby Graylands Refugee Centre. Father 0‘Dwyer was appointed as Parish Priest in 1982. And further extensions were made to the Parish school as a result of the increasing number of Polish refugee children.

Fr. Ferdie Marlow, S.J., former Missionary in Calcutta, became Administrator of St. Thomas’ after Fr. O’Dwyer retired. And it was Fr. Marlow who arranged for the new community centre and Pre-Primary building to go ahead. This was completed in 1990 and named after Fr. Marlow. By that time Fr. Brian McKenna had been appointed Parish Priest and the Parish had a Pastoral Assistant - Sr. Ellen.

The Parish provides a Sacramental Program for Catholic children who attend Govt. Schools and there is an adult Faith Development Program called R. C. I. A. (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) operating in the parish new. Recently, a program called Thomas Care has been initiated. This could be called the parish Outreach Program - and hopes to help people with various needs eg. driving to Mass; assistance with shopping; baby-sitting; visitation of elderlies and the group will also work in, as much as possible, with the community services, for instance Meals on Wheels and Outings for Pensioners.