Father Julian and Sister Mary MacKillop established the order in 1866 and 17 years later, in 1883, four sisters travelled to Lochinvar where they opened a school. 

More than a century on The Sisters of St Joseph of Lochinvar has grown to 93 sisters scattered throughout the Hunter. 

“They came within a very brief period of time and brought education to children who had no hope of going to school,” congregational vicar Sister Ellen Royan said. 

“We came together to celebrate the fact we belong to this area and we have served this area and even as we get older we continue to serve and we will continue to serve in any capacity we can,” she said. 

Sister Ellen began planting trees in the convent grounds in 1979 as part of ecological awareness for students. 

The grove continued to grow over the decades and trees were dedicated to congregation members. 

On Tuesday the woods were officially named the Julian Tenison ‘Woods’ and a memorial stone was unveiled marking the anniversary. 

Sister Ellen described the garden at the ceremony: “Beyond the gnarled peppercorn – a remnant of Loch Joseph – stands a strong English oak to honour our Father Julian Tenison Woods. 

“Diagonally opposite, Mary MacKillop has a beautiful Cape chestnut that welcomes the summer in a glory of pink blossom close to a spot where I found a busy echidna digging one day.”