St Josephs Convent at 16 Manning Street is historically significant as a record of Tuncurry’s early urban growth and its relationship to the Tuncurry waterfront and maritime dependent development.  

The convent, located opposite John Wright Park, is famous for its association with the pioneering timber milling and boat building Wright family.  

Alan Wright from the Great Lakes Historical Society told the Advocate that the convent building was built in 1914 (some records say 1912) by Henry ‘Harry’ Wright (1882-1950) who married Constance ‘Connie’ O’Beirne (1883-1956).

The house was part of the estate of Connie Wright which upon her death in 1956 was bought by the Catholic Church for use by Father Linehan and then used as convent by the Sisters of St Joseph from 1958.

It is recognised by its continued association with the Sisters of St Josephs and the development of the Catholic Church in the Forster-Tuncurry area.