St Joseph's College at Robinson Road Southern Block [c.1917-c.1960]

Submitted by kckong on Tue, 10/17/2017 - 02:32
Current condition
Demolished / No longer exists
Date completed
(Day, Month, & Year are approximate.)
Date closed / demolished
(Year is approximate.)

This is one of the two buildings in St. Joseph's College campus at Robinson Road; aka the "Southern Block" stated in the book.  This building was built against Robinson Road, showing only two storeys from Robinson Road. 

After the 1918 earthquake and the De La Salle brothers decided to move St. Joseph's College to the former Club Germania at 7 Kennedy Road, this building was in use by SJC until the new classrooms constructions at Kennedy Road were completed in 1921. This building was in turn used by Wah Yen College until 1955, known as the "Classroom block". After Wah yan moved out, it was used by St Joan of Arc School. In 1960, SJA redeveloped this building into its new school building.  

Exact day of completion unknown.  The original St. Joseph's Building (Northern Block) at Robinson Road was completed in 1883.  This Southern Block is an additional building built at the southern edge of the same lot. Maps of 1901 , 1913 both did not show this building, but it can be seen in the maps of 1941 .  

It is possible, but not certain, that this building was erected after the 1918 earthquake, before the 7 Kennedy Road new SJC campus was ready for occupation.  From De La Sallian Brothers archive: https://www.lasalle.org.hk/pages/docs/TheGateway52.pdf

 

As a result, some classes still remained in the hastily erected three storey building in Robinson Road and Brother Paul O’Connell was left in charge 

From Government Public Works Records, IL 579 Robinson Road (where SJC was located) commented extension in 1916, completed in 1917. It is unknown if this extnesion is the erection of this building. 

 

From St. Joseph's College Diamond Jubilee book, published 1936, This is the "New Building Robinson Road, 1917" .  Changing Completion Date to 1917. 

Photos that show this Place