History

The Convent School, as St. Joseph’s is popularly known in Panchgani, is the oldest school in this little Hill town famous for its boarding schools. It has also remained one of the best schools, maintaining its high standards throughout the almost 129 years it has been in existence. The Mother of all Heritage properties in Panchgani’, being the first school in a town distinguished by its schools. Schools like St. Joseph’s are directly responsible for the prestige that Panchgani now enjoys as a premier educational town. The Convent is ‘A Jewel of Panchgani.’ This schools has laid the foundations that have made Panchgani what it is. St. Joseph’s Convent School was founded in October 1895 under the patronage of the Bishop of Poona and the Roman Catholic order of nuns, known as the Daughters of the Cross, making it one of the oldest existing schools in Panchgani. The chool building is declared as HERITAGE building under A category.

The light lit by Mother Marie Therese, the first Daughter of the Cross was brought to Panchgani by the sisters Theoderine, Conradine, Edith and Ewalda on 24^th September, 1895. They were looking out for a cool place to recuperate from the heat of the tropical climate in Mumbai. to recuperate from the heat of the tropical climate. They travelled by Bullock-Cart on the Wai-Ghat of Panchgani

They stayed at Silver Oaks and started a school with 9 students on 01.10.1895.

Jan 1896: Boarding School started at Casuarina for a year shifted to Dalkeith due to lack of space.

June, 1898 : Herbert Lodge was bought due to increasing number of Boarders They looked out for a larger areas.

1908: School raised to Cambridge High School Curriculum at School: Trinity college of Music, Technical Class, Tailoring, Typing & Short-hand, Concerts etc.

1932-1938:  The Building of the two front wings, new lavatories, Technical class, Art Room, Block with new Lingerie for Senior Dormitory, new Sacristy, enlarging, improvement of Chapel, new infirmary, enlargement of Junior dormitory, new classrooms and re-modelling of the whole building was begun in January 1936 and  completed in early  1937.Herbert Lodge was sold and the money used to add new wings to the building.  New wing added on, which comprised of the present Chapel, Convent, Offices, Parlour.

30.11.1957:  Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru visited Panchgani to unveil a statue of Shivaji at Pratapgad.  Shchool children had a chance to meet him.

1955:  Diamond Jubilee Year.

11^th Dec. 1967:  Koyna Earth Quake – North West part of the building caved in.

1968:  Renovation completed.

2002 : St. Joseph’s Convent declared ‘HERITAGE’ building under ‘A’ category

September 2021: Started Junior College.