History
This building offers one of the few examples of European Baroque Revival style still existing in Victoria. The red-brick plinths and the window surrounds can also be observed in the design of the Convent and St Mary’s building.  Given this, it is presumed that Reed Smart & Tappin were the architects for Rosina.

Built in 1908, this building was required to house the older ‘penitents’ - women who had been placed in the Sisters’ care through the Courts system.  Those in their late teens or older were intentionally separated from the younger girls to ensure there was no chance of ‘undue influence’.  The interns slept in dormitories upstairs and they ate in the refectory below where the girls from the Sacred Heart building across the courtyard also ate.

Rosina boasts a theatre where the girls rehearsed and presented concerts and orchestral performances. Gilbert & Sullivan concerts were a favourite and when the space was not required for theatrical pursuits, large lace making looms were installed in the Rosina auditorium.  Costumes from the convent’s various performances were stored in Rosina’s basement.

Present & future use
The Rosina auditorium has again come alive as a performing arts hub.  Servicing Melbourne’s need for rehearsal spaces, the majority of users are hiring the space for workshops, rehearsals and classes in various performing art forms.  As this room is one of the convent’s key community use spaces, it is rented out at an inexpensive rate to ensure it is mainly used by community-based groups.  On occasion, Rosina will host theatrical performances presenting work that is either site specific or is well suited to the atmosphere and style of the space.

The large refectory space has had a magnificent commercial kitchen installed at one end of it and that facility can provide up to 1,000 meals through a magical array of contemporary industrial cooking equipment.  The large room where the girls used to eat can accommodate a sit down meal for up to 250 diners – offering even more space for cocktail style events.  Between the two large spaces is a lovely protected courtyard that can also be hired for private events.

Eventually the top floor of Rosina will be made available for use. With two large spaces available on each side of the stair case, it will be logical to increase the rehearsal space available on site by converting one side into a bare walls room for R&D.  The other side of the top floor can be rented out to a small to medium sized arts company as an office space – hopefully one that is working with young people on a community basis.  Such a company would not be capable of paying a commercial rate but it would ensure that a representative of the performing arts also has a home at the Convent

Eventually the basement below Rosina could be restored too. Its low height precludes it from being used as a performance or rehearsal space but it would again make a good space to store costumes.