Included in those celebrating the sesquicentennial - which coincided with the 140th anniversary of Catholic education in Queenstown and 130 years since the arrival of the Dominican Sisters, from Ireland - were Bishop Colin Campbell, of Dunedin, Catholic Education Office Otago-Southland director Tony Hanning, former principal Sister Marie Eugene, of Invercargill, and Dominican Sisters Mary Anna Baird, OP, of Arrowtown, and Carmel Walsh, OP, of Auckland.
Principal Trisch Inder said along with families and supporters of the school, about 50 people had travelled from across New Zealand to attend the celebrations, which began with the school's production, Something So Strong, on Friday night, telling the story of the history of St Joseph's, written and performed by all 145 pupils.
The celebrations ended yesterday with a Eucharist Mass.
Mr Hanning - who has a family association with the school, dating back to its first years and was a pupil himself between 1943 and 1950, when he moved to Invercargill - said initially the school included a small boarding school, aimed at children from the ''lake stations'', like Elfin Bay.
The Sisters also ran a small secondary school, which was ''quite important'' in Wakatipu, as it provided an opportunity for young women to continue their education in the resort, rather than travelling to Invercargill or Dunedin.
Further, to supplement their income, they taught children the arts and music, in doing so providing a ''significant contribution'' to the Wakatipu's culture.
Mr Hanning believed the Sisters would be impressed with what had been achieved at the school today.
''They would have been supportive, I think. In their day they were quite forward thinking and well-prepared professionally themselves.
''As women at that time it was quite forward - these schools were invariably run by women at a time when the general approach in the state schooling system ... was that it was men who were principals and [teachers].
''As pupils, we took it for granted that it was a woman who was in charge. They made it very clear [they were] in charge.''
