On 5 September 1974 an explosion occurred in the boiler room of the Mount St Canice laundry adjacent to the convent of The Good Shepherd, St Canice Avenue, Sandy Bay, Hobart. The new boiler was being installed when it exploded under test.

A second boiler was operating at the time and was destroyed by the explosion. The building was extensively damaged. Seven people were killed and one died later in hospital. Seventeen people were injured, several seriously.