185 Years of Girls’ Education

Established in 1840, St Patrick’s College for Girls was the first school built by private enterprise in New South Wales and initiated by the Catholic people of the Campbelltown area in association with the priest responsible for the district, Fr Gould.

1839

Advertisements in “The Australian” May and December issues called for tenders to build a ‘Catholic School at Campbell Town (sic).

1840

Survey Plan dated February “of a plot of ground in Campbell-Town (sic). A Gift from Dennis and Mary Shiels to the Roman Catholic School”.

17 March

Bishop Bede Polding blesses “the foundation of the new School named of St. Patrick” on that plot of ground.

1887

The Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict arrive in Campbelltown to establish their convent and boarding school for female students as well as to continue the provision of primary education at St Patrick’s School.

22 May
Cardinal Moran blesses the new St John the Evangelist Church (Lindsay street).

The Sisters were given St. John’s Church, built between 1825 and 1835 (now referred to as ‘Old St John’s’ or ‘Old St John’s on the Hill’), to house the convent and boarding school. An internal second floor was constructed to accommodate the boarders.

Children at St Patrick’s School circa 1870.

1888

28 April
Cardinal Moran blesses and opens St. Patrick’s Convent.

30 June
First known prospectus St. Patrick’s Convent School.

1939

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