St Patrick's Marist College

Early days at Harrington Street

Arriving in Sydney on 26 February 1872, the Marist Brothers, led by Brother Ludovic, the founder of the Marist Brothers Province in Australia, established a parish school at St Patrick's, Church Hill. The first St Patrick's was a double storied building in Harrington Street, The Rocks which previously had been St Philip's Anglican School. On 8 April 1872, one hundred and thirty primary boys were enrolled in this first Marist school in Australia. St Patrick's has "the distinction of being the oldest school in Australia under the charge of teaching Brothers". By 1875, Brother Ludovic was also able to open a High School at St Patrick's. This was to be the first popular High School for day boys in NSW since the only secondary schools available at the time were boarding schools. Over the years, St Patrick's, Church Hill served as a Primary School, High School, Intermediate School, Business College and Evening College.

Transition to Dundas

With diminishing numbers of residents in the inner city, it was decided to move the campus to Dundas in 1962 The new site retained much of the traditions and customs of the old St Patrick's, thus forging a strong link with the original school at Harrington Street. A number of students also made the move from Harrington Street to Dundas.

The founding Principal on the Dundas site was Brother Thomas More Davidson. He faced the challenges of setting up the new school with great faith and energy. Despite problems such as bad weather holding up the completion of buildings, 110 boys in Years 4, 5 and 6 commenced classes for Term 1, 1962 in the top floor rooms whilst the builders completed the ground floor. The school was established as a Demonstration Secondary School in 1965 and was named St Patrick's Marist Brothers' Demonstration School. The secondary school, catering for males in Years 7-10 was officially opened on 2 October 1966. The primary school continued at Dundas until 1985 when the last Year 6 class completed their schooling.

1985 marked another historic year for St Patrick's Marist when not only were its first Year 11 students enrolled, but coeducation was introduced in the senior school. The successful transition was built upon the vision and dedication of Principals Brother John O'Brien, Brother William Selden and Brother Ronald Blyth who guided St Patrick's through years of change in response to the needs of the Catholic communities of Dundas and its neighbouring parishes.

The school was renamed St Patrick's Marist College by Brother Michael Procajlo, when the first co-educational group was enrolled in Year 7 in 1992.

Recent developments

A new information technology wing was recently completed.

A hall has been situated at the rear of the faculty car park.

A new computer technology and performing arts area has also been built.

A new Multi-purpose Centre has been built up near the basketball courts (La Valla Centre)

Music Centre has been refurbished and including addition of a new classroom

Campus

The school is located on the corner of Kirby Street and Kissing Point Road in Dundas, a suburb of Sydney. Its main entrance is located on Kirby Street. The college is centred on the Harrington Courtyard, named in honour of the original locale of the school in The Rocks. There are three main ovals and two basketball/netball courts located to the North of the information/technology wing. The school also contains a covered Senior Yard area, where students from Years 11 and 12 sit at break periods. A Multi-Purpose Centre has recently been completed in 2009, after two years of anticipation since its announced release in 2007.

Extracurricular and special programs

The school is involved in a number of co-curricular activities. These include:

Students

There are approximately 940 students enrolled at St Patrick's Marist College. Upon enrolment at the College, students are divided amongst six homeroom groups: Chavoin (Jeanne Marie Chavoin), Edwin (Brother Edwin Farrell), Ludovic (St Ludovic), Mackillop (Mary MacKillop), Paul (St Paul) and Xavier (Francis Xavier) - each named after a significant Marist individual.

The Student Representative Council (SRC)

Students have the option of involvement in the Student Representative Council (SRC), from class captains in all years to the college captain in Year 12. St Patrick's has a prefect body elected from the Year 11 students by students and teachers to promote student welfare and organise popular social and sporting events, with some of the most significant of these being the organisation of the Valentine's Day rose distribution and The St Vincent De Paul Christmas hamper appeal. House captains are selected by their Year 11 peers and are responsible for the six house groups' involvement in the College's swimming and athletics carnivals.

Community and parental involvement

Several avenues exist for parents to be involved in the College. These include: