St Patrick's College was established in 1840.[2] It was the first school built by private enterprise in the colony of New South Wales[3] and was the result of the initiative of the Catholic people of the Campbelltown area in association with the priest responsible for the district, Fr Gould.[4]
This original school was built on three acres of land donated by Mary Sheil, wife of Dennis Sheil and daughter of local pioneer, William Bradbury and named St Patrick's.[4] The original building still stands today and is now known as ‘Quandong’, which houses the Campbelltown Historic Exhibition, Tourist Information Centre and the St Patrick's museum.[5]
Teachers from the general community staffed the college[6] until 1887 when the Sisters of the Good Samaritan assumed responsibility for the school.[2] In 1888, after the completion of the new St John's church in Cordeaux Street, a convent and school was established at the 'old’ St John's ‘on the hill’ building and took its name from the original St Patrick's at ‘Quandong’.[7][5]
The final change in location came in 1970 when St Patrick's moved from ‘old’ St John's to its present location.[8] This site was originally a Preparatory School for Boys named St John's or "Westview" and was also conducted by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, a Catholic order.[9] It is considered a 'congregational school' as it is an independent Catholic, operated by the order.[10][11] As of 2024 the school reports to have an enrolment of 720 students.[12]
Student life
In a 2023 report by the Sydney Morning Herald the school argued girls had a better academic performance because the school is single sex.[13] While sport remains single sex, some student activities are co-ed. The school's annual activities have included:[14][15][16][17]
Musical, Combined between Saint Patricks College and St Gregorys College
PACMAN – Performing Arts Challenge
Saint Patricks Day Cross Country
Saint Patrick’s Day
Saint Benedict’s Day
Mass
Year 12 Formal
Co-curricular
Yearly co-curricular activities: aerobics, circuit, pump, spin and body combat fitness classes, indoor rock climbing, yoga, dance, ten-pin bowling, tennis, competitive aerobics, martial arts and gymnastics.[18] The school supports public speaking competitions.[19] It is also a compulsory part of activities that all Year 10 students participate in a self-defence course.
Social justice
Many activities at the school emanate from the social justice teaching of the Vatican, including that of Pope Francis:[20][21][22][23]
Environmental Council
St Vincent de Paul
Ministry Outreach
Goodooga Immersion
Sport
The students compete with many other schools in the region, largely through the Woolongong Diocesan Sports Council, including:[24]
Swimming Carnival
Cross Country
Macarthur Independent Schools Association Sport MISA
Athletics Carnival
House system
There are four houses, each named after a significant female figures to Australia:[25]
House
Colour
Name origin
Chisholm
Yellow
Named after Caroline Chisholm, known for her involvement with female immigrant welfare in Australia.
Gilmore
Red
Red House, Named after Dame Mary Gilmore, known for being an Australian socialist poet and journalist.
Kenny
Green
Named after Elizabeth Kenny, known for being a unaccredited nurse who promoted a controversial new approach to the treatment of poliomyelitis.
Lyons
Blue
Named after Dame Enid Lyons, known for being the first women to be elected to the Australian House of Representatives and being the first women appointed to the federal Cabinet.
The College is a sister school to other Good Samaritan schools in Australia and overseas[26] – St Marys Star of the Sea College (Wollongong NSW), Mater Dei School (Camden, NSW), Mount St. Benedict College (Pennant Hills NSW), Stella Maris College (Manly NSW), Rosebank College (Five Dock NSW), St. Scholasticas College (Glebe NSW), Mater Christi College (Belgrave VIC), Santa Maria College (Northcote VIC), Lourdes Hill College (Hawthorne QLD), Seiwa Junior and Senior High School (Sasebo Japan), and Kinder School (Bacolod, Philippines).
