Brief History of the College
Founded in 1872 St Patricks Marist College St Patrick's Marist has a proud history reaching right back to the colonial era of Australia. In fact, the original location of the school is close to the birthplace of our nation. Arriving in Sydney on 26th 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 Phillip's Anglican School. On 8th 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. From these beginnings, the Marist Brothers contributed to and established a presence in many other areas of Australia whilst maintaining a school for boys at St Patrick's, Harrington Street. Over the years, St Patrick's, Church Hill served as a Primary School, High School, Intermediate School, Business College and Evening College. 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 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 Old Boys heritage and tradition were preserved at Dundas by retaining the original School Crest. This carries the symbols of Marian devotion in the intertwined initials "A" "M", representing Ave Maria and is the centrepiece of the Marist Brothers' "Coat of Arms". The Southern Cross places the College in the Australian context and the motto Esto Fidelis, "Be Faithful", upholds the virtue of faithfulness in all aspects of life. Just as the first St Patrick's pioneered and was the prototype of Catholic secondary schools for boys, the Marist Brothers' vision for the Dundas site was initially to establish a junior school from Years 4 to 6 which was to progressively become a secondary school. When completed, it was to incorporate the most modern equipment and function as a demonstration and training school for the novice teachers from the nearby Marist Scholasticate.
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 boys in Years 7-10 was officially opened on 2nd October, 1966. The primary school continued at Dundas until 1985 when the last Year 6 class completed their schooling.
New Building 1985 marked another historic year for St Patrick's Marist when not only were its first Year 11 students enrolled, but co-education 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. These students are the latest to have contributed to the history of the College, "a grand old school" in the Marist tradition and will, like so many before them, strive always to remember their motto, "Esto Fidelis". Many changes have taken place since 1872 but the College has valued and preserved the Marist traditions and heritage, which are still associated with the name St Patrick's.
1999 was one of the most remarkable years in the history of the College as Marist communities across the world joined together to celebrate the canonisation of Marcellin Champagnat in Rome on April 18th. The canonisation of Marcellin Champagnat is both an affirmation by the Church of our Marist way and a challenge for us to continue to develop it in the life of our College.
The extraordinary influence of this young French priest and founder of Marist Education is just as evident today as it was in 1817. At the beginning of this new millennium, the courage, spirit, dedication and integrity of Saint Marcellin Champagnat continues to inspire and shape the dynamic growth of St Patrick's Marist College.