Key moments in history

From humble beginnings to significant milestones, uncover the fascinating chapters of our vibrant history.

St Patrick’s College opens on Tuesday, 24 January, welcoming 15 boarding students and nine day students.

1893

1893

St Patrick’s College opens on Tuesday, 24 January, welcoming 15 boarding students and nine day students.

1899

The Old Collegians Association is formed.

1899

The Old Collegians Association is formed.

Heinze Theatre is built as a hall and gymnasium in honour of Australian musician and conductor, Sir Bernard Heinze

1899

1899

Heinze Theatre is built as a hall and gymnasium in honour of Australian musician and conductor, Sir Bernard Heinze

1903

Rowing is introduced and the first boathouse built near the south-eastern corner of Lake Wendouree.

1903

Rowing is introduced and the first boathouse built near the south-eastern corner of Lake Wendouree.

The College purchases recreational ovals known as the Holy Ghost Paddock to the west, now Hill Oval and Jo Walter Field.

1903-1905

1903-1905

The College purchases recreational ovals known as the Holy Ghost Paddock to the west, now Hill Oval and Jo Walter Field.

1911

St Patrick’s joins the Australian Catholic Colleges Athletics Carnival. The Ballarat Public Schools Association is also formed.

1911

St Patrick’s joins the Australian Catholic Colleges Athletics Carnival. The Ballarat Public Schools Association is also formed.

The College wins the first Head of the Lake rowing event.

1914

1914

The College wins the first Head of the Lake rowing event.

1914-1919

About 300 Old Collegians volunteer for service in World War I, with about 40 killed.

1914-1919

About 300 Old Collegians volunteer for service in World War I, with about 40 killed.

SPC adopts a new College crest with the motto Facere et Docere, To Do and To Teach.

1920

1920

SPC adopts a new College crest with the motto Facere et Docere, To Do and To Teach.

1933

A new Brothers’ residence, administration and kitchen, named after founding member of the Christian Brothers, Br. J.S. Kennedy, opens.

1933

A new Brothers’ residence, administration and kitchen, named after founding member of the Christian Brothers, Br. J.S. Kennedy, opens.

A new dormitory wing named Purton, in honour of the former Principal, opens to cater to the growing number of boarders.

1939

1939

A new dormitory wing named Purton, in honour of the former Principal, opens to cater to the growing number of boarders.

1939-1945

About 550 Old Collegians go to war, with almost 40 killed in action.

1939-1945

About 550 Old Collegians go to war, with almost 40 killed in action.

The Purton Oratory Award commences, in honour of Br D.G. Purton. The first student to win the award is J. Feery.

1940

1940

The Purton Oratory Award commences, in honour of Br D.G. Purton. The first student to win the award is J. Feery.

1952

The First XVIII Football team wins the premiership with a match score of 48 goals and 28 behinds. John James kicks 83 goals for the season.

1952

The First XVIII Football team wins the premiership with a match score of 48 goals and 28 behinds. John James kicks 83 goals for the season.

The War Memorial Chapel is built in honour of former students who served in the first and second World Wars.

1953

1953

The War Memorial Chapel is built in honour of former students who served in the first and second World Wars.

1957

Brian Gleeson (SPC 1947-1952) wins the Victorian Football League (VFL) Brownlow Medal.

1957

Brian Gleeson (SPC 1947-1952) wins the Victorian Football League (VFL) Brownlow Medal.

John James (SPC 1948-1952) becomes the second Old Collegian to win the VFL Brownlow Medal.

1961

1961

John James (SPC 1948-1952) becomes the second Old Collegian to win the VFL Brownlow Medal.

1964

Hill Oval mullock heaps and trees are removed for the New Science Block.

1964

Hill Oval mullock heaps and trees are removed for the New Science Block.

The W T O’Malley Science wing is completed with the first grant of $40,000 made by the Government.

1966

1966

The W T O’Malley Science wing is completed with the first grant of $40,000 made by the Government.

1967

Fire, suspected of being deliberately lit, destroys the College boat shed.

1967

Fire, suspected of being deliberately lit, destroys the College boat shed.

St Patrick’s College students F.M. Tierney, P.A. Short, J.L. Cleary, R.W. Allan, and L.E. Borelli form an Aboriginal Advancement Group to sponsor the education of Aboriginal students.

1967

1967

St Patrick’s College students F.M. Tierney, P.A. Short, J.L. Cleary, R.W. Allan, and L.E. Borelli form an Aboriginal Advancement Group to sponsor the education of Aboriginal students.

1969

Matriculation is replaced by the High School Certificate.

1969

Matriculation is replaced by the High School Certificate.

The new boathouse is opened on 13 April to remember WWI and WWII Old Collegians.

1969

1969

The new boathouse is opened on 13 April to remember WWI and WWII Old Collegians.

1970

A ‘Student Council’ system is introduced, replacing the ‘Prefect’ system established in 1931.

1970

A ‘Student Council’ system is introduced, replacing the ‘Prefect’ system established in 1931.

Sir Bernard Heinze (SPC 1905-1912) is named Australian of the Year for his services to music. Heinze went on to become the first Australian to receive UNESCO’s International Music Council Award in 1979.

1973

1973

Sir Bernard Heinze (SPC 1905-1912) is named Australian of the Year for his services to music. Heinze went on to become the first Australian to receive UNESCO’s International Music Council Award in 1979.

1974

The College buys Matrons House and Infirmary, referred to as (old) Kenny House and later Wanliss House.

1974

The College buys Matrons House and Infirmary, referred to as (old) Kenny House and later Wanliss House.

The new Kelty Resource Centre, Library and Staff Room open.

1975

1975

The new Kelty Resource Centre, Library and Staff Room open.

1976

Br W M O’Malley dies. He is posthumously awarded the British Empire Medal for services to education and sport.

1976

Br W M O’Malley dies. He is posthumously awarded the British Empire Medal for services to education and sport.

The new gymnasium, the O’Malley Sports Centre, opens in honour of Br O’Malley.

1981

1981

The new gymnasium, the O’Malley Sports Centre, opens in honour of Br O’Malley.

1983

The Technology/Arts building (now known as the Trade Wing) is completed.

1983

The Technology/Arts building (now known as the Trade Wing) is completed.

Loreto College and St Patrick’s College perform their first combined musical, H.M.S Pinafore.

1983

1983

Loreto College and St Patrick’s College perform their first combined musical, H.M.S Pinafore.

1984

The new Administration wing is built through the bequest of Dr Donald Spring (SPC 1923-1930), whose father worked at SPC as a medical officer.

1984

The new Administration wing is built through the bequest of Dr Donald Spring (SPC 1923-1930), whose father worked at SPC as a medical officer.

The first College Board is established.

1988

1988

The first College Board is established.

1990

After 29 years, St Patrick’s College wins the Head of the Lake title. The ‘drought-breakers’ were Anthony Edwards (stroke), Daniel Hayter, Aaron McInerney, Robert Calnon, and Daniel Morgan (cox). The winning boat, ‘The Old Collegians’, now hangs in the corridor south of reception.

1990

After 29 years, St Patrick’s College wins the Head of the Lake title. The ‘drought-breakers’ were Anthony Edwards (stroke), Daniel Hayter, Aaron McInerney, Robert Calnon, and Daniel Morgan (cox). The winning boat, ‘The Old Collegians’, now hangs in the corridor south of reception.

The College Foundation Committee is established.

1990

1990

The College Foundation Committee is established.

1992

The HSC is abolished and replaced by the Victorian Curriculum Examination, VCE.

1992

The HSC is abolished and replaced by the Victorian Curriculum Examination, VCE.

SPC plays a prominent part in the Olympic Torch celebrations. Anthony Edwards (SPC 1985-1990) rows across Lake Wendouree from the Olympic Rings to the SPC Boathouse and passes the Olympic Torch to Steve Moneghetti (SPC 1975-1980).

2000

2000

SPC plays a prominent part in the Olympic Torch celebrations. Anthony Edwards (SPC 1985-1990) rows across Lake Wendouree from the Olympic Rings to the SPC Boathouse and passes the Olympic Torch to Steve Moneghetti (SPC 1975-1980).

2002

Dr Peter Casey, the first lay Headmaster at St Patrick’s College, is appointed.

2002

Dr Peter Casey, the first lay Headmaster at St Patrick’s College, is appointed.

The Br. W. J. Wilding Wing opens.

2004

2004

The Br. W. J. Wilding Wing opens.

2004

The Old Collegians Association Pavilion is opened.

2004

The Old Collegians Association Pavilion is opened.

The Chris Nolan Awards are established to acknowledge the academic excellence of students.

2008

2008

The Chris Nolan Awards are established to acknowledge the academic excellence of students.

2008

The inaugural Art Exhibition, to be later known as the Flanagan Art Exhibition, is held.

2008

The inaugural Art Exhibition, to be later known as the Flanagan Art Exhibition, is held.

Jo Walter Field, consisting of six tennis courts and a hockey and soccer pitch, is completed.

2012

2012

Jo Walter Field, consisting of six tennis courts and a hockey and soccer pitch, is completed.

2013

St Patrick’s College celebrates its 120th anniversary and farewells the resident Christian Brothers, acknowledging their tremendous contribution to education.

2013

St Patrick’s College celebrates its 120th anniversary and farewells the resident Christian Brothers, acknowledging their tremendous contribution to education.

The first recipient of the College Facere et Docere award is presented to Michael Brady (SPC 1956-1962, SPC Staff 1978-2013).

2013

2013

The first recipient of the College Facere et Docere award is presented to Michael Brady (SPC 1956-1962, SPC Staff 1978-2013).

2014

The Treacy Wing opens in honour of Br P.A. Treacy, who led the Christian Brothers to Australia in 1868.

2014

The Treacy Wing opens in honour of Br P.A. Treacy, who led the Christian Brothers to Australia in 1868.

The 1st XVIII football team makes history, winning its sixth consecutive Herald Sun Shield premiership.

2015

2015

The 1st XVIII football team makes history, winning its sixth consecutive Herald Sun Shield premiership.

2016

Construction of the new Whelan Food Technology Centre begins.

2016

Construction of the new Whelan Food Technology Centre begins.

A reflective garden is opened as a formal apology to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.

2017

2017

A reflective garden is opened as a formal apology to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.

2018

The new Boarding House opens, providing state-of-the-art accommodation for 80 students.

2018

The new Boarding House opens, providing state-of-the-art accommodation for 80 students.

A dedicated study space for Year 12 students, the Year 12 Study Centre, opens.

2019

2019

A dedicated study space for Year 12 students, the Year 12 Study Centre, opens.

2020

Wanliss House is demolished to make way for the new Performing Arts Centre.

2020

Wanliss House is demolished to make way for the new Performing Arts Centre.

The first case of Coronavirus is confirmed in Australia, forcing the College to move to remote learning.

2020

2020

The first case of Coronavirus is confirmed in Australia, forcing the College to move to remote learning.

2021

The College buys Lleyton House at 1435 Sturt Street, marking St Patrick’s ownership of the entire block.

2021

The College buys Lleyton House at 1435 Sturt Street, marking St Patrick’s ownership of the entire block.

The College rejoins the Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC) renowned sport and co-curricular program, initially competing in swimming, athletics, music and arts competitions.

2022

2022

The College rejoins the Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC) renowned sport and co-curricular program, initially competing in swimming, athletics, music and arts competitions.

2023

Official opening of the Clontarf Academy, which supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

2023

Official opening of the Clontarf Academy, which supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

The College opens its new $20 million Performing Arts Centre after years of planning and construction, providing students with industry-level learning and performance facilities.

2024

2024

The College opens its new $20 million Performing Arts Centre after years of planning and construction, providing students with industry-level learning and performance facilities.

Publications

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News

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$10,000 Flanagan Art Prize (acquisitive)
$5,000 Panel Prize (non-acquisitive)
$1,000 People’s Choice Award (non-acquisitive)

Plus $2,000 worth of prizes for secondary school students.