-
1845
Lay couple Mary and Michael burke began the story establishing the first catholic school funded entirely by money collected from local catholic settlers. -
1850
5 years later the settlement had its first stabilised church.
ST Stevens was proclaimed the Cathedral of the Diocese. -
1861
Bishop James Quinn, five priests and six Irish sisters of mercy arrived at the Yarra era in Brisbane.
Mr Quinn was shocked about the poverty of the large Irish population and dedicated himself to raising the economics and education as well as social status. -
1868
St James catholic collage school for boys was established and staffed entirely by lay teachers. its was a unique, modern model. With religious and lay teachers training before and after school to become teachers for collage. It would almost be 100 years when dedicated teachers would strive to become collage teachers -
1870
The 1870s was a time of growth on the back of the divide between the Irish catholic and the English Protestants came a push to keep church and the state separate laws were passed to provide free compulsory and secular education to children and to remove state funding for all religious schools despite the political climate by the end of the decade there were 35 Catholic schools made and were stabilised and fully funded by their communities. -
1875
Five years later in 1875, the school duties district boards will be
1. Allowed to direct with the sanction of the Minister what use shall be made of primary school buildings at times not set apart for secular instruction.
2. To report on the condition of the school premises books and furniture and whether any and what new school books, furniture and appliances are required.
The state also didn't fund religious schools. -
1887
The turn of the century saw much transformation, the newly formed federation of the Australian states, the new archdiocese of Brisbane, a new archbishop Robert Done along with technological and social advancements like electricity and Australian women now able to vote at the senate. -
1919
After archbishop Dunn's death, archbishop James Chui a visionary with an entrepreneurial spirit could see the growing need for catholic schooling. He invested in large tracks of land around Brisbane. -
1929
In 1919 during the great depression and world war 2 catholic schools were suffering deeply with the lack of teachers while the number of students expanded. It was difficult for schools to buy everything that they needed but they got through the tough times and happily no schools were closed in fact 19 schools were opened. Inspired by Mary Mackillop “never see a need without doing anything about it.” -
1930
in 1930 archbishop James Chui had established 28 catholic schools, fully funded and running. -
1943
In 1943 Father Bernard O'shea was appointed as diocesan inspector. The role was renamed in 1948 as diocesan of catholic education he would become instrumental in leading us through the transformation of catholic education in Brisbane. -
1945
In 1945 during the great depression and the end of world war 2. Everyone in poverty. Catholic schools were suffering harshly with a lack of teachers and classes expanding. It was difficult to buy all the equipment for students. Catholic education kept on going through these tough times. Surprisingly no schools were closed in fact n19 new catholic schools were opened. Inspired by St Mary Mackillop's message; never see a need without doing something about it. -
1960
The 1960's was a decade of strain for catholic education. Lay teachers were battling with stifling conditions, and were only trained for two years before teaching in the classrooms. -
1962
In 1962 health inspectors demanded three new toilets in the Lady Of Mercy prep school. John Cullinane bishop Goldman's stated that they couldn't fund three new toilets. He decided to hold a catholic parent meeting, the parents decided to strike with the new toilets. which leaded to one thousand students descending on the local state school for enrolment . After a year the government decided to provide grants for every single catholic schools. -
1973
In 1973 Macaulay college would be opened for students and lay teachers. As catholic schools relied more on leadership and staff. The council saw new education approaches for catholic education. By the end of the decade schools would've finished with 43 thousand students enrolled and 113 schools across the archdiocese.
