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The school was established by Mary and Michel Burke. In 1845 the population was 1/4 Roman Catholic.
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St Stephens was built not far from the first catholic school built in 1845.
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After being built 10 years later it was proclaimed cathedral of the diocese.
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In 1861 Bishop James Quinn, 5 priests and 6 Irish Sisters of Mercy made their way to Brisbane aboard the Yara Yara. Brisbane (which was mostly Irish population at the time) was very poor. The Sisters of Mercy built the first Catholic Secondary School.
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St James College, Spring Hill was staffed entirely by Lay teachers.
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Laws were passed to have free and compulsory education. By the end of the decade there were 35 Catholic schools. Mary Mackillop and the St Joseph Sisters arrived and began teaching the people. The Irish, Catholic and English broke apart and decided to keep church and state separated. Through out the 1870's women were allowed to vote.
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In 1919 Father Dunn died and Father James Dunik invested in land and through out the time established 28 new schools.
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Another 26 Schools were opened. Teachers went on strike and 1000 children descending on the local state school.
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In 1943 Father Burned Oshea was appointed Diocese of Inspection and in 1948 he was renamed as Diocese of Catholic Education.
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The schools were struggling with a lack of teachers, growing class sizes and economic. Surprisingly no schools were closed in fact 19 new schools were opened during the hard times.
