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In 1820, The first official Catholic priests, Fathers Therry and Conolly, marking the start of consistent Catholic worship and educational efforts in the country. Until 1872, colonial governments funded any religious group that wished to operate schools. Fathers Therry and Conolly launched an early Catholic education network, which began modestly with untrained lay staff. -
The foundation for St Mary's cathedral was laid in 1821 -
By 1833, there were 10 different catholic schools. These were : -
Catholic education first started in SA in November 1844 -
In 1845, Catholic education reached Brisbane, a thriving town at the time. Father James Hanly, the town's first Parish Priest, appointed Mary and Michael Bourke, both lay teachers, to run the state's very first Catholic school. This pioneering institution was established on what is now the location of the Myer Centre in Brisbane's central business district, serving 56 students. -
In 1848, Austrian Jesuits Fathers Kranewitter and Klinkowstroem established an abbey diocese at Sevenhill, close to Clare Valley. Along with planting the valley’s first vineyards, they founded the first Catholic boys' school in South Australia. This institution also served as a seminary for both diocesan and Jesuit priests. -
In 1852, Archbishop Polding established Lyndhurst College in Glebe, Sydney, as part of his vision for a Benedictine-inspired church. The college was a prestigious and costly secondary school offering a classical curriculum. It closed its doors in 1877. Looking ahead, the most significant outcome of Benedictine education was the creation of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. They began their teaching mission in 1861 and are still active today. -
St Mary’s Cathedral, Australia's largest, was rebuilt after a fire in 1865 destroyed the original. This English Gothic Revival structure, crafted from honey-colored Sydney sandstone, serves as the Mother Church for Australian Catholics. Architect William Wardell, commissioned by Archbishop John Polding, was given free rein to design the new cathedral. In a letter dated October 10, 1865, Polding wrote: “Any plan, any style, anything beautiful and grand. I leave it to you and your inspiration.” -
The Cathedral was burnt in 1865 due to two a poorly extinguished cigarette or an electrical short-circuit. -
In 1866 there was a Jesuit school and 20 other parish schools. -
Parramatta Marist was founded by Father John Therry in 1820 on Hunter Street, Parramatta, with Mr. George Morley as its initial director. In 1837, the school relocated to the site of the current Cathedral and was taken over by the Marist Brothers in 1875. This enduring connection to the Parramatta Catholic community makes it the oldest Catholic school in Australia. Initially managing 32 students, the Brothers saw enrollment grow to over 100 within a year. -
Catholic Education is celebrating 200 years in Australia, marking the bicentenary of the first Catholic school established in Parramatta in October 1820.