St Patrick's College, Campbelltown

Saint Patrick's College is an Australian independent Roman Catholic single-sex secondary day school for girls located in Campbelltown in south-western Sydney, New South Wales. Established in 1840, it was the first school built by private enterprises in New South Wales and provides a religious and comprehensive education for approximately 850 students from Year 7 to Year 12, in the traditions of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.

St Patrick's College was established in 1840.^[2] It was the first school built by private enterprise in the colony of New South Wales^[3] and was the result of the initiative of the Catholic people of the Campbelltown area in association with the priest responsible for the district, Fr Gould.^[4]

This original school was built on three acres of land donated by Mary Sheil, wife of Dennis Sheil and daughter of local pioneer, William Bradbury and named St Patrick's.^[4] The original building still stands today and is now known as ‘Quandong’, which houses the Campbelltown Historic Exhibition, Tourist Information Centre and the St Patrick's museum.^[5]

Teachers from the general community staffed the college^[6] until 1887 when the Sisters of the Good Samaritan assumed responsibility for the school.^[2] In 1888, after the completion of the new St John's church in Cordeaux Street, a convent and school was established at the 'old’ St John's ‘on the hill’ building and took its name from the original St Patrick's at ‘Quandong’.^[7][5]

The final change in location came in 1970 when St Patrick's moved from ‘old’ St John's to its present location.^[8] This site was originally a Preparatory School for Boys named St John's or "Westview" and was also conducted by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, a Catholic order.^[9] It is considered a 'congregational school' as it is an independent Catholic, operated by the order.^[10][11] As of 2024 the school reports to have an enrolment of 720 students.^[12]

In a 2023 report by the Sydney Morning Herald the school argued girls had a better academic performance because the school is single sex.^[13] While sport remains single sex, some student activities are co-ed. The school's annual activities have included:^{[14][15][16][17]}

• Musical, Combined between Saint Patricks College and St Gregorys College
• PACMAN – Performing Arts Challenge
• Saint Patricks Day Cross Country
• Saint Patrick’s Day
• Saint Benedict’s Day
• Mass
• Year 12 Formal

Yearly co-curricular activities: aerobics, circuit, pump, spin and body combat fitness classes, indoor rock climbing, yoga, dance, ten-pin bowling, tennis, competitive aerobics, martial arts and gymnastics.^[18] The school supports public speaking competitions.^[19] It is also a compulsory part of activities that all Year 10 students participate in a self-defence course.

Many activities at the school emanate from the social justice teaching of the Vatican, including that of Pope Francis:^{[20][21][22][23][24]}

• Environmental Council
• St Vincent de Paul
• Ministry Outreach
• Goodooga Immersion

The students compete with many other schools in the region, largely through the Woolongong Diocesan Sports Council, including:^[25]

• Swimming Carnival
• Cross Country
• Macarthur Independent Schools Association Sport MISA
• Athletics Carnival

There are four houses, each named after a significant female figures to Australia:^[26]

• St Gregory's College, Campbelltown
• John Therry Catholic High
• Mount Carmel Catholic College
• Magdalene Catholic High

The College is a sister school to other Good Samaritan schools in Australia and overseas^[27] – St Marys Star of the Sea College (Wollongong NSW), Mater Dei School (Camden, NSW), Mount St. Benedict College (Pennant Hills NSW), Stella Maris College (Manly NSW), Rosebank College (Five Dock NSW), St. Scholasticas College (Glebe NSW), Mater Christi College (Belgrave VIC), Santa Maria College (Northcote VIC), Lourdes Hill College (Hawthorne QLD), Seiwa Junior and Senior High School (Sasebo Japan), and Kinder School (Bacolod, Philippines).

• Tanya Dendrinos – BBC journalist^[28]
• Anne McCue – musician
• Deborah O'Neill – Senator
• Margot Vella – dual code rugby footballer

1. ^ "Saint Patricks College". School Locator. NSW Public Schools. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
2. ^ ^{a b} "St Patrick's College for Girls celebrates 180th anniversary year | The Sisters of The Good Samaritan". www.goodsams.org.au. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
3. ^ "CAMPBELLTOWN PAST AND PRESENT". Freeman's Journal. 23 October 1897. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
4. ^ ^{a b} Wollongong, Catholic Diocese of. "200 years of St John's Catholic Parish Campbelltown". Catholic Diocese of Wollongong. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
5. ^ ^{a b} Service, NSW Department of Customer (23 February 2023). "Quondong Cottage | NSW Government". www.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
6. ^ "Advertising - Australasian Chronicle (Sydney, NSW : 1839 - 1843) - 24 Dec 1840". Trove. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
7. ^ Wollongong, Catholic Diocese of. "200 years of St John's Catholic Parish Campbelltown". Catholic Diocese of Wollongong. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
8. ^ "The History Buff". campbelltown-library.blogspot.com. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
9. ^ "CAPA Building Turns 100 - History Club Commemorate Volume 34 issue 18 - 18 November 2022 | St Patrick's College Newsletter". www.stpatrickscollegenews.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
10. ^ "About Secondary Sport". Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
11. ^ Wollongong, Catholic Diocese of. "Catholic schools". Catholic Diocese of Wollongong. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
12. ^ "History & Tradition - St Patrick's College for Girls Campbelltown". www.saintpatricks.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
13. ^ Harris, Christopher (7 September 2023). "Single-sex schools have the academic advantage, NAPLAN data reveals". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
14. ^ "Diocesan Cross Country Championships Volume 35 Issue 07 - 1 June 2023 | St Patrick's College Newsletter". www.stpatrickscollegenews.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
15. ^ "Musicals". www.stgregs.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
16. ^ Lewis, Annie (12 September 2023). "Flashback gallery: St Patrick's College, Campbelltown 2012 formal photos". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney).
17. ^ "College Band". www.stgregs.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
18. ^ "Volume 35 Issue 12 - 31 August 2023 - St Patrick's College Newsletter". www.stpatrickscollegenews.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
19. ^ "'Fearless and powerful' students take home first place at South Coast Public Speaking Competition". Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
20. ^ "Volume 35 Issue 14 - 19 October 2023 - St Patrick's College Newsletter". www.stpatrickscollegenews.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
21. ^ "On Holy Ground" (PDF). Catholic Earth Care.
22. ^ "Knitting Group Presentation to St Vincent de Paul Society Volume 34 issue 10 - 1 July 2022 | St Patrick's College Newsletter". www.stpatrickscollegenews.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
23. ^ "On Holy Ground" (PDF). Catholic Earth Care.
24. ^ "Students walk in the shoes of others | The Sisters of The Good Samaritan". www.goodsams.org.au. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
25. ^ "About Secondary Sport". Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
26. ^ "House System - St Patrick's College for Girls Campbelltown". www.saintpatricks.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
27. ^ "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow | Good Samaritan Education". goodsameducation.org.au. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
28. ^ "Mentoring girls for future focused learning". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2024.

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