Established in 1840, St Patrick’s School was founded by Irish-Catholic residents of Campbelltown. It was the first school built by private enterprise in New South Wales. Initially a coeducational primary school, St Patrick's was run by community teachers for 48 years.
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. The original building, "Quandong", still stands and now houses the Campbelltown Historic Exhibition, Tourist Information Centre and the St Patrick’s museum.
The Sisters of the Good Samaritan took over the management of St Patrick's Convent/College in 1888 and moved it to a new site, "Old St John's on the Hill". In this year, St Patrick's became an all-girls' school and the Sisters educated young boys, aged 5-12, at a separate boarding school, "Westview".
The Sisters of the Good Samaritan, founded in Sydney in 1857, were formed to care for vulnerable women and children. Their commitment to the education of young people – girls, in particular – has shaped the spirit of St Patrick's College, which is focused on nurturing academic achievement, fostering strong values and empowering students to become compassionate, capable individuals who contribute meaningfully to society.
St Patrick's College arrived on our current site at 4 St John's Road for the beginning of the 1970 school year. Since then, the College has made significant upgrades and improvements to the campus to ensure young women access the very best educational resources and spaces available.
St Patrick's College has a proud tradition of supporting young women to embrace their potential. Founded on the principle of service to others, the College has been transformative in the lives of generations of students. Today, we celebrate our rich history and traditions as we inspire each new cohort to carry forward a legacy of strength, resilience and purpose.
