Our History

In early 1854, Rev. Father Patrick Dunne, the Parish Priest of Geelong, applied to the Government for a land grant. His application was acknowledged and two acres of land, between Noble Street and Queens Road, were granted as a Roman Catholic Church Reserve.

On 1st April, 1854, St. Augustine's Catholic Church and schoolhouse was opened by Father Dunne. The first temporary building was of corrugated iron, imported from England. Mr. James McKeegan was appointed the first teacher and the following year, Miss Mary Acton was employed as an assistant.

Mr. Daniel O'Driscol was appointed teacher at St Augustine's school on the 1st October, 1856. Miss Acton continued as Assistant during these years.

St. Augustine's Orphange was built opposite St. Augustine's school in August 1857. It was situated on the present site of St. Joseph's College. The original bluestone Orphanage building is now known as the Br. Tom Howe Creative Arts Building.

When the Orphange was first opened, Daniel O'Driscol was appointed manager, although he also continued to teach at St. Augustine's school. The tin schoolhouse was replaced with a more permanent sandstone building in December, 1857. The new St. Augustine's Church and schoolhouse was of Gothic design and was built close to the site of the original tin shed. Both were orientated towards Noble Street and stood on the present site of Noble Street Oval.

With the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy in 1859, the orphan girls were moved to the new Convent. The boys remained at St. Augustine's Orphanage.

From 1862, St. Augustine's school was no longer required as a Church due to declining church numbers. The school was eventually closed on 10th June, 1876 and the land became part of St. Augustine's Orphanage. The sandstone walls of the schoolhouse eventually crumbled with age and its remains were finally demolished in 1900.

St. Augustine's Orphanage continued to be managed by Daniel O'Driscol until his death in 1878. Three Christian Brothers arrived at the request of Archdeacon Slattery, to continue caring for the orphans. In 1890, St. Joseph's College was blessed and opened. However, the newly established College and the Orphanage continued to share the same site until the Orphanage was eventually relocated to Highton in 1935. The present St. Joseph's College was officially opened and blessed by Archbishop Mannix on Sunday, February 3, 1935.

St. Joseph's College remains a Christian Brothers' School. The congregation of Christian Brothers was founded in 1802 by Edmund Rice of Waterford, Ireland. In 1820 the Congregation of Christian Brothers gained Papal approval and in 1869, Brother Patrick Ambrose Treacy established a community and school in Melbourne. Since then the Christian Brothers have extended their work throughout Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, India, Tanzania, and the Pacific Islands.