College History
St Margaret Mary’s College celebrates a rich history and a long track record of successes. Below are some of the key milestones that have helped shape our campus landscape and College identity since 1962.
The Good Samaritan Sisters of the Order of St Benedict provided a rich foundation for the College, which continues to nurture its students, staff and community today. They were dedicated to education as well as caring for women facing poverty and homelessness. The Good Samaritan Sisters' arrival in Townsville was at the invitation of Bishop Joseph Higgins who in 1899 wrote to Mother Mary Berchman McLaughlin asking the sisters to open schools in Queensland. In 1900 they started their first school, St Mary's in Charters Towers and then 35 years later they took up residence to serve St Margaret Mary's Primary School in Hyde Park. Over time, plans were drawn up to build a new school and in 1963 St Margaret Mary's College was opened.
1962
Construction of St Margaret Mary’s College commenced at the site of the existing St Margaret Mary’s Primary School. The project expanded the existing campus from a primary school to a primary school plus a girls-only secondary college.
1963
On 22 February, St Margaret Mary’s College was opened by Bishop Ryan to cater for the growing Catholic population of Hermit Park and Mundingburra. St Margaret Mary’s College opened with four classrooms, an office, staffroom, tuckshop, cloakroom and a modern science laboratory. Although the school could accommodate 200 students, there were only 50 enrolled in the first year. The establishment of the college was, in large part, due to the efforts of Monsignor Vince Vandeleur, parish priest of St Margaret Mary’s Parish. Sr Mary Ronayne (formerly known as Sr Mary de Lourdes) was appointed the first principal of St Margaret Mary's College.
1964
Sr Leonie D’Arcy (formerly known as Sr Brigid) was welcomed as principal of St Margaret Mary’s College.
1965
With an enrolment of 200 students, four new classrooms were added to the college and a covered pathway was constructed. The school had grown to include two Year 8 and two Year 9 classes, and taught classes through to sub-senior. New enrolments exceeded 100 students.
1966
A Home Economics room was built. The first class of students to attend St Margaret Mary’s College in 1962 completed their senior year and graduated.
1967
Three more classrooms were constructed, together with a new staffroom, a library and a second domestic science room. The new building was blessed by Bishop Leonard Faulkner on 19 March.
1969
On 19 September, a new science block comprising two laboratories and a preparation room was blessed by Bishop Faulkner and opened by the Federal Minister for Science and Education, Malcolm Fraser. The new Good Samaritan Sisters convent opened in Crowle Street.
1971
On Friday, 28 May, the college’s new library was opened and blessed by Bishop Pio Taofinu’u of Apia in Samoa. Beneath the library was an open covered way, but by the following year that open area had been turned into two classrooms, an office for the principal, and a discussion room. The former library became the staff room. Cyclone Althea struck Townsville on Christmas Eve, and caused significant damage to the college. Many parents and volunteers helped over the holidays clean up the damage so the college could open for the beginning of the 1972 school year.
1972
Sr Kathleen Duckworth (formerly known as Sr Marie Pierre) was welcomed as principal of St Margaret Mary’s College.
1976
Sr Cecily Pullen was welcomed as principal of St Margaret Mary’s College.
1978
St Margaret Mary’s College marked its 15th anniversary. Friday activities began at the College, which in the first year included skating, cooking, old-time dancing, chess, magazine committee, motor mechanics, leather works and gardening. As the years progressed the number of activities increased and gradually the variety widened. Today, some of the Friday activities today include aerobics, flower arranging, deportment and grooming, clowning, windsurfing and hairdressing.
1979
In September, the school purchased two cottages on Crowle St, which provided space for a dedicated senior school building and other amenities. One of the buildings became known as “the Cottage” and was used for French classes, a Year 11 alternative class and for Learning Support. On the other side of the convent, a magnificent new building was being completed for senior students.
1981
In February, the Senior students moved into the new block on Crowle Street. It comprised four new classrooms for Year 11 and 12, with an undercroft and toilets.
1982
Mike Byrne, who had been the Deputy Principal, was appointed as the College’s first lay Principal.
1984
After 50 years in the priesthood and 25 years serving as the parish priest of Hyde Park, Monsignor Vince Vandeleur retired in December. In retirement he remained a steadfast champion of St Margaret Mary’s College until he sadly passed away on 3 June 1994.
1985
Computer Studies was introduced with the arrival of new Apple IIC computers.
1986
St Margaret Mary’s Primary School celebrated its 50th anniversary.
1987
Anne English was appointed principal of St Margaret Mary’s College. This same year, the Cottage was demolished to allow new learning facilities to be built in its place. The new building was completed in 1988 and contained a new computer room, a speech and drama room and room for extension studies. St Margaret Mary’s Primary School ceased at the end of year, and all primary students moved to the newly established Marian Catholic School in 1988.
1988
In September, St Margaret Mary’s College celebrated its silver jubilee with 390 students enrolled and 44 members of staff, including teachers, office staff, library and Home Economics aides and a groundsman. Celebrations included an open day, a sports competition involving past and present students and staff, a past pupils evening, a dinner dance, and a Mass held by Bishop Benjamin, Mons Vandeleur and Fr Moroney. The Mass also included the official blessing and opening of the new theatre, computer department, Special Education unit and music room on Crowle Street. These additions were made possibly by a special fund into which parents, friends, students past and present made donations.
1993
Year 12 students celebrated the first St Margaret Mary’s College graduation evening, which was previously shared with St Patrick’s College and Ignatius Park College.
1996
Andrea O’Brien was welcomed as principal St Margaret Mary’s College. The St Margaret Mary's College song was written by 1996 Year 12 students.
1998
2000
Enrolments at St Margaret Mary’s College reached 500 for the first time, reflecting the positive reputation which St Margaret Mary’s College held in the community. The college’s first Art Evening and Sports Awards Evening were held.
2003
St Margaret Mary’s College celebrated its 40th anniversary. Student enrolments reached 600.
2004
Peter Griffin was welcomed as principal of the college.
2007
Sisters of the Good Samaritan celebrated 150 years of service since their founding in 1857 by Archbishop Bede Polding. The new hospitality centre on Charters Towers Road opened and was blessed.
2010
The school’s new multi-purpose facility was completed and later named Benedictine Place.
2012
The college welcomed Kathy Park as principal of the college. The inaugural “Maggies Festival of the Arts” was held.
2013
St Margaret Mary’s College celebrated its 50th Anniversary with numerous events during the year. The school farewelled the St Margaret Mary’s Primary school classrooms on Bayswater Road and the Good Samaritan Convent building on Crowle Street.
2014
New college uniforms were introduced.
2015
Year 7 students were welcomed to the College. St Margaret Mary’s College also celebrated a significant milestone in the school’s history, with the official opening of a $4.957 million building project which transformed the well-known landscape of the school. Two new buildings provided large flexible learning spaces and visual art rooms, as well as a science laboratory, computer room, textile room and new administration centre located on the Benedictine Campus. The Samaritan Campus was also redeveloped, with a new building that housed four classrooms, a covered courtyard and lift facilities.
2016
St Margaret Mary’s College was awarded the John Melton Black Girls’ Sports Shield for the first time.
2017
St Margaret Mary’s College Basketball team won the Australian Basketball Schoolgirls Championship. Our girls were crowned 2017 Grand Finals Champions.
2019
The college’s Samaritan Campus was severely impacted by the February Floods. The music building and theatre were extensively damaged and eventually demolished and rebuilt. Bishop Timothy Harris officially blessed and opened the refurbished library, buildings and Compassion sacred sculpture.
2020
St Margaret Mary’s College basketballers returned as Queensland Champions from the Champion Basketball Schools Queensland carnival. The new Performing Arts Precinct on Samaritan Campus was completed.
2024
The College welcomed Kathleen McCarthy as Principal.