, motto_translation = To Do and To Teach , city =

Ballarat Ballarat ( ) is a city in the Central Highlands (Victoria), Central Highlands of Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. At the 2021 Census, Ballarat had a population of 116,201, making it the third largest city in Victoria. Estimated resid ...

, state = Victoria , country = Australia , coordinates = , type =

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

secondary

day A day is the time period of a full rotation of the Earth with respect to the Sun. On average, this is 24 hours, 1440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds. In everyday life, the word "day" often refers to a solar day, which is the length between two so ...

and

boarding school A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. As they have existed for many centuries, and now exten ...

, religious_affiliation =

Catholicism The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

, denomination = Congregation of Christian Brothers , trust =

Edmund Rice Education Australia Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) is the organisation established by the Congregation of Christian Brothers in Australia to own, govern, manage and conduct education ministries in the Catholic tradition and in the charism of Blessed Edmund I ...

, established = , founder = Christian Brothers , chairman = Peter Wilson , headmaster = Steven O'Connor , years = 7– 12 , gender =

Boys A boy is a young male human. The term is commonly used for a child or an adolescent. When a male human reaches adulthood, he is described as a man. Definition, etymology, and use According to the ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary'', a boy is "a ...

, enrolment = 1,430 , colours = Green, white and blue , slogan = Raising Fine Boys To The Status of Great Men , test_name = VCE , test_average = 30 , affiliation =

Ballarat Associated Schools The Ballarat Associated Schools (BAS), was formerly the Central Highlands Independent School Sport Association (CHISSA) until 2002 and before 1982 the Ballarat Public Schools Association (BPSA). It is a group of five independent schools and two g ...

, website = , former_name = Holy Ghost College (1888-) , nickname = St Patrick's College, sometimes referred to as St Pat's, Paddy's or SPC, is an

independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

secondary

and

for boys, located in

central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

, Victoria,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. The school was founded by the Congregation of Christian Brothers in 1893, who continue to run the school through

. The school provides education for boys from Year 7 to

Year 12 Year 12 is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. It is sometimes the twelfth year of compulsory education, or alternatively a year of post-compulsory educa ...

, with an emphasis on academic and sporting programs. The college promotes the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church, basing itself on the four pillars of faith, excellence, tradition and joy. The patron of the college, Paul Bird, Bishop of Ballarat, presides over the major college Masses along with other priests (including former students of St Patrick's).

History

The college was originally called Holy Ghost College, which was started in 1888 and administered by the

Holy Ghost Fathers , image = Holy Ghost Fathers seal.png , size = 175px , caption = The seal of the Congregation depicting the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Trinity. , abbreviation ...

. Also in 1888, St Alipius' Primary School was established by the Christian Brothers. However, after a promising start, the senior school closed due to the Holy Ghost Fathers' departure for France. The Bishop of Ballarat at the time, James Moore, contacted the Provincial of the Christian Brothers in Australia, Brother

Patrick Ambrose Treacy Patrick Ambrose Treacy CFC (31 August 1834 – 2 October 1912) was a Roman Catholic educationist who established the first permanent Christian Brothers community in Australia in 1868. Early life Treacy was born on 31 August 1834 in Thurl ...

, to take over the running of the school. The new college opened its doors on 24 January 1893, as St Patrick's College. Four Christian Brothers were on the initial staff, with the Brother J. L. Ryan as the founding headmaster. In 1924 St Patrick's Christian Brother's boys' primary school was built in Drummond Street South. This school and St Alipius were operated by the Christian Brothers at St Patrick's College but both became systemic parish schools in the 1980s. St Patrick's College now no longer has a junior school attached to it and students commence at Year 7 having completed their primary education elsewhere. The school gradually grew in stature and size to become not only the largest Catholic school in Ballarat, but one of the leading Catholic schools in Victoria. The college, under the governance of the Christian Brothers, grew from its first enrolment of 36 students in 1893 to 168 in 1902. The school's academic record was first class even in its infancy, with the 1893 dux of the college, Sir

Hugh Devine Hugh may refer to: *Hugh (given name) Noblemen and clergy French * Hugh the Great (died 956), Duke of the Franks * Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France under his father, Robert II * Hugh, Duke of Alsace (died 895), modern-day ...

, becoming a world-famous surgeon. The school has grown immensely in the past 100 years, with over 1,000 boys enrolled. The college, in 1933, completed the construction of the Brother's residence, a large imposing red-brick building, still dominating the facade of the school. A memorial chapel was constructed in 1954 and dedicated to the memory of St Patrick's Old Collegians who died during the First and Second World Wars. This large Romanesque chapel still holds pride of place at the front of the school and is the centre of the school's spirituality. The college has over 300 graduates who have been ordained priests, a record in Australia. Over 60 graduates have entered into religious life. In 1966, the W.T. O'Malley Wing was completed in dedication to Brother William Theodore O'Malley, who was not only deputy headmaster of the college for 30 years, but taught there for over 40 years. He is remembered as one of the greatest brothers to grace St Patrick's College, with many Old Collegians dedicating their successes to his tuition. In 1976 the J.L. Kelty Resource Centre was opened. It is dedicated to Brother Justin Linus Kelty, a former headmaster, who led the college in the 1960s. In 1979, the college completed the W.T. O'Malley Sports Centre, which was officially opened by former students and Brownlow Medal winners John James and Brian Gleeson. In 2004, the college officially opened the W.J. Wilding Wing, which now houses the senior school. The building was named in honour of Brother William Wilding, a former headmaster of the college in the early 1980s who oversaw the completion of the Dr Spring Administration Wing. Peter Casey succeeded L. B. Collins in 2002 in 2002, becoming the school's first lay headmaster. John S. Crowley became St. Patrick's second lay headmaster in 2015.

Student abuse scandals

Between 1953 and 1983 a number of students who attended St Patrick's College made allegations that they were sexually assaulted. Some of these cases were litigated and the offenders found guilty. A Christian Brother who lived at St Patrick's College in the early 1970s was subsequently convicted of child sexual offences related to activities at a branch school. In May 2015 the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, a royal commission of inquiry initiated in 2013 by the Australian government and supported by all of its state governments, began an investigation into the response of Australian institutions, including the Catholic Church, to the impact of child sexual abuse on survivors, their families and their communities. The royal commission's final report about Catholic Church authorities in Ballarat was released on 6 December. The commission found that: "Many children, mainly boys, said they were sexually abused at St Alipius and/or St Patrick’s College." Most allegations at St Patrick's College related to Ted Dowlan who taught there from 1973 to 1975.

Headmasters

The following individuals have served as headmasters of St Patrick's College:

House system

The college has four houses, named in honour of former headmasters of the college. They are:

Sport

St Patrick's is a member of the

(BAS). The College was a founding member of the

Associated Catholic Colleges The Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC) is a group of thirteen independent Catholic boys schools in Victoria, Australia. The Association, formed in 1911, and renamed in 1948, provides the basis for interschool sporting and other competitions betw ...

in 1911 until 1975 and re-joined in 2022.

Notable alumni

;Arts, media, and entertainment *

Paul Bongiorno Paul Damian Bongiorno (born 1944) is an Australian political journalist and commentator. Personal life Bongiorno grew up in Ballarat, Victoria, and was educated by the Christian Brothers at St Patrick's College, Ballarat, St Patrick's College ...

– chief political reporter with the Ten Network * Raimond Gaita – author and Professor of Moral Philosophy at King's College London *

Bernard Heinze Sir Bernard Thomas Heinze, AC (1 July 189410 June 1982) was an Australian conductor, academic, and Director of the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music. He conducted all the orchestras run by the ABC, most particularly the Melbourne Sym ...

– professor of music and director of the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music and 1974 Australian of the Year *

George Helon George Helon (born 1965), also known under the pen names George Wieslaw Helon and Jerzy Wieslaw Helon, is an Australian author, businessman, and historian of Polish descent. Helon is on the board of directors of the Polish Nobility Associatio ...

– Australian author and businessman who received the Freedom of the City of London in 2016 *

David Parer David Damien Parer Australian Cinematographers Society, ACS is an Australian natural history film maker, working in partnership with his wife and sound recordist, Elizabeth Parer-Cook.Salleh, Annah (9 January 2023)David Parer and Liz Parer-Coo ...

- natural history film maker ;Business *

Paul McGinness Paul Joseph McGinness, (14 February 1896 – 25 January 1952) was an Australian flying ace of the First World War, credited with seven aerial victories. He was a co-founder of Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services (Qantas). Earl ...

– World War I fighter pilot, noted aviator, and founder of Qantas ;Law, public service, and politics *

Steve Bracks Stephen Phillip Bracks (born 15 October 1954) is a former Australian politician and was the 44th Premier of Victoria. He first won the electoral district of Williamstown in 1994 for the Labor Party and was party leader and premier from 1999 ...

– former Premier of Victoria * Donald Morrison Grant – former Surveyor-General of New South Wales *

Jim McClelland James Robert McClelland (3 June 1915 – 16 January 1999) was an Australian lawyer, politician, and judge. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and served as a Senator for New South Wales from 1971 to 1978. He briefly held minis ...

– solicitor, judge, senator, minister in the third Whitlam ministry and royal commissioner * Gavan O'Connor – former Federal Shadow Minister *

Albert Ogilvie Albert George Ogilvie (10 March 1890 – 10 June 1939) was an Australian politician and Premier of Tasmania from 22 June 1934 until his death on 10 June 1939. Ogilvie was the elder son of James Ogilvie. He was educated at St Patrick's Co ...

– former Premier of Tasmania *

Harrie Seward Harrie Stephen Seward (26 February 1884 – 23 July 1958) was an Australian politician. The brother of Leo Seward, and the son Stephen Seward (1853-1923), and Mary Ellen Seward (?1849-1935), née Kelleher, Harrie Stephen Seward was born at ...

– former senator and West Australian minister ;Religion * Frank Little – former Archbishop of Melbourne * George Pell – cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church (1983–present), Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy of the Holy See (2014-2019) ;Sport: * Tony Benson – Australian athlete 1972 Munich Olympics * Brett Bewley – Australian rules football player for Fremantle Dockers * Brian Brown – Australian rules football player for Essendon Bombers * Mitch Brown – Australian rules football player for West Coast Eagles * Nathan Brown – Australian rules football player for Collingwood Magpies * Brad Crouch – Australian rules football player for Adelaide Crows * Matt Crouch – Australian rules football player for Adelaide Crows *

Tom Downie Tom Downie (born 27 April 1993) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League (AFL). A ruckman standing , he was recruited by the club in the 2011 natio ...

– Australian rules football player for GWS Giants *

Liam Duggan Liam Duggan (born 11 December 1996) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for and co-captains the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Duggan played for Ballarat's St Patrick's College in the BAS schoo ...

– Australian rules football player for West Coast Eagles * Anthony Edwards – Australian rower, five-time Olympian *

Danny Frawley Daniel Patrick Frawley (8 September 1963 – 9 September 2019) was an Australian rules football player, coach, administrator, commentator and media personality. He played 240 games for the St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League ...

– Australian rules football player for St Kilda Saints * Brian Gleeson – Australian rules football player for St Kilda Saints, Brownlow medallist *

Martin Gleeson Martin Gleeson (born 25 May 1980) is the assistant attack coach at the rugby union club; Wasps RFC. He is the former assistant coach at the rugby league club Salford Red Devils in the Super League, and an English former professional rugby lea ...

– Australian rules football player for Essendon Bombers *

Shaun Grigg Shaun Grigg (born 19 April 1988) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played 171 games for and 43 games for over a 13 year AFL career. He was a premiership player with Richmond in 2017, an Under 18 All Australian and twice ...

– Australian rules football player for Carlton Blues *

Jack Hill Jack Hill (born January 28, 1933) is an American film director in the exploitation film genre. Several of Hill's later films have been characterized as feminist works. Early life Hill was born in Los Angeles, California. His mother, Mildred (n� ...

– Australian and Victorian cricket player *

Jacob Hopper Jacob Hopper (born 6 February 1997) is a professional Australian rules footballer for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL), having previously played for . Early life Hopper was born in New South Wales and grew ...

– Australian rules football player for GWS Giants * John James – Australian rules football player for Carlton Blues, Brownlow medallist * Alex McDonald – Australian rules football player for Hawthorn Hawks and Collingwood Magpies * Anthony McDonald – Australian rules football player for Melbourne Demons * James McDonald – Australian rules football player for Melbourne Demons *

Oscar McDonald Oscar McDonald (born 18 March 1996) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Carlton Football Club and in the Australian Football League (AFL). McDonald has played the majority of his career as defender. Junio ...

– Australian rules football player for Melbourne Demons * Tom McDonald – Australian rules football player for Melbourne Demons *

Michael McGuane Michael McGuane (born 29 December 1967) is a former Australian rules footballer who represented and in the Australian Football League (AFL) during the 1980s and 1990s. Playing career Early years (1987–1990) McGuane showed great promise fo ...

– Australian rules football player for Carlton Blues and Collingwood Magpies *

James Marburg James Marburg (born 27 December 1982) is an Australian retired rower. He is a dual Olympian, Olympic silver medallist and has represented Australia at five World Rowing Championships. Education Marburg attended St Patrick's College, Ballarat. ...

– Australian rower, silver medalist at 2008 Beijing Olympics, fifth at 2012 London Olympics *

Steve Moneghetti Stephen James "Steve" Moneghetti, (born 26 September 1962), is an Australian long-distance runner and physical health consultant, represented Australia on many occasions. Moneghetti has a degree in civil engineering, a graduate diploma in educ ...

– four-time Olympic marathon runner *

Jake Neade Jake Neade (born 29 May 1994) is an Australian rules footballer who last played for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Early life Hailing from Elliott in the Northern Territory he made the move in his m ...

– Australian rules football player for Port Adelaide * Leo O'Brien – Australian test cricket player *

Nick O'Brien Nicholas O'Brien (born 26 June 1993) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He attended St Patrick's College in Ballarat. In 2011, he captained ...

– Australian rules football player for Essendon Bombers *

Jesse Palmer (Australian footballer) Jesse Palmer (born 17 October 1996) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was drafted by the Port Adelaide Football Club with their third s ...

– Australian rules football player for Port Adelaide * Drew Petrie – Australian rules football player for North Melbourne Kangaroos * Michael Pickering – Australian rules football player for North Melbourne Kangaroos *

Paul Reedy Paul Reedy (born 21 January 1961 in Robinvale, Victoria) is an Australian former rower. He is a dual Olympian, an Olympic and Commonwealth Games silver medalist who competed over a seventeen-year period at the elite level. He was a fourteen-tim ...

– Australian rower, silver medalist at 1984 Los Angeles Olympics * Barry Richardson – Australian rules football player for Richmond Tigers * Matthew Rosa – Australian rules football player for West Coast Eagles *

Christian Ryan Christian Ryan (born 5 June 1977 in Warrnambool, Victoria) is an Australian former rower who won a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Club and state rowing Ryan's senior club rowing was from the Melbourne University Boat Club. Victori ...

– Australian rower, silver medalist at 2000 Sydney Olympics * Harry Sharp – Australian rules football player for Brisbane Lions * Nathan Sobey - basketballer *

Nick Suban Nicholas Suban (born 9 May 1990) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League. Originally from Bacchus Marsh, Victoria and of Slovenian origin, Suban capt ...

– Australian rules football player for Fremantle Dockers * Bryan Thomas – Olympic sprint kayaker 1988 *

Brian Vear Brian Vear (16 November 1937The Banks Rowing Club obituary has a date of birth of 25 January 1937, Sports-reference has 16 November 1937 - 18 February 2008) was an Australian representative rower who competed at two Olympic Games. In later life ...

– Australian rower, 1960 Rome Olympics and 1964 Tokyo Olympics * Peter Walsh – Australian rules football player for Port Adelaide * Tom Williamson – Australian rules football player for Carlton Blues *

Dallas Willsmore Dallas Willsmore (born 29 May 1995) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League. Dallas Willsmore hails from the small Mallee township of Underbool, Victoria. ...

– Australian rules football player for Hawthorn Hawks *

Clinton Young Clinton Young (born 16 February 1986) is an Australian rules football coach and former player who is currently an assistant coach with the Box Hill Hawks Football Club in the Victorian Football League. As a player, he played with the Hawthorn ...

– Australian rules football player for Hawthorn Hawks * Will Young – Australian rules football player for Adelaide Crows *

Josh Gibcus Josh Gibcus (born 4 April 2003) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Gibcus was drafted by Richmond with the 9th selection in the 2021 AFL draft. He made his AFL de ...

- Australian rules football player for Richmond Tigers *

Daniel Rioli Daniel Rioli (born 16 April 1997) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is a three-time premiership player with the club and in 2017 he received the award ...

- Australian rules football player for Richmond Tigers * Aaron Cadman -AFL Footballer for GWS *

Sam Butler Samuel Butler (born 14 January 1986) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). A talented underage soccer player from Gawler, South Australia, who only ...

-AFL Footballer *

Dan Butler Daniel Eugene Butler (born December 2, 1954) is an American actor known for his role as Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe on the TV series ''Frasier'' (1993–2004); Art in ''Roseanne'' (1991–1992); for the voice of Mr. Simmons on the ''Nickelodeon'' TV ...

-AFL Footballer

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Patrick's College, Ballarat Congregation of Christian Brothers secondary schools in Australia Associated Catholic Colleges Roman Catholic Diocese of Ballarat Educational institutions established in 1893 Boarding schools in Victoria (Australia) Boys' schools in Victoria (Australia) 1893 establishments in Australia Ballarat Associated Schools Schools in Ballarat Catholic Church sexual abuse scandals in Australia Catholic schools in Victoria (Australia)