St. Columba's College, Melbourne
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St Columba's College is an all-female
Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
secondary school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., b ...
in
Essendon Essendon may refer to: Australia *Essendon, Victoria **Essendon railway station **Essendon Airport *Essendon Football Club, in the Australian Football League *Electoral district of Essendon *Electoral district of Essendon and Flemington United Kin ...
, a suburb of
Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
, Australia. It is one of four
Sisters of Charity of Australia The Sisters of Charity of Australia, or the Congregation of the Religious Sisters of Charity of Australia, is a congregation of religious sisters in the Catholic Church established in 1838. Sisters use the post-nominal initials of RSC. History ...
educational establishments, with
St Vincent's College, Potts Point St Vincent's College (colloquially known as ''Vinnies''), is an independent Roman Catholic single-sex secondary day and boarding school for girls, located in Victoria Street, Potts Point, an inner-city suburb of Sydney, Australia. The college ...
, Mt St Michael's College, Brisbane, and
Catholic Ladies College, Eltham Catholic Ladies College, Eltham (also known simply as CLC Eltham) is an independent Roman Catholic single-sex secondary day school for girls, located in the Melbourne suburb of Eltham, Victoria, Australia. The school provides a Catholic and gene ...
.


History

After taking responsibility for St Monica's Parish Primary School in
Moonee Ponds Moonee Ponds is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, north-west of Melbourne's Melbourne central business district, Central Business District, located within the City of Moonee Valley Local government ar ...
in 1896, Mother Ursula Bruton (died 1899) purchased the property at 139 Buckley Street to provide
secondary education Secondary education is the education level following primary education and preceding tertiary education. Level 2 or ''lower secondary education'' (less commonly ''junior secondary education'') is considered the second and final phase of basic e ...
for the girls from St Monica's. A
primary Primary or primaries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Primary (band), from Australia * Primary (musician), hip hop musician and record producer from South Korea * Primary Music, Israeli record label Work ...
division was also offered from the college's earliest days. Mother Ursula believed that secondary education was needed so that young women could take their rightful place in society. She was the first principal and named the school St Columba's.
Columba Columba () or Colmcille (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is today Scotland at the start of the Hiberno-Scottish mission. He founded the important abbey ...
was an Irish saint and a great scholar, who lived in the sixth century. The college motto chosen was "''Fidelis et Fortis''" meaning "faithful and strong", and the shield with its crown and dove reflected the Sisters of Charity's crest and Columba's name ("''colm cille''" meaning "church dove" in Irish). The first classes were held on 13 July 1897 for 47 students. The initial educational program provided a broad and liberal education for young women and in 1900 presented its first candidates for
matriculation Matriculation is the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by fulfilling certain academic requirements such as a matriculation examination. Australia In Australia, the term ''matriculation'' is seldom used no ...
.


Current houses

The seven Houses and their associated colours are: * Cater (Purple): After Sister Mary Lawrence Cater, who was the youngest of the five Pioneer Sisters and became the Head of a school for orphans at
Parramatta Parramatta (; ) is a suburb (Australia), suburb and major commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney. Parramatta is located approximately west of the Sydney central business district, Sydney CBD, on the banks of the Parramatta River. It is co ...
. * Cahill (Yellow): After Sister Mary John Cahill, who was the eldest of the Pioneer Sisters and whose special ministry was with prisoners in
Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
, Parramatta and
Hobart Hobart ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the island state of Tasmania, Australia. Located in Tasmania's south-east on the estuary of the River Derwent, it is the southernmost capital city in Australia. Despite containing nearly hal ...
, as well as giving religious instruction in churches in Sydney and Hobart. * Cunningham (Green): After Sister Mary Xavier Cunningham, who was the first Australian to enter the
Sisters of Charity Many religious communities have the term Sisters of Charity in their name. Some ''Sisters of Charity'' communities refer to the Vincentian tradition alone, or in America to the tradition of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (whose sisters are also of ...
. She was also the Matron of St. Vincent's Hospital for twenty two years. * Williams (Blue): After Sister Mary Xavier Williams, who was a Novice at the time of arrival in Australia and her Profession of Vows was the first Profession in the colony. She was one of three Sisters who went to Hobart in 1847 where she visited gaols, hospitals and the homes of the poor. * O'Brien (Orange): After Sister Mary Francis de Sale O'Brien, who was sent by
Mary Aikenhead Mother Mary Frances Aikenhead (19 January 1787 – 22 July 1858) was born in Daunt's Square off Grand Parade, Cork, Ireland. Described as one of nursing's greatest leaders, she was the founder of the Catholic religious institute, the Religi ...
to Paris to be trained in nursing and hospital management. She also left Sydney and ministered in Hobart. * Bruton (Red): After Sister Mary Ursula Bruton, who was the first Principal of St. Vincent's College, Potts Point and opened St. Columba's College, Essendon in 1897. * De Lacy (Pink): After Sister Mary Baptist de Lacy, who was the only one of the Pioneer Sisters who entered the Sisters of Charity, specifically for the Australian Mission. She was trained in Nursing and was the Foundress of St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, which was the first hospital opened by the Sisters in Australia.


Previous houses

The eight Houses and their associated colours were previously: * Caritas (Purple) – in recognition of the Sisters of Charity. * Chisholm (Yellow) – After
Caroline Chisholm Caroline Chisholm ( ; born Caroline Jones; 30 May 1808 – 25 March 1877) was an English humanitarian known mostly for her support of immigrant female and family welfare in Australia. She is commemorated on 16 May in the Calendar of saints (Ch ...
, who supported immigrants. * Columba (Navy blue) – After St Columba, the patron of the college. * Cuthbert (Green) – After
Betty Cuthbert Elizabeth Alyse Cuthbert (20 April 1938 – 6 August 2017), was an Australian athlete and a four-time Olympic champion. She was nicknamed Australia's "Golden Girl". During her career, she set world records for 60 metres, 100 yards, 200 metres ...
, Australian sportswomen. * Franklin (Light blue) – After
Miles Franklin Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin (14 October 187919 September 1954), known as Miles Franklin, was an Australian writer and feminist who is best known for her novel ''My Brilliant Career'', published by Blackwoods of Edinburgh in 1901. While s ...
, writer. * Gilmore (Grey) – After Dame
Mary Gilmore Dame Mary Jean Gilmore (née Cameron; 16 August 18653 December 1962) was an Australian writer and journalist known for her prolific contributions to Australian literature and the broader national discourse. She wrote both prose and poetry. Gi ...
, writer. * Lyons (Red) – After Dame
Enid Lyons Dame Enid Muriel Lyons (; 9 July 1897 – 2 September 1981) was an Australian politician. She was notable as the being the first woman to be elected to the House of Representatives and to serve in the federal cabinet. Prior to her own politic ...
, a politician. * Melba (White) – After Dame
Nellie Melba Dame Nellie Melba (born Helen Porter Mitchell; 19 May 186123 February 1931) was an Australian operatic lyric coloratura soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early twentieth century, and was the f ...
, soprano singer.


Notable alumnae

* Silvie Paladino – Singer *
Tina Arena Filippina Lydia "Tina" Arena (born 1 November 1967) is an Australian singer-songwriter, musician, musical theatre actress and record producer. She is one of Australia's highest-selling artists and has sold over 10 million records worldwid ...
– Singer *
Jennifer Keyte Jennifer Anne Keyte (born 21 January 1960) is an Australian journalist and news presenter. Keyte currently presents ''10 News First Melbourne'', and occasional national bulletins. She was previously a news presenter on ''Seven News'' in Melbo ...
– News presenter *
Wendy Stapleton Wendy Anne-Marie Stapleton (born 8 July 1954) is an Australian pop/rock singer-songwriter, musical theatre performer and television actress and presenter Stapleton has performed as a backing singer, session musician and a solo artist; she front ...
– Singer *
Annette Woodward Annette Mary Woodward (born 8 November 1947 in Melbourne, Australia) is an Australian sport shooter. She has competed for Australia in pistol shooting at two Olympics (1996, and 2004), and has collected a total of six medals in a major internat ...
– Olympian *
Anne Edmonds Anne Elizabeth Gabrielle Edmonds (born 11 October 1979) is an Australian comedian and actress best known for her stand-up work and for creating and starring in the ABC comedy series ''The Edge of the Bush''. Beginning her career in comedy at 29 ...
– Comedian and actor *
Maria Thattil Maria Thattil (born ) is an Australian media personality, HR manager, beauty pageant titleholder, podcaster, author, and actor. She was crowned Miss Universe Australia 2020 and then represented Australia at Miss Universe 2020, where she was pla ...
– Model * Emily Rogers – Olympian


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Columba's College Melbourne Rock Eisteddfod Challenge participants Girls' schools in Victoria (state) Catholic secondary schools in Melbourne Sisters of Charity schools Essendon, Victoria Educational institutions established in 1897 1897 establishments in Australia Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia Buildings and structures in the City of Moonee Valley Sisters of Charity of Australia