Australia's First Loreto School
For 150 years, Loreto College Ballarat has played a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape of Ballarat. As the first Loreto school in Australia, Loreto College Ballarat is proud to be part of an expanding global network of over 150 Loreto schools.
The Loreto Story
The Loreto story began more than 400 years ago with the bold vision of Mary Ward, a remarkable woman of faith with the vigorous belief that “women in time to come will do much” and an unwavering commitment to education for women.
Born in 1585 in Yorkshire, Mary grew up during a period of religious persecution in England. Driven by her deep faith and the conviction that education, particularly for women, was key to a better world, Mary founded the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Belgium in 1609.
Her revolutionary approach of educating girls in a way that would make them “seekers of truth and doers of justice” was met with controversy and significant opposition, leading to Mary’s imprisonment and the closure of her schools. Despite this, Mary’s legacy endured, with the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary schools spreading across five continents over the next four centuries.
The story of Loreto in Australia
The story of Loreto in Australia began in 1875 with the arrival in Ballarat of Mother Mary Gonzaga Barry with a group of nine Loreto sisters from Ireland to establish a school for girls.
Led by her faith, Mother Gonzaga believed in the power of education to prepare wise and compassionate women to make the world a better place.
Under her leadership, Loreto schools adopted a broad, holistic curriculum designed to nurture intellectual, spiritual and personal growth that would bring out the best in each student and encourage them to contribute positively to society.
Mother Gonzaga’s influence on education in Australia from primary through to tertiary levels was profound. Over 40 years she founded 13 schools from kindergartens to primary and secondary schools and teacher training colleges across the country, exerting a lasting impact on an emerging nation.
History of Loreto College Ballarat
1875 - Mary's Mount opened in September
1880-1888 - Building of the wall, front gate, Residential Wing, Administration building, Infirmary and Refectory
1892 - St Micheal's Novitiate building is built
1895 - Lourdes Grotto constructed
1899 - Death of Countess Elizabeth Wolff-Metternich (benefactor of the Chapel)
1902 - Chapel blessed and opened
1908 - St Anne's Primary School opened
1915 - Gothic facade added to Mansion House in honour of Mother Gonzaga Barry's Diamond Jubilee
1915 - Death of Mother Gonzaga Barry
1925 - Golden Jubilee of Loreto in Australia. St Anne's Primary School closed
1927 - Loreto students celebrate the Duke and Duchess of York's visit to Ballarat
c. 1930 - Finishing school taught by Mother Catherine Goddard opens in St Anne's Building
1941 - Kindergarten opened in St Anne's school building
1955 - St Anne's Wing opened with stone specially quarried to match older buildings
1962 - Loreto Commercial College opened in Dawson Street
1966 - Mary Ward Wing (canteen and classrooms) opened
1973 - Lourdes Grotto replaced
1975 - Loreto College Ballarat Centenary, Gonzaga Barry Wing and Antoinette Hayden Library opened
1978 - Loreto Abbey Mary's Mount and Loreto Convent Dawson Street amalgamate to become Loreto College Ballarat. Kindergarten closes
1982 - Boarding and primary school at Mary's Mount ceases
1996 - Gonzaga Barry Centre Opened
1998 - Anne Fry becomes the first lay principal of Loreto College Ballarat
2000 - 125th Anniversary of Loreto College Ballarat
2005 - Little Flower Church purchased
2006 - Dawson Street closes
2007 - Year 7 - 12 amalgamate on the Mary's Mount Campus
2015 - Blessing and opening of the Mary's Mount Centre
2016 - Blessing and opening of the Mulhall Centre
2020 - COVID-19 forces online learning
2021 - Little Flower Church is renovated and becomes home of VCE-VM program
