2024 commemorated the 40-year milestone of co-education at St Patrick’s College, following the amalgamation between Marian College and St Patrick's in 1984.

Stakeholders from both Marian College and St Patrick's engaged in a thorough process aimed at nurturing acceptance, adoption, and execution of the proposed merger.

Parents played an active role in shaping the future through their involvement in planning sessions and reviews. The proposal for co-education across all secondary classes, spanning Years 7 to 12, received overwhelming support, confirmed by an impressive 98% parent vote.

In the inaugural year of co-education, a proposal for a name change emerged. This suggestion sparked discussions among parents, staff, and students, leading to a survey offering options including ‘Marian College’, ‘St Patrick’s College’, and ‘A New Name’.

A survey consensus resulted in renaming the College as St Patrick’s College, with the new wing of the building named the Marian Wing, in honour of the heritage of Marian College.

College Open Day to Celebrate 40 Years of Co-education

On Saturday, 26 October, we celebrated 40 years of co-education at St Patrick's College with our Anniversary Open Day.

The day began with a special Mass led by Archbishop Julian Porteous, where we honoured the legacy of the 1994 amalgamation between Marian College and St Patrick's College. As a community we took the opportunity to express our gratitude to the Presentation Sisters, who brought Catholic Education to Launceston in 1873 by establishing Sacred Heart College; to the Christian Brothers, who established St Patrick’s College at York Street in 1919, opening the Prospect campus in 1958; and to the Sisters of St Joseph, who established St Thomas More’s in 1938.

Following the Mass, our 2024 College Captains joined Sr Carmel Jones of the Sisters of St Joseph, Sr Elizabeth Vagg of the Presentation Sisters, Br Clem Barrett of the Christian Brothers, and Archbishop Porteous for a celebratory cutting of the cake. This moment was particularly special because of Sr Carmel and Sr Elizabeth’s presence, along with Br Clem, who served as the first principal of the newly co-educational College in 1984.

Nostalgia was in the air as Old Collegians (including Reunion groups comprising graduates from 1974, 1984 and 1994), staff, students, and community members toured the College, admiring the many changes and reminiscing over treasured memories. The tours were aided by digital presentations and visits to the History Room, which provided glimpses of familiar faces from the past.

The celebration culminated with a relaxed BBQ at Croagh Patrick, where guests gathered in the sunshine to reconnect and share stories.

This event was a beautiful reminder of our strong community - a day for students, staff, Old Collegians and our extended community to come together and celebrate all that St Patrick’s College is in 2024.

May we continue to build on the legacy that is St Patrick’s College for the generations to come.