Loreto in Australia

The Loreto Sisters came to Australia in 1875. They founded schools in five states, of which seven are still thriving: Mary’s Mount in Ballarat (1875), Normanhurst (1897) and Kirribilli (1907) in Sydney, Marryatville in Adelaide (1905), Mandeville Hall, Melbourne (1924), Nedlands in Perth (1931) and Coorparoo in Brisbane (1927).

Two more, Loreto Osborne (1901) and Loreto Portland (1884) have formed local amalgamations and maintain links with their Loreto heritage: John XXIII College in Perth (1977) and Bayview College, Portland (1977). The sisters also taught in more than twenty parish schools, opened the first free Catholic kindergarten in South Melbourne (1912) and provided commercial training for school leavers in Ballarat and South Melbourne.

In 1884 they established the first Catholic teachers training college for women in Ballarat and in 1906 were invited by Archbishop Carr to run the Catholic Teachers’ Training College in Albert Park. In 1918 the Loreto Sisters were appointed by Archbishop Mannix to administer St Mary’s Hall, at the University of Melbourne, later to become St Mary’s College (1966).

Until the 1960s, members of the Institute worked almost exclusively in schools. In the decades following the Second Vatican Council their ministry expanded to include tertiary and adult education, chaplaincies, parish work, spiritual direction, and works for justice and social change. Increasingly individuals have served in Loreto institutions overseas, particularly India, South Africa, Kenya, Peru, Mauritius and Myanmar. In recent times others have worked in non-government agencies in East Timor, Uganda, Vietnam, Thailand and most recently, in Rome and the USA.

Photo:

Astronomy Class on Roof of St. Michael's Novitiate, Mary's Mount Ballarat
 

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