In celebrating over 94 years of history, we pay tribute to the women and others who paved the way for us to be a leading Brisbane Catholic Girls School.
Columba Phelan – acquired the 1890’s grand residence of Dr Foxton. A convent was established and a year later the adjacent Holy Family Parish School commenced. In January 1929, Brigidine College opened as a secondary school.
The growth of our Brisbane Catholic girls’ school was very slow and arduous. The Sisters were extremely poor and unable to build proper teaching facilities. Classes were held in one room in the Convent and a small number of boarders slept in another. This historic building, which also houses the Chapel, is still the focal point of the College today.
At that time few students continued their education beyond Scholarship. Boys in particular were actively encouraged to further their education but few girls would advance to “Junior” and fewer still to “Senior” education. In 1943 the first two candidates for the Senior Certificate were presented for examination. In 1944 the first official College buildings were erected.
Enrolments slowly grew and in 1961 a new building now known as Tullow was completed. This began the growth of Brigidine College that continues well beyond our present day. Since then the following buildings have been added to the College’s educational facilities.