St John's College, Darwin
Encyclopedia
St. John's College is a private Catholic secondary school based on the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
and Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
traditions. It is located in Darwin
, Northern Territory
, Australia
, on Salonika Street. It is a co-educational college for day and boarding students from years 7 to 12. The school was established in 1960 at its site in the central Darwin suburb of The Gardens
. Many of its students have gone on to notable success, some holding high public office.
, John Patrick O'Loughlin, in 1960, on a site adjacent to the Darwin Botanical Gardens
. Father John Burford MSC was appointed the first Rector of the college which operated out of buildings next to St Marys Cathedral, whilst building commenced. In this respect the college would continue to be operated by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
. By December 1960 enough had been completed to allow the school to move into its site. From 1961 and 1966 the college continued to grow, eventually welcoming the arrival of the first college boarders. In 1972 the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College for girls was opened on the Mindil beach side of the site, operated by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
.
In December 1974, Cyclone Tracey devastated the college buildings and as a result recontruction became a major focus of the college. In 1975, it was decided that the two colleges would be merged together as a co-educational college with two schools, a Middle school and a Senior school. With 1975 being the college's 25th anniversary, it was commemorated by the construction of Jubilee Hall. The 1970s also saw the phasing out of primary schooling and the school head changing from Rector to Principal.
In 1989 a College Board was established and St John's was confirmed as an independent school of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. However, with the departure of Principal Father Robert Irvine at the end of the 1990s, the direct association of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart within the college ended and led to the appointment of the first lay Principal, Gerard Keating.
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart is a missionary congregation in the Latin Church,one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the Catholic Church led by the Bishop of Rome...
and Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
The Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic order founded in 1874 by Jules Chevalier, and one of the members of the Chevalier Family....
traditions. It is located in Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, on Salonika Street. It is a co-educational college for day and boarding students from years 7 to 12. The school was established in 1960 at its site in the central Darwin suburb of The Gardens
The Gardens, Northern Territory
The Gardens is an inner suburb of the city Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.-History:This suburban name is derived from the Botanic Gardens which began with the appointment of Maurice Holtze in 1878 and has grown to have one of the largest known collections of palms...
. Many of its students have gone on to notable success, some holding high public office.
History
St John's College was originally established for boys only by the Bishop of DarwinRoman Catholic Diocese of Darwin
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Darwin is a suffragan Latin rite diocese of the Archdiocese of Adelaide based in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia....
, John Patrick O'Loughlin, in 1960, on a site adjacent to the Darwin Botanical Gardens
George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens
The George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens are botanical gardens located 2 km North of the CBD of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The gardens cover 42 hectares and are noted for their collections of north Australian and other tropical species....
. Father John Burford MSC was appointed the first Rector of the college which operated out of buildings next to St Marys Cathedral, whilst building commenced. In this respect the college would continue to be operated by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart is a missionary congregation in the Latin Church,one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the Catholic Church led by the Bishop of Rome...
. By December 1960 enough had been completed to allow the school to move into its site. From 1961 and 1966 the college continued to grow, eventually welcoming the arrival of the first college boarders. In 1972 the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College for girls was opened on the Mindil beach side of the site, operated by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
The Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic order founded in 1874 by Jules Chevalier, and one of the members of the Chevalier Family....
.
In December 1974, Cyclone Tracey devastated the college buildings and as a result recontruction became a major focus of the college. In 1975, it was decided that the two colleges would be merged together as a co-educational college with two schools, a Middle school and a Senior school. With 1975 being the college's 25th anniversary, it was commemorated by the construction of Jubilee Hall. The 1970s also saw the phasing out of primary schooling and the school head changing from Rector to Principal.
In 1989 a College Board was established and St John's was confirmed as an independent school of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. However, with the departure of Principal Father Robert Irvine at the end of the 1990s, the direct association of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart within the college ended and led to the appointment of the first lay Principal, Gerard Keating.
Symbols
The college crest is emblazoned with an eagle, which alludes to artistic representations of the college's namesake, Saint John the Evangelist, which in turn symbolises the heights to which he rose in the first chapter of his Gospel. The quill held by the eagle represents the word of God. The motto of the College, "Strong in Faith", reflects the ethos of the college and also the religious foundations of the school.Notable alumni
- Barry O'FarrellBarry O'FarrellBarry Robert O'Farrell MP, is an Australian politician and is the 43rd Premier of New South Wales, Minister for Western Sydney, Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party and a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Ku-ring-gai for the Liberal Party since 1999.Born in...
- Premier of New South Wales since 2011. - Maurice RioliMaurice RioliMaurice Rioli was an Australian rules football player best known for his time spent with the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League...
- Former Australian rules footballer and member of the NT Legislative AssemblyNorthern Territory Legislative AssemblyThe Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory is the unicameral parliament of the Northern Territory in Australia. It sits in Parliament House, located on State Square, close to the centre of the city of Darwin.-History:...
. - Stan TipilouraStan TipilouraStanley Gabriel "Stan" Tipiloura was an Australian politician. He was the Labor member for Arafura in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 1987 until his death in 1992....
- Indigenous Australian politician and member of the NT Legislative Assembly (1987-1992).
See also
- List of schools in the Northern Territory
- Electoral division of Port DarwinElectoral division of Port DarwinPort Darwin is an electoral division of the Legislative Assembly in Australia's Northern Territory. It was first created in 1974, and is an entirely urban electorate, covering only 13.65 km² and taking in the Darwin central business district, as well as the suburb of Larrakeyah and part of Stuart...
- Division of SolomonDivision of SolomonThe Division of Solomon is an Australian Electoral Division in the Northern Territory. It covers the cities of Darwin and Palmerston...
- City of DarwinCity of DarwinThe City of Darwin is a Local Government Area of the Northern Territory, Australia. It includes the central business district of the capital, Darwin, and represents two-thirds of its metropolitan population. The City covers an area of 112 km² and has a estimated population of 75,908...