Our History

ST MICHAEL’S School began in 1912 in a church-school belonging to the parish of Camperdown, whose parish priest, Fr James Whyte, was a former Diocesan Inspector of Schools. He arranged for the Sisters of Mercy (Parramatta Congregation) staff the school, and they travelled there each day from their convent in Darlington. In 1915, when there were 243 pupils, Fr Whyte saw to the erection of a separate school building. Extensions were added in 1926.

Stanmore became a separate parish in 1916, and the school grew to over 300 pupils by 1925. At this stage it was a coeducational primary school for girls to Sixth Class and for boys in lower primary. From 1928 a number of girls continued to Intermediate ( Third Year secondary) and could do ‘Commercial’ courses. Catholic directories indicate that enrolment peaked about 380 in the mid 1950s.

In the 1960s Catholic schools were in crisis because of increased enrolments and shortage of funds. Archdiocesan authorities decided that secondary education should he restricted to designated regional schools. Consequently, secondary classes were ended at St Michael’s by 1965. The crisis also saw the start of the Archdiocesan system of schools managed by the CEO, Sydney. St Michael’s became part of the system. Another change at the end of 1964 was that the Parramatta Sisters of Mercy ended their involvement and handed over the administration of St Michael’s to the Grafton Mercy Congregation. This gave the Grafton Congregation a base in Sydney.

Demographic change in the inner suburbs has led to some decline in enrolments at St Michael’s, and in 2007 there are 177 pupils from Kindergarten to Year 6. Since 1990 boys have continued to Year 6, in accord with Archdiocesan preference that primary education he in parish schools. Another change has been in staffing. With government funding available since the 1960s, more lay teachers have been employed, so that in 1998 there were seven full-time teachers for 152 pupils, as compared with 6 teachers for 300 pupils in 1960. Finally, the Sisters of Mercy ended their teaching in 1993 and the first lay principal, Mrs Teresa Coghlan, was appointed.

In 1982-84 a new three-storey wing was built. Then in 1995-97 a major redevelopment was undertaken, with the help of funding from the Federal government. The 1916 building was demolished and replaced by a modern complex containing four new classrooms, a library, a school parish hall, and a new administration and staff section. As aircraft noise was a problem in the area, the government’s Noise Amelioration Program allowed the addition of double- glazed windows, insulation and reverse cycle air conditioning.