A new day has only begun
Aquinas Boys’ College opened its doors on
February 8th, 1961, with an enrolment of 130 boys in Forms 1 and 2. The first Catholic Regional High School in Melbourne, it was set up to serve the needs of the parishes of Ringwood, Mitcham, Croydon, Lilydale and Healesville. An area of 30 acres alongside Jubilee Park offered adequate space for the projected complex of Boys’ and Girls’ Schools with chapel, library, assembly hall and playing fields. The first nine classrooms, with tuckshop, office, library and staff room cost 100,000 pounds. The work of building was commenced in 1960, with Mr. Stan Moran as architect. The foundation stone was blessed by Archbishop Simonds on November 26, 1960. The College colours were red, green and black and the motto was “llluminare et Ardere” (To light up and blaze). Archbishop Simonds returned to open the College officially on May 22, 1961. 19
