Heritage Centre Since 1857, when St Augustine’s Orphanage opened, there have been boys present on Newtown Hill. In 1889, the current VCE building was constructed to house St Joseph’s Boarding school, which opened in March 1890. Sharing the site with the Orphanage, St Joseph’s functioned until early 1893, when St Patrick’s in Ballarat opened; Bishop Gould encouraged parents to send their sons there rather than St Joseph’s. On Sunday 3 February 1935, The Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Mannix reopened and blessed St Joseph’s College. The following Monday 120 boys ranging in age from eight to seventeen began their education. For 85 years, St Joseph’s College has continued the work of the Christian Brothers educating boys, encouraging them to live lives of ‘Compassion, Innovation and Integrity’. 2020 will be a year that St Joseph’s Community, and the world will never forget. For most of its 85th Anniversary year the
buildings and grounds of St Joseph’s College have been almost deserted, the soul of the College, its boys isolated from their friends, and teachers. Yet as they have done many times in the past 85 years I am sure the ‘Boys on Newtown Hill’, will overcome the difficulties of this year. In honour of the last 85 years, I am sharing two photographs from opening day and a photograph of Brother R.X Butler the Principal in 1935 (these photograph’s are from the College Heritage Collection) and excerpts from the Geelong Advertiser’s 150th Anniversary edition article on the opening of the College. Brother McCarthy, the Assistant Superior of the Christian Brothers World Order and the Superior of the Order in Australia, gave the opening day speech. I hope that you enjoy the extracts from his speech as originally reported in a 1935 edition of the Geelong Advertiser. Susan Belluzzo, College Archivist The Heritage Centre is located on the corner of Shannon Ave and Lesley St, and is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8.00am – 4.00pm
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