Marymount College, Gold Coast - History

History

Marymount College is situated on Burleigh Connection Road, Burleigh Waters. Marymount traces its origins back to 1959 when Fr Frank Shine was appointed Parish Priest of Burleigh Heads. The Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception as a parish secondary school opened Marymount College in 1968, with sixteen students and two staff. The principal was Sr Mary Patricia, osf. The complex cost $146,000 and consisted of classrooms, a convent and chapel. Responsibility for the College development was to rely heavily on the Burleigh Parish.

In 1971, Sr Carmel Beirne, osf became the new principal, assisted by Sr Marguerite, osf.

In that same year, extensions costing $94,000 were made to the college.

1972 marked another milestone: Marymount College became co-educational to provide for boys on the central and southern sections of the Gold Coast. The first boy enrolled was Justin Lane. Marymount College became the first Catholic co-educational college in Queensland - with an enrolment of 120 students.

In 1974, a Manual Arts Centre was established at a cost of $34,000. This was also the year of the first senior class at Marymount College.

1975 saw the appointment of Mr Michael Lloyd as the first lay Principal and Fr Martin Doyle assumed responsibility for providing the guidance and facilities necessary for a sound Catholic education.

In 1981, Dr Brendan McManus assumed leadership of the College and a new swimming pool was a welcome addition to the sporting facilities. 1982 saw a new library built and an enrolment of 620 students.

Mr Pat Wall was appointed College Principal in 1984. The foresight of Mr Wall in 1987, saw the construction of the Year 8 classroom building. The construction of the Doyle Centre in 1991 was a major building project and provides exceptional facilities for physical education, theatre and music.

Buildings constructed from 1977 - 1991 were designed and supervised by Michael Ryan and built at a cost of $4.8 million dollars.

In 1993, Fr Ken Howell was appointed Administrator of the Burleigh Heads Parish when Fr Martin Doyle, due to ill health, took a long needed rest. Late in 1993, Mr Pat Wall resigned as Principal and Brisbane Catholic Education appointed Mr Bob Cullen as Acting Principal for the 1994 school year. During this year, Fr Pat Molony was appointed Parish Priest.

Ms Vicki Ward assumed the role of College Principal for the 1995 school year.

In 1996, Mr Bob Peacock was appointed College Principal. By 1999, Marymount College had an enrolment of 905 students. Mr Peacock commenced an extensive rebuilding programme with a new Home Economics and Hospitality wing opened in 1998 and a new $900,000 Manual Arts Complex opened in February 1999.

Major expenditure has also been undertaken in the Information Technology area with the College now operating a network well in excess of 275 computers. In September 2001, work commenced on a new Administration building which includes a new staff room with computer access for each teacher. A bookshop is part of this building, completed in April 2002. 2010 saw the opening of the Mary Mackillop Building which hosts state-of-the-art science laboratories and library resource centre.