History
Damascus College Ballarat, established in 1995, has its origin in three Colleges. Sacred Heart College and St Martin's in the Pines were owned and administered by the Sisters of Mercy, St Paul's College was a regional school conducted by the Christian Brothers.
The congregation of the Sisters of Mercy had its formal beginnings in Ireland in 1831. Its foundress, Catherine McAuley, in response to the needs of the time, established an institution for the care and education of less advantaged girls and young women. Since that foundation the congregation has continued to act in response to contemporary needs in society.
In 1881, as part of this heritage, the Sisters of Mercy established Sacred Heart College in Ballarat East for students from Preparatory to Year 12. The Primary students were later moved to St Francis Xavier College. In 1967, a separate campus for Years 11 and 12 girls was developed at Mt Clear to form Sacred Heart Senior College, St Martin's in the Pines. In 1988, this campus became co-educational, with boys mainly from St Paul's College.
The Christian Brothers were founded in Ireland in 1802 by Br. Edmund Rice to educate the sons of poor and oppressed Catholic families. The Brothers provided the education whereby these boys gained some control of their lives.
When the Bishop of Ballarat, Most Reverend James O'Collins established St Paul's College in 1948, he invited the Christian Brothers to continue their work for boys through the provision of technical education.
Based on the philosophies of the founders, the colleges offered a broad education for boys and girls to prepare them for future life choices. Sacred Heart College offered a comprehensive education for girls from Years 7 to 10. St Paul's College emphasised the development of technical skills within a comprehensive Years 7 to 10 curriculum for boys. St Martin's in the Pines continued this broad education in an atmosphere and an environment appropriate to students about to complete their secondary education.
Damascus College Ballarat is jointly sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy (Ballarat East) and the Parish Priests of Ballarat, Ballarat East, Ballarat North, Bungaree, Creswick, Daylesford, Gordon, Redan, Sebastopol and Wendouree. The College provides Catholic secondary co-education for day students in Ballarat and surrounding areas on two campuses located at Ballarat East and Mt Clear.
A decision to work towards amalgamating the Victoria Street campus and the Mt Clear campus onto one site at Mt Clear was announced by the Governors in 2005. Development is taking place on the Mt Clear site and Year 9 has moved to Mt Clear.
The Mt Clear site will ultimately provide an inspirational natural environment in a rapidly developing area of Ballarat. It is an ideal site for the development of a comprehensive, modern and integrated Year 7-12 campus.
Upon completion of the project the entire student community will be accommodated at Mt Clear. The result of the amalgamation of the campuses will be the provision of exceptional facilities that will enhance the teaching and learning opportunities for students and staff in a safe and welcoming environment.
