Damascus College

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, and St Paul's College was a regional school conducted by the Christian Brothers. Damascus College formed when these three schools amalgamated. Damascus College Balla... rat is jointly sponsored by the Institute of Sisters of Mercy Australia and Papua New Guinea 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 one campus in Mt Clear. Although Damascus College originally commenced operation on two campuses, the 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. The Victoria Street campus was closed in December 2010 and the College operated as one campus for the first time at Mt Clear in 2011. The Mt Clear site provides an inspirational natural environment in a rapidly developing area of Ballarat. It is an ideal site for a modern and integrated Year 7-12 campus. 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.Read More