St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Manly was established in 1881, five years after the founding of the St Mary Immaculate Parish.
For the first four years, the school was led by a lay Principal, until the Sisters of the Good Samaritan assumed responsibility for teaching and administration in 1885. The school educated both boys and girls up to an intermediate level, and at one point, even housed an Industrial Orphanage on site.
Over time, the site has hosted several other institutions, including Stella Maris Secondary College and the Christian Brothers High School, both of which have since relocated. Today, the buildings flanking St Mary’s Church are fully occupied by our Primary School.
Throughout the years, the interiors of these historic buildings have undergone renovations. The former Christian Brothers High School now features six senior classrooms and a modern library. Yet, if you look closely—around and above—you’ll still find traces of the original school, architectural additions from various eras, and the beautiful old church building at its heart.
St Mary’s has gracefully blended heritage and innovation, evolving to meet the educational needs of children across generations—from the last century into the present day.
