Rosebank College

Founded in 1867 by Archbishop John Bede Polding and the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, Rosebank College is one of the earliest schools in New South Wales and is among the oldest in Australia. The College currently caters for 1400 students. Young men were welcomed into the Junior School for the first time in 2009 and full co-education was achieved in 2012. The Sisters of the Good Samaritan Congregational Offices were situated at the College until a few years ago where the moved to Glebe. There are private cemetery gardens where the early Good Samaritan sisters are buried.

In 2008, the College and its grounds were heritage-listed under the Local Government Act for historical and cultural significance; "Rosebank College is a rare example of a nineteenth-century estate that survives with most of its land in the Canada Bay Council area. The College has considerable significance for the 1850s chapel that, despite some alterations, retains the qualities of a Victorian Gothic chapel and for the 1876 school building that is a fine example of the work of George Allen Mansfield. The grounds of Rosebank College retain extensive lawns and plantings, many established in the early to mid-twentieth century, that are part of the continuum of use of the site as a Catholic convent and college. The high brick wall around the perimeter is notable in the surrounding streetscape and adds to the amenity of the grounds."[2] In 2017, the College celebrated "150 years of educating young women, and more recently, young men - as one of Australia’s oldest continuing Catholic schools, the College is energised as it draws on ancient wisdom for a modern world."[3]

Rosebank's facilities are housed in eight buildings. The College has just undertaken the biggest building redevelopment project in the school's history, its fourth stage was completed in June 2014, Which included complete restoration of all of the college's facilities and the construction of several new buildings. Students now have access to a Creative Arts & Performing Centre (incorporating a theatre, music, drama and dance facilities), the Scholastica Research and Study Centre (including a Library with almost 10,000 books, IT Support Desk, Study Centre and seminar room, the Benedict Trade Training Centre (which houses two state-of-the-art commercial hospitality kitchens), Science labs, the College gymnasium, computer labs, a Design and Technology Centre, the Benedict Hall, a food technology kitchen, textiles classrooms, visual arts rooms, the College's historic chapel, a Careers Centre and the Student Services building. The Rosebank College campus is notable for the high brick fence surrounding its perimeter and the extensive bank of roses that has existed on the property since the late 1840s.[4] As of 2018, the College finished a new staff and administration building which includes 12 new classrooms.

The House System is the Daily Face of the student body. The Ten Houses are named after significant men and women in the history of the College. The College originally had 6 houses (Brady, Cassidy, Caulfield, Delaney, Dwyer and McLaughlin). This increased to 7 with the introduction of Vaughan in 2013. O'Connor was added to the College house system in 2016. The latest additions, Adamson and Hayes were introduced in 2019.

Adamson Motto: "The Cross gives me welcome rest" Benedictine Patron: Sister Magdalen Adamson

Brady Motto: "In God is my faith" Benedictine Patron: Farther John Brady

Cassidy Motto: "God is my guide and my sword is my compassion" Benedictine Patron: Catherine Cassidy

Caulfield Motto: "Thou may'st break, but shalt not bend me" Benedictine Patron: Patience Caufield

Delaney Motto: "I will serve faith and family" Benedictine Patron: Farther William Delaney

Dwyer Motto: Benedictine Patron: Reverend Dean John Dwyer

Hayes Motto: Benedictine Patron: Francis Hayes

McLaughlin Motto: Benedictine Patron: Clara McLaughlin

O’Connor Motto: Benedictine Patron: Eileen O’Connor

Vaughan

Benedictine Patron: Roger Wiliiam Bede Vaughan

• Jennifer Anne Alexander - Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of Management, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory; Chairman of Gondwana Voices (also attended St Scholastica's College)[5]
• Jan Cameron, Olympic swimmer and coach[6]
• Theresa Ann McLaughlin - founding sister of the Society of Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor; First Superior and later Mother General of the Order[7]
• Melina Marchetta, author of several successful young adult novels including Looking for Alibrandi

• List of Catholic schools in New South Wales
• Catholic education in Australia

• Rosebank College website
• Sisters of the Good Samaritan