St Mary's College, Ipswich

St Mary's School was established by Sisters of Mercy in 1863 as part of St Mary's Parish for the parish's primary-aged children. In 1913, St Mary's College was established as a separate secondary school exclusively for the higher education of girls in the Mercy tradition. The college and its pupils were then distinct from the primary school students. The Sisters of Mercy ceased administering and teaching at the school in the early 1990s. The college is owned by the Parish and is now administered and staffed by Brisbane Catholic Education.^{[citation needed]} As at 2025, the principal is Paula Goodwin.^[2]

Each year, since 2007, a full musical production is conducted, in conjunction with St Edmund's College, Ipswich. The host school alternates every year.

• 2024 (SMC) - 'Mary Poppins the Broadway Musical'^[3]
• 2023 (SEC) – 'The Addams Family'^[4][5]
• 2022 (SMC) – ‘High School Musical – on Stage’^[6]
• 2021 (SEC) – 'School of Rock'^[7]
• 2019 (SMC) – 'Matilda the musical'^[8]
• 2018 (SEC) – 'Rock of Ages 101: High School Edition'^[9]
• 2017 (SMC) – 'Hairspray'^[10]
• 2016 (SEC) – 'The Wiz'^[11]
• 2015 (SMC) – 'Legally Blonde: The Musical'^[12]
• 2014 (SEC) – 'West Side Story'^[13]
• 2013 (SMC) – 'The Bells of St Mary's'^[14]
• 2012 (SEC) – '13'^{[citation needed]}
• 2011 (SMC) – 'Fame'^{[citation needed]}
• 2010 (SEC) – 'Footloose'^{[citation needed]}
• 2009 (SMC) – 'High School Musical'^{[citation needed]}
• 2008 (SEC) – 'Grease'^{[citation needed]}
• 2007 (SMC) – 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'^{[citation needed]}
• 2006 (SEC) – 'Beach Blanket Tempest'^{[citation needed]}
• 2005 (SMC) – 'little Shop of Horrors'^{[citation needed]}
• 2004 (SEC) – 'The Outsiders'^{[citation needed]}
• 2003 (SMC) – 'Now and Then'^{[citation needed]}
• 2002 (SEC) – 'Back to the 80s'^{[citation needed]}
• 2001 (SMC) – 'Jesus Christ Superstar'^{[citation needed]}
• 2000 (SEC) – 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat'^{[citation needed]}
• 1999 (SMC) – 'Open Season'^{[citation needed]}
• 1998 (SEC) – 'SherWoodstock'^{[citation needed]}
• 1997 (SMC) – 'Worlds Apart'^{[citation needed]}
• 1996 (SEC) – 'Evita'^{[citation needed]}
• 1995 (SMC) – 'Macbeth – The Rock Opera'^{[citation needed]}
• 1994 (SEC) – 'Bye Bye Birdie'^{[citation needed]}
• 1993 SMC) – 'Half a Sixpence'^{[citation needed]}
• 1992 (SEC) – 'The Pirates of Penzance'^{[citation needed]}
• 1991 (SMC) – '¡Viva México! (El grito de Dolores)'^{[citation needed]}
• 1990 (SEC) – 'Pippin'
• 1989 (SMC) – 'Oklahoma'^{[citation needed]}

Students also participate and perform at various musical and drama evenings and lunch-time theatre and theatre sports groups.^{[citation needed]}

St Mary's College has four houses: Gorry, Horan, Murphy and Whitty.^{[citation needed]}

Houses

More information Name, Colour ...

Name	Colour	Name origin
Gorry	Yellow/gold	Named after Jane Gorry, one of the Sisters of Mercy who Mother Vincent Whitty sent to create the school.[citation needed]
Horan	Red	Named after Father Andrew Horan who came to Ipswich in 1875. He was originally meant to fill in at the school's church for Father Brun but ended up staying the rest of his life.[citation needed]
Murphy	Green	Named after Sister Mary Joseph (Bridget) Murphy who worked at the school. With her Irish heritage the house colour is green.[citation needed]
Whitty	Blue	Named after Mother Vincent Whitty who came out from Ireland in 1861. She sent some Mercy Sisters out to establish the school.[citation needed]

Close

• Annastacia Palaszczuk, Queensland premier (2015–2023)^[15]