In a bold move by Sydney Catholic Schools, St Mary’s Cathedral College, one of Australia’s oldest schools, is set to evolve as a dual-campus school with a second state-of-the-art Sydney campus being developed.

Located at 52-58 William Street, the new campus will see the conversion of a commercial office building into a state-of-the-art multi-storey learning centre. Undoubtedly, it stands as one of the premier locations for a school not just in Sydney, but perhaps across Australia. The vertical campus will include contemporary secondary spaces, seminar areas and facilities for the performing arts.  

Celebrating its bicentenary this year, the college is expanding to meet the growing needs of its school community and will be a Kindergarten to Year 12 coeducational school. From 2025, the college will welcome both boys and girls from Kindergarten to Year 7.

In the long term the dual-campus will enable even more students across Sydney to take advantage of a high-quality inner-city education under the expert stewardship of Sydney Catholic Schools.

One of the colleges’ advantages is its proximity to Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD), which has resulted in the formation of partnerships with the city’s most recognisable and renowned institutions, including the Australian Museum and HEX High Accelerator Program.

Students will be minutes from the Art Gallery of NSW, the Australian Museum, Hyde Park Barracks, and The Botanic Gardens which provide an extension of their everyday learning and present an unparalleled opportunity to establish collaborative and reciprocal relationships with esteemed organisations and institutions spanning arts, business, the judiciary, and politics.

Tony Farley, Executive Director of Sydney Catholic Schools, highlights that the integration of a second campus also represents an exciting opportunity to expand the horizons of the students’ educational journey. 

“This significant development will serve as a catalyst to further enrich the learning experiences we offer at the college and across the wider Sydney Catholic Schools system. 

“The Sydney community is showing a keen interest in our initiatives, and judging by the extraordinary enthusiasm, we anticipate the school becoming one of the most sought-after in the country,” Mr Tony Farley said.

Kevin Carragher, Director of Education and Research at Sydney Catholic Schools, highlights that a school in the city has benefits not only for the college but for the wider community as well.

“Utilising our scale, capacity and vision, Sydney Catholic Schools is fostering an active, vibrant presence contributing to the cultural and economic tapestry of Sydney’s CBD. 

“Students will serve as ambassadors not only for St Mary’s but Sydney Catholic Schools as a system, seamlessly integrating into the urban fabric and becoming part of the vibrant city life,” Mr Kevin Carragher said.

Principal of the College, Kerrie McDiarmid, says she is proud that the College will be a valuable part of the community of Sydney.

“St Mary’s empowers students to become confident, forward-thinking members of society. At St Mary’s, they will be given the opportunity to learn important skills, gain knowledge, and develop strong values which will help them make a positive and long-lasting impact on the world,” Mrs Kerrie McDiarmid said.

“And it’s not solely about what the city offers the school, but also how the school contributes to the city, with an emphasis on service to address genuine community needs and engagement with society.” 

St Mary’s is now accepting enrolments for girls and boys K-6 2025, Year 7 girls 2025, and co-ed Year 7 2026.

Students and their families are also invited to attend the St Mary’s Cathedral College Open Day on Wednesday, 6 March 2024 from 2pm – 6pm.