Mercy College, Perth


Mercy College is an independent Roman Catholic co-educational primary and high day school located in the suburb of Koondoola, Western Australia. Mercy College caters for 1550 students from kindergarten to Year 12. Mercy College draws on its history as a part of the journey of the Sisters of Mercy, founded by Catherine McAuley. The school was established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1972. The college's aim is to offer a Christian and general education which will provide for the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional and social needs of its students.
The principal is Julie Hornby.

Overview

In January 1846 the first Sisters of Mercy arrived in the new colony promising to give their services to the poor, the sick and the uneducated. Within a few years they had built a convent, three schools and two orphanages - one for aboriginal children.
In 1888 the sisters established St. Brigid's School in in an area of sand and scrub. By 1896 there were about 500 pupils and in 1928 there were 40 Sisters of Mercy and 600 pupils. As the city and the suburbs grew and spread the sisters from West Perth began new schools at , , and. In 1969 the West Perth Sisters decided to leave West Perth as it was now a busy commercial area, and bought land in Koondoola. Mercy College was built in 1972 for girls in the northern suburbs, and St. Brigid's transferred directly to the new Mercy College as well.
The first students were all girls and the first buildings are now part of the Junior Learning Centre on Mirrabooka Avenue. The school expanded rapidly from the first Year 8 - 10 classes in 1972. The primary school began in 1974. Mercy College is now a co-educational school spanning kindergarten to Year 12, and it enrols approximately 1,550 students and employs over 100 staff.
The College is separated into three different learning centres: the Junior Learning Centre, catering for students from kindergarten to Year 6; Middle Learning Centre catering for students from Years 7 to 9 and the Senior Learning Centre catering for students from Years 10 to 12.

Notable alumni