St Catherine's School traces its origins to 1855, when Jane Barker, wife of Frederic Barker, second Archbishop of Sydney, decided to establish a school for the daughters of the clergy. Barker and her husband had travelled throughout New South Wales, and realised that the poor stipends of the clergy in country areas meant that their daughters could not benefit from a good education. Within five months, Barker had raised enough money to secure a premises in Point Piper Road, Edgecliff, and had hired Ms Loftus to run the St Catherine's Clergy Daughters School. Barker wished for her school to be modelled on Casterton School, the school attended by the Brontë sisters, who were themselves the daughters of a poor clergyman. The Clergy Daughters School was officially opened in its temporary location on 5 March 1856. Shortly after the school's opening, Barker was able to secure a land grant of near Waverley, and began to look towards the creation of a small missionary settlement, including the Clergy Daughters' School, a church, parsonage and a village school. In September 1857, the foundation stone of the new School was laid, and in 1859, the sandstone building which remains the focus of the School today, was completed. Barker continued to be closely involved with the fledgling Clergy Daughters' school until her death in 1876. When enrolments began to decline during the depression years of 1891-1895, day girls were admitted to the school for the first time. The Principal, Ms Darling, also introduced the first school uniform during this time, in the form of an olive green dress. In 1933, the house system was introduced. After the Second World War, the swimming pool, a new assembly building and the junior school were added amongst other renovations. A new sports centre was opened in 2002.
Houses
Barker was named after the Bishop and Mrs Barker, Casterton House after the school on which St Catherine's was modelled, and the third House was named Bronte as Charlotte Brontë had mentioned Casterton in Jane Eyre. Hulme-Moir and Sutherland were created in 1987.
Headmistresses
Ordinal
Officeholder
Term start
Term end
Time in office
Notes
1
Jane Sophie Barker
1856
1856
years
Founder
2
Miss Loftus
1856
1860
years
Lady Superintendent
3
Miss Law
1860
1883
years
Lady Superintendent
4
Helen Phillips
1884
1890
years
5
Rebecca Darling
1891
1895
years
6
Charlotte Fox
1895
1903
years
7
Ellen Lenthall
1903
1934
years
8
Isabel Hall
1935
1947
years
9
Ella Mitchell
1948
1949
years
10
Una Fitzhardinge
1950
1954
years
11
Faith Patterson
1955
1987
years
12
Jo Karaolis
1988
2000
years
13
Lynne Stone
2001
2009
years
14
Julie Townsend
2010
incumbent
years
Campus
Since 1859, St Catherine's School has been situated on one suburban campus, currently in size and featuring a mix of 19th century and modern buildings, gardens and views to the Tasman Sea. Some notable facilities of the college include the Jo Karaolis Sports Centre, with facilities for netball, tennis, basketball and gymnastics and school functions; the Dame Joan Sutherland Centre for the Performing Arts, featuring a drama theatre, recording studio, dance studio, band room and music practice and teaching areas; computing facilities in the Sutherland Centre; an Independent Learning Centre and Student Meeting Room; swimming pool; Junior School and library; and Year 12 common room and Senior School Library; The Boarding House, uniform shop, deli, museum and playgrounds. After school care facilities are also located on site.
Notable alumnae
of St Catherine's School are known as "Old Girls" and may elect to join the schools Alumni association, known as the "Old Girls' Union". The Old Girls' Union was established on 11 November 1898 by Miss Charlotte Elizabeth Fox, the Headmistress at the time. At its foundation the aim of the union was to keep past pupils in contact with the school and promote its good, whilst also encouraging younger members to continue furthering their talents after graduation. Some notable Old Girls' of St Catherine's include: ;Entertainment, media and the arts
