History of St Augustine's College, Sydney in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 8, 2025

St Augustine's College, Sydney, is an independent Roman Catholic day school for boys located in Brookvale, on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Catering to approximately 1,200 students from Year 5 to Year 12, the college operates under an Augustinian education ethos. Founded by the Priests of the Order of St. Augustine, the school's location is opposite Brookvale Oval.

1955: Construction of Old School Chapel

In 1955, the Old School Chapel was constructed as a Church by the Manly Vale Parish. It is located at the front of the school.

April 1956: Foundation Stone Laid for Augustine Wing

On April 1, 1956, the foundation stone was laid and blessed for the Augustine Wing, the oldest building at St Augustine's College. It was initially a two-story structure with 5 classrooms.

1956: David John Brimson, OSA, becomes first Rector

In 1956, David John Brimson, OSA, became the first Rector of St Augustine's College. The title of Rector was used for the head of the school, following Augustinian tradition.

1956: College Founded

In 1956, St Augustine's College was founded as an all-boys school by Fr. Thomas Alphonsus Hunt, at the request of Archbishop Norman Cardinal Gilroy. The location was the disused tram terminus in Alfred Road Brookvale.

1956: Opening of the school in the Old School Chapel

In 1956, the school first opened and classes were held in the Old School Chapel.

1956: Colour Groups Established

In 1956, upon the opening of St Augustine's College, boys were divided into three Colour groups: Red, Green, and Gold, named after the college colors. Later, a fourth group, Blue, was added to facilitate competition. These groups eventually became known as Houses.

1956: Rugby Union Chosen as Winter Sport

In 1956, when St Augustine's College opened, Rugby Union was chosen as the Winter sport. Games were played between the Colour "Houses" on Thursday afternoons at various locations, including Brookvale Oval and Manly District Park.

March 1957: Augustine Wing officially opened

On March 17, 1957, the first section of the Augustine Wing was officially blessed and opened by Norman Cardinal Gilroy, despite already being in use since November of the previous year.

1957: Ronald Bopf O.S.A. joins music staff

In 1957, Ronald Bopf O.S.A. joined the music staff at St Augustine's College, teaching Recorders and classroom music until 1972.

1961: Mendel Wing Opened

In 1961, the Mendel Wing was opened at St Augustine's College, specifically designed to house the school's science classrooms and laboratories.

1962: Paul Whelan O.S.A. joins music staff

In 1962, Paul Whelan O.S.A. joined the music staff at St Augustine's College, teaching flute and piccolo until 1966 and later from 1968 to 1979.

1962: First Game against Villanova College

In 1962, St Augustine's College played its first annual game against Brisbane Augustinian School, Villanova College, at Kierle Park.

1964: End of David John Brimson's tenure as Rector

In 1964, David John Brimson finished his tenure as Rector of St Augustine's College.

1964: Rod Cameron OSA begins teaching tenure

In 1964, Rod Cameron OSA began his teaching tenure at St Augustine's College, a tenure that would last until 1984.

1966: Paul Whelan O.S.A. pauses time with music staff

In 1966, Paul Whelan O.S.A. paused his time as part of the music staff at St Augustine's College.

1967: Christopher Saunders Graduates

In 1967, Christopher Saunders graduated from St Augustine's College.

1968: Paul Whelan O.S.A. rejoins music staff

In 1968, Paul Whelan O.S.A. rejoined the music staff at St Augustine's College, where he would remain until 1979.

1969: Barry Hayes joins drama department

In 1969, Barry Hayes joined the drama department at St Augustine's College and was on staff until 1975.

1972: Ronald Bopf O.S.A. leaves music staff

In 1972, Ronald Bopf O.S.A. ended his time with the music staff at St Augustine's College.

1972: Tolentine Wing Initially Constructed

In 1972, the Tolentine Wing was initially constructed as a single-story building to house the expanding library at St Augustine's College.

1975: Barry Hayes leaves drama department

In 1975, Barry Hayes finished time in the drama department at St Augustine's College.

1977: Production of The Pirates of Penzance

In 1977, St Augustine's College produced The Pirates of Penzance in collaboration with Monte and Stella Maris, under the direction of Les Solomon.

1977: Performance of Noye's Fludde

In 1977, St Augustine's College, together with St Andrew's Cathedral School, performed Benjamin Britten's Noye's Fludde in St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral.

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1978: Trial by Jury performed

In 1978, St Augustine's College, in collaboration with Monte Sant' Angelo and Stella Maris Girls College at Manly, produced Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta, Trial by Jury.

1978: Production of David and Lisa and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

In 1978, under the direction of Les Solomon, St Augustine's College produced Frank and Eleanor Perry's David and Lisa and Bob Babalan and Gary Burghoff's You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

1979: Paul Whelan O.S.A. leaves music staff

In 1979, Paul Whelan O.S.A. ended his time as part of the music staff at St Augustine's College.

1979: Production of Goodbye, Mr. Chips and The Crucible

In 1979, under the direction of Les Solomon, St Augustine's College produced James Hilton's Goodbye, Mr. Chips and Arthur Miller's The Crucible.

1980: Production of The Fantasticks

In 1980, under the direction of Les Solomon, St Augustine's College produced Harvey Schmidt's The Fantasticks.

1984: Rod Cameron OSA ends teaching tenure

In 1984, Rod Cameron OSA ended his teaching tenure at St Augustine's College, which had begun in 1964.

1987: Goold Wing Added

In 1987, the Goold Wing, named after James Alipius Goold, was added to St Augustine's College. It contained classrooms, music rooms, an auditorium, and staff facilities.

1993: First Lay Principal Appointed

In 1993, Dave Austin retired as Rector and John J. O'Brien became the first lay Principal of St Augustine's College. Following this, the school moved to a fully lay Catholic staff.

1995: Opening of Good Counsel Wing

In 1995, the original Good Counsel Wing, a U-shaped building, opened at the back of the College. It consisted of six classrooms used exclusively by the Primary School years 5 and 6.

2003: College name changed

In 2003, St Augustine's College, Brookvale, changed its name to St Augustine's College, Sydney, when it started its International Student Program, encouraging students from other countries to enroll.

2003: Brimson Centre Constructed

In 2003, the Brimson Centre was constructed at St Augustine's College to provide first-class indoor sports and gymnasium facilities. It housed a full-size basketball court, the Augustine Resource Centre (ARC), computer areas, and seminar rooms.

2003: Library Moved to ARC

In 2003, the library was moved from the ground floor of the Tolentine Wing to the ARC (Augustine Resource Centre) at St Augustine's College.

2004: College Incorporated

In 2004, St Augustine's College was incorporated and began to be operated by a Board of Directors, transitioning from being under the auspices of a College Council.

2005: Construction of Lecceto Arts Centre

In 2005, the Lecceto Arts Centre was constructed as a modern creative arts facility at the school. The centre housed music facilities, computer rooms, and an auditorium.

2005: Goold Wing Refurbishment

In 2005, the second and third floors of the Goold Wing at St Augustine's College underwent refurbishment to coincide with the construction of the Lecceto Arts Centre. As part of these upgrades, the auditorium was relocated to the Lecceto Arts Centre.

2006: 50th Year "Golden Jubilee"

In 2006, St Augustine's College celebrated its 50th year "Golden Jubilee". All students received a "Jubilee Medallion," and a special gold tie with green and red stripes was created for the year. A new school emblem/logo was created for the Jubilee year.

2006: Production of "The Musical, The Musical"

In 2006, St Augustine's College produced "The Musical, The Musical", which was written by college staff.

2008: First Australian Schoolboys Representative Selected

In 2008, St Augustine's College had its first selection of an Australian Schoolboys Representative.

2008: Production of Little Shop of Horrors

In 2008, St Augustine's College produced the musical Little Shop of Horrors.

2008: Waratah Shield success begins

Since 2008, St Augustine's has won the state-wide Waratah Shield in nine of the last ten years under John Papahatzis and Mark Downey.

2013: Introduction of new demountable classrooms

In 2013, four new demountable classrooms were introduced behind the Tolentine wing. These classrooms included smart boards and air conditioning, and one had a permanent concrete ramp for disabled access.

March 2016: Co-production of In The Heights

In March 2016, St Augustine's College launched a co-production with Stella Maris College of In The Heights, under the musical direction of Joe Montz and direction of Owen Vale and Geoff Cartwright.

2016: 60th Anniversary Celebrated

In 2016, St Augustine's College celebrated its 60th anniversary. On February 25, a Commemorative Mass was held at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, attended by over 1200 students, Old Boys, and staff. Students received a new 60 Years tie and lapel pin featuring the original Augustinian logo.

2016: Construction of new buildings and renovations

In 2016, St Augustine's College constructed two new buildings and renovated many offices and classrooms as part of further refurbishments and expansion.

2016: Introduction of the new Mendel wing

In 2016, the new Mendel wing was introduced as part of two new builds. The new Mendel wing contained 6 science classrooms, 6 Laboratories, has 2 seminar rooms and features a large storage facility for scientific equipment as well as a staff room.

2016: Demolition of Good Counsel Wing

In 2016, the original Good Counsel Wing was demolished. Subsequently a new three-level Clancy/Good Counsel building was opened, featuring a ground floor car-park and a multi-purpose room called The Haven.

2016: Building program of 2016/17

Prior to the building program of 2016/17, Moran House and Cameron House were used as Senior Common Rooms and study centers for Year 11 and Year 12 students. After the building program, they were refurbished for use by staff of the Religion, History, and Geography Departments.

2017: Tolentine Wing upgrades complete

In 2017, after upgrades, the common rooms in the Tolentine Wing were relocated to the Clancy Wing.

2017: Clancy Wing Opens

In 2017, the current Clancy Wing which incorporates the original Mendel Wing, opened at St Augustine's College. It houses the new Good Counsel Wing for the Primary School, teachers' offices and an Open Learning Centre.

2019: Goold Wing Demolished and Rebuilt

In 2019, the Goold Wing at St Augustine's College was being demolished and rebuilt as part of a major rebuilding project. The Design and Technology Workshops were relocated to the lower floor of the Brimson Centre.

2019: Demolition and Rebuild of Lecceto Arts Centre

In 2019, the Lecceto Arts Centre was demolished and rebuilt. The building previously housed music facilities, computer rooms, and an auditorium, and was used for casual lunches and presentations.

2019: Demolition of demountable classrooms

In 2019, the four demountable classrooms that were located behind the current Tolentine wing were demolished. The classrooms were replaced by the renewed reconstruction of the G Block.