Two private Mackay Catholic schools to merge into one

The schools have enjoyed a long partnership with one another, with the move to take place in 2023.

The merger of two long-established private schools in Mackay will mark a historic moment for the region.

Founded in the early 1900s, St Patrick’s College will fully amalgamate with Mercy College by 2023.

St Patrick’s was originally established as a boarding school with boys enrolled at the Christian Brothers College and girls sent to the Convent High School.

Then in 1968, the Our Lady of Mercy Convent High School opened for girls only in Penn St, later becoming Our Lady of Mercy College.

Both St Patrick’s and Mercy became coeducational in 1987, the same year Our Lady of Mercy College was changed to Mercy College.

Mercy students traditionally follow on to enrol at St Patrick’s, with the 2023 merger to follow another big change in Mackay catholic education.

In 2022, the Catherine McAuley College will open in the former Sugar Research Institute heritage-listed building along Nebo Rd, beginning with Year 7 enrolments only.

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Other grades will be rolled out in the ensuing years.

Catherine McAuley College’s inaugural principal and former Mercy College principal Jim Ford said the demand for catholic education in Mackay had created bottlenecks.

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Originally published as Two private Mackay Catholic schools to merge into one