A daring faith is part of the motto. That’s what brought us here to Marist College Eastwood. This independent Roman Catholic day school for boys has a rich history and a strong commitment to its students. Marist College Eastwood is located in Eastwood, Sydney.
Marist College Eastwood began as St Kevin’s Boys’ School on February 2 1937. Brother Leopold Smith and three other Marist brothers founded it. They were Brothers Ervan McDonough Loyola Sullivan and Kenneth Harris. The school started with 100 students on the site of Eastwood House. William Rutledge built Eastwood House. Edward Terry purchased it in 1863. Terry became Eastwood’s first mayor.
The Catholic Church purchased the property in 1929 using Vatican funds. The building’s awnings roofing and window panelling were renovated in 1990. Further renovations occurred as recently as 2019. The school also acquired neighboring front terraces. These cottages were renovated into classrooms and administrative spaces. The City of Ryde has heritage-listed these buildings.
The school colors red yellow and black connect to the North Sydney Bears Rugby League team. These colors are now part of the school’s identity. They appear on uniforms and other media.
In the 1960s St Kevin’s Boys’ School became Marist Brothers’ High School Eastwood. Students from St Kevin’s Primary School joined the college in Year 5. The teachers were Marist Brothers or other religious missionaries. The local parish church and parents funded the school.
In the early 1970s a new academic complex was built. It now houses the science and HSIE faculty. By 1985 the school stopped enrolling students in Year 5. In 1987 the school appointed its first lay principal. On April 2 1993 the school officially became Marist College Eastwood. The Marist Brothers shared authority with the Catholic Education Office of Sydney now Sydney Catholic Schools. Today Marist College Eastwood is a systemic Catholic school. Funding goes to Sydney Catholic Schools who distribute resources.
In 1972 Brother Oswin McKinney created the Marist Singers of Eastwood. They performed in “Carmen”. In 1974 they were the official choir in “Joseph’s Technicolor Dream Coat”. In 1977 Paul Bateman became the Artistic Director. In 1978 the choir changed its name to The Marist Singers Of NSW.
In 1999 teachers and students traveled to Rome. They joined others from Marist Schools worldwide to celebrate the canonization of Marcellin Champagnat.
The school has marked many milestones. In 1982 the Year 12 class donated a flagpole. In 2010 another flagpole was purchased. The Australian and Aboriginal flags are raised each morning. In 2006 the backyard area of the cottages became a grass playground. It was later redeveloped into a synthetic grass area. In 2010 the library was renovated. It reopened as the Father Peter Ryan Learning Centre. In the same year laptops were given to all students.
Marist College Eastwood celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2012. The college’s first enrolled boy Jim Maloney attended. In 2017 the college celebrated its 80th anniversary. This coincided with 200 years of Marist-led education in Australia. In 2015 the Montagne Centre was built. It provides greater enrolment capacity and recreational activities.
In 2019 classrooms were refurbished. In 2020 the school transitioned from its Latin motto “Respice Finem”. It was replaced with “A Daring Faith” “A Dynamic Education” and a “Holistic Personhood”.
In 2021 the school added demountable structures and renovated classrooms. Solar panels were installed on the library. An indigenous mural was placed on the library building.
In 2022 the college celebrated 85 years. In 2023 Champagnat Court was renovated. The Creative and Performing Arts rooms were refurbished. In 2024 the basketball courtyard was renovated.
Marist College Eastwood offers a comprehensive education rooted in Marist traditions. It prepares young men to be good Christians and good citizens.