| Damascus College | |
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| Address | |
| 1412 Geelong Road, Mount Clear Ballarat, Victoria, Australia |
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| Information | |
| School type | Catholic |
| Motto | To Live by the Light of Christ |
| Established | 1995 |
| Years Offered | Secondary Years 7 - 12 |
| Campuses | Two (1 Junior, 1 senior) (Single in Future) |
| Colour(s) | Gold, Navy Blue and Maroon |
| Website | http://www.damascus.vic.edu.au/ |
Damascus College is a secondary, co-educational, Catholic day school situated in Ballarat
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The College was established in 1995 after three separate Catholic colleges, St. Martin's in the Pines (Mount Clear), Sacred Heart College (Ballarat East, both owned and administered by the Sisters of Mercy) and St. Pauls College (Ballarat East, conducted by the Christian Brothers) amalgamated to form the largest co-educational catholic school in Ballarat.
The Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy had its formal beginnings in Ireland in 1831. Its foundress, Catherine McAuley, in response to the needs of the time, established an institutiuon for the care and education of less advantaged girls and young women. Since that foundation the Congregation has continued to act in response to contemporary needs in society.
In 1881, as part of this heritage, the Sisters of Mercy established Sacred Heart College in Ballarat East for students from Preparatory to Year 12. The primary students were later moved to St. Francis Xavier College. In 1967, a separate campus for Years 11 and 12 girls was developed at Mount Clear to form Sacred Heart Senior College, St. Martin's in the Pines. In 1988, this campus became co-educational, with boys mainly from St. Paul's College.
The Christian Brothers were founded in Ireland in 1802 by Br. Edmund Rice to educate the sons of poor and oppressed Catholic families. The Brothers provided the education whereby these boys gained some control of their lives.
When the Bishop of Ballarat, Most Reverend James O'Collins established St. Paul's College in 1948, he invited the Christian Brothers to continue their work for boys through the provision of technical education.
Based on the philosophies of the founders, the Colleges offered a broad education for boys and girls to prepare them for future life choices. Sacred Heart College offered a comprehensive education for girls from Years 7 to 10. St. Pauls College emphasised the development of technical skills within a comprehensive Year 7 to 10 curriculum for boys. St. Martin's in the Pines continued this broad education in an atmosphere and environment appropriate to students about to complete their secondary education.
Damascus College is jointly sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy (Ballarat East) and the Parish Priests of Ballarat, Ballarat East, Ballarat North, Bungaree, Cressy, Creswick, Daylesford, Gordon, Linton, Redan, Sebastopol, and Wendouree. The College provided Catholic secondary co-education for day students in Ballarat and surrounding areas on two campuses located at Ballarat East and Mount Clear. Tony Duggan is currently on leave from principal, Acting Principal is Matthew Byrne at Mount Clear, and Sr Marie Davey (RSM) at Victoria Street.
In August 2010, it was announced that as of 2011, Mr Matthew Byrne will take over as College Principal, following the resignation of Mr. Tony Duggan
Venerable Catherine McAuley
Brother Edmund Ignatius Rice
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