Clairvaux MacKillop College in Upper Mount Gravatt is marking 40 years as a college in 2026, with a story shaped by earlier Catholic schooling at Holland Park and the eventual joining of two neighbouring secondary schools in Brisbane’s south.
A College Story With Earlier Roots
Clairvaux MacKillop College’s 40-year milestone in 2026 is part of a longer local history.
Now a Year 7 to 12 Catholic secondary school on Klumpp Road, the college was formed from two foundation schools: Clairvaux College and MacKillop Catholic College. Its identity reflects the traditions of the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of St Joseph, which shaped the two schools that came before it.
Although the current college marks four decades, its wider story reaches back to 1918, when a three-acre site at Holland Park was purchased by Archbishop Emeritus James Duhig. That site later became home to Catholic schooling and is now home to St Joachim’s School.
From Holland Park to Upper Mount Gravatt
The Holland Park campus was first associated with a co-educational primary school and later a secondary girls’ school. By 1970, the campus was running short of space for both primary and secondary students.
That led to plans for the secondary girls’ college, then known as St Joseph’s College, to move to the larger Upper Mount Gravatt site. MacKillop College is recorded as opening behind Clairvaux College in 1971, giving girls a Catholic secondary school on the same Upper Mount Gravatt grounds.
Clairvaux College had opened earlier, in 1966, after the need for Catholic secondary schooling in the growing Mount Gravatt area was identified in the early 1960s. Brother Surawski was the first principal of Clairvaux College, while Sister Margaret Mary Campbell was the first principal of MacKillop College.
For years, the two schools operated separately on adjoining grounds. Clairvaux College served boys, while MacKillop College served girls.
How Clairvaux MacKillop College Came Together
A decision to amalgamate the two colleges was made in late 1984. The process began in 1985 under the principalship of Dr Tony Baker.
Clairvaux MacKillop College was established in 1986, retaining the names of both foundation colleges. Full integration was later completed in 1988.
The college’s formation brought together two school communities, two histories and two Catholic education traditions. The result was a co-educational secondary college that continued the academic, sporting, cultural and pastoral care foundations of its predecessors.
Campus Life and Learning Pathways
The Upper Mount Gravatt campus now includes open spaces, sporting fields, courts, indoor sports facilities and dedicated training areas. Students also use contemporary classrooms, science laboratories, technology centres, a learning centre and an auditorium.
Creative learning is supported through music studios, dance areas and performance spaces. The curriculum includes vocational pathways, STEM programs, engineering, psychology, arts, humanities and science subjects.
The college also runs an Academic Excellence extension program, with 120 students currently taking part. The program covers science, technology, humanities and the arts, with some students undertaking university subjects before finishing school.
Anniversary Year Continues
Clairvaux MacKillop College marked the milestone with a Back to Clairvaux MacKillop College evening on 19 June.
A 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner is scheduled for 11 September for parents, past staff and the broader community. Past student and NRL player Luke Bateman is due to attend, along with other alumni.
The anniversary year also includes Australian Education Awards recognition. STEM and Academic Excellence Coordinator Dr Maynard Victor Erece was nominated for Secondary School Teacher of the Year in the non-government category, while the college was nominated for the Street Science Best STEM Program award. Curriculum Leader Science Katrina Dalglish was also nominated for Department Head of the Year.
Published 1-July-2026
