From the Archives - The Birth of a Vision
It was February 1914 when Archbishop Duhig wrote to Brother Barron, the Provincial Leader of the Christian Brothers, his words were resolute: “We have given instructions for the plans for a fine school at South Brisbane. I know you will do all in your power to secure Brothers for it next year.” His vision for a school at South Brisbane had been set into motion.
By May, the blueprint of this vision began to materialize in public view. An advertisement appeared in the Courier Mail, placed by the esteemed architect T.R. Hall. Hall, whose fingerprints adorned many of Brisbane’s iconic landmarks—from City Hall to the Tattersalls Club—called for tenders to construct a new Roman Catholic brick school at St Kilian’s Hill.
Sunday 11 July 1914 dawned with the kind of brilliance that only Brisbane could muster. A gentle breeze danced through a cloudless sky as a large crowd gathered in anticipation. They had come to witness not just a foundation stone being laid but the rekindling of a legacy. St Kilian’s Roman Catholic School, once a bastion of Catholic education, was to rise anew as a symbol of hope and progress.
Archbishop Duhig arrived mid-afternoon, his presence commanding the crowd’s attention. As he stood to bless the stone, his words soared like the spire of a great cathedral. He painted a vivid picture of the noble structure that would soon grace the summit of St Kilian’s Hill, envisioning a place where boys would be moulded into the leaders of tomorrow. To the crowds amazement the Archbishop announced that, in honour of Archbishop Dunne, the school would be called St Laurence O’Toole School after the St Laurence Seminary in Ireland that Dunne studied at.
The crowd, galvanised by his appeal, opened their hearts—and their wallets. Collectors moved swiftly, gathering a staggering £4,671 and 15 shillings by day’s end, equivalent to over $250,000 in today’s currency. Contributions flowed from the Archbishop himself, the Sylvester Ryan estate and countless others - a testament to the community’s commitment to the cause.
As construction commenced, the foundation of not just a school but a legacy was laid. By April 11 1915, St Laurence’s College stood proud, its grand edifice dominating the South Brisbane skyline.
Thousands gathered for the opening, their journey up Graham Street rewarded by a breathtaking view that seemed to place them on the roof of the world.
The ceremony unfolded with reverence and grandeur. Archbishop Duhig, adorned in cape and mitre, blessed every room of the building, his crozier a symbol of both faith and leadership. A choir of 100 boys from Nudgee College and St James filled the air with the hymn "Hail Glorious St Patrick," their voices a melodic tribute to the occasion.
The speeches that followed echoed the sentiment of the day. The Archbishop proudly declared the school a dual-purpose institution, offering both primary and secondary education. It was a place built not just for the present but for generations yet to come. The Archbishop once again asked for further donations, another round of generosity swept through the crowd and an additional £1,500 was collected, a testament to their unwavering commitment to the school’s vision.
Thomas Ramsay Hall’s architectural mastery was on full display. The school, with its high ceilings, broad verandahs and thoughtful design, embodied both grandeur and practicality. It was a structure meant to inspire, its cross-topped parapets standing as a beacon of faith and learning.
When the first 270 boys arrived on April 12, they stepped into a new chapter of Catholic education in Brisbane. From the combined Junior and Sub-Junior classes to the youngest pupils in Grade Two, the halls buzzed with the energy of new beginnings. And so, the story of St Laurence’s College began—rooted in the dreams of its founders, nurtured by the faith of a community and destined to grow into one of Brisbane’s great institutions.
