History

Our story

Cabra Dominican College was founded by the Dominican Sisters, who inherited St Dominic’s passion for exploration, thirst for knowledge and commitment to spreading the word of God through words and actions.

In his search for truth, St Dominic and those who joined him became itinerant preachers who knew the needs of their listeners and whose words were characterised by humility and compassion. Dominic’s work led to the formation in 1216 of the religious order given his name.

The Dominican Order has inspired the creation of schools, universities and colleges throughout the world, purposefully developing centres of learning for young people.

Centuries after St Dominic, Dominican Sisters in Ireland answered an invitation from the Bishop of Adelaide, on the other side of the world, to establish a Catholic secondary school for girls. They travelled from Cabra, a suburb of Dublin, to the traditional land of the Kaurna people. Their first school in the city soon grew until there was a need for a school “in the country”, more suited to the needs of boarders. The Sisters established Cabra Dominican College, in what was then Goodwood South, now Cumberland Park, in 1886. The convent built by the founding sisters, and the chapel that followed in 1917, form the heart of our campus to this day.

Today, a proud Dominican foundation serves as our compass. Our commitment to parents is to guide their children on their own journey of self-discovery, with a strong academic grounding that does not sacrifice personal development. Through a wide variety of subject choices, embedded social justice initiatives and many co-curricular opportunities, every child can grow in confidence to be themselves and have a positive impact on others, no matter the challenges they might face.

Cabra Dominican College is Dominican at its core, offering an exceptional Catholic co-educational experience, that equally honours academic learning and personal growth. We live out our values in shared experiences, benefiting from a culture of exploration, in a place where tradition meets innovation.

Read more about St Dominic here: The Story of St Dominic

Sr Barbara Specht’s Historical Timeline of Cabra

1868

December: Seven foundation members of the Dominican Order in South Australia, including Teresa Moore and Catherine Murphy, arrived in Franklin St, Adelaide from Cabra, Ireland.

1869

February 2: St Mary’s College opened with attendance of 20 pupils and one boarder

1875

January 4 Two more pioneer Nuns arrive from Ireland: Mother M. Columba Boylan (the future first Mother Prioress of Cabra) & Mother M. Catherine Kavanagh

1881

Dr F. Byrne gave the Dominican Nuns a gift of 10 acres at Cabra, Clarence Park

1884

Thought advisable to move Boarding School from the city – Clarence Park was considered

1886

January 24: St. Mary’s Convent, Cabra, solemnly blessed and opened. Boarding and Day School opened with 37 boarders, 3 day pupils, 71 day pupils in intermediate school

1917

Opening of St. Dominic’s Church, Cabra, and first Mass was celebrated therein.

1918

First Veritas yearbook was produced. Golden Jubilee of the Dominican Nuns in S.A.

1925

Old Scholars built and equipped the small kitchen for teaching Domestic Science to Boarders. Branch School opened at St.Therese, Colonel Light Gardens, the first Day School, with nuns travelling from Cabra daily.

1927

Opening and blessing of St Brigid’s wing

1930

Statue of the Sacred Heart was erected in front of grounds (gift of Mr. Kohff). The second Branch School opened at St. Anthony’s, Edwardstown.

1939

Science Laboratory, outdoor stairs, scullery, classroom and dressing room were erected. Hot and cold water service was installed.

1944

Cabra Kindergarten opened

1950

St Vincent’s Classrooms (now part of St Dominic’s quadrangle) were built in 1950. Opening of new oval and first Sports Day on new oval. Weekly instruction of immigrant children at Woodside.

1957

Equipping of a modern Tuck Shop

1958

St Dominic’s Hall was built and Primary School at Cabra reorganised. End of 1958 – no more Primary Boarders taken at Cabra.

1962

First lay sports mistress, Miss Anne Murphy

1963

Blessing and opening of Aquinas building. First Prefects’ room in Aquinas

1964

First Staff meeting with lay teachers in attendance

1966

Cabra Athletics Club was established; Senior Library started

1969

Cabra School Board formed. SRC re-formed. Building of O’Mara Wing was begun.

1974

First Lay Deputy Principal – Tom Kendell Building began on new Biology Lab Installation of the new switchboard in Aquinas

1976

Tom Kendell was appointed Co-Principal with Sr. Helen Northey

1977

Primary Football team formed Cabra Boarders Football match against Rostrevor and Loreto Final intake of Grade 1 students

1978

Co-education introduced into the Secondary School.

1979

Siena & Canteen under construction

1980

Feb 17: Opening and blessing of Caleruega Hall Management of school was handed over to Board of Directors – authority was formerly held by Provincial Council. Sr. Paul Henschke, last Nun as Boarding Mistress

1982

St Mary’s Unit was established Community Living Week began

1983

Establishment of the Learning Centre

1984

First Lay Principal, Seamus O’Grady, was appointed

1991

Admin. moved from Aquinas to the old Convent Building and Sisters moved to their new Convent

1999

Boarding School closes are after 112 years (1886 – 1999)

2000

First totally lay staff, as Sr. Anne Dolan left to be the new Congregational leader

2001

Cabra Song was officially adopted.

2004

Launch of the Cabra Dominican Heritage Museum on Open Night: Sr. B. Specht, Mrs. S. Hill

2016

Celebrating 800 years since Foundation of the Dominican Order of Preachers and 130 years of education at Cabra Dominican College. Renovation of St. Catherine’s Wing to provide 10 refurbished classrooms. August: Inauguration of Dominican Education Australia Publication of Cabra Celebrates: Weaving the Threads of Dominican Spirituality.

2017

New House System of pastoral care and student leadership: Boylan, Kavanagh, Moore and Murphy – named after founding Dominican Sisters. Replacement of roof of the Convent building, St Catherine’s and St Brigid’s Celebration of the Cabra Chapel’s centenary Amalgamation of the two libraries and the construction of the Monica Farrelly Atrium Refurbishment of O’Mara and Siena to create a purpose-built St. Mary’s Unit and a new Learning Centre Mr. Brian Schumacher left Cabra.

2018

New Principal, Dr. Helen Riekie Official opening and blessing of the new St. Mary’s Unit, Learning Centre and Monica Farrelly Atrium, as well as the reburbished St. Catherine’s. Cabra Dominican College Facebook Page was launched.

Our story

Sr Barbara Specht’s Historical Timeline of Cabra

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