HISTORICAL BEGINNINGS
The establishment of St Mary’s is closely linked with the early days
of the Church’s presence in the Kimberley and the pearling era of Broome.
In 1908, two St John of God Sisters, M. Antonio and M. Benedict came from Beagle Bay Mission to establish an outlet for the Sisters of the mission. Almost immediately they were approached by the Japanese and Catholic communities requesting a school for their children. The Sisters responded and classes were taught in the back of the Church until 1912. It was then that a building was acquired and the school was officially opened.
The life of the school for the first thirty years mirrored the ebb and flow of the life of Broome. In 1924, Sr. Ignatius added the Holy Child Kindergarten to the school resulting in the total enrolment for the school of sixty six children. Parents worked hard to support the school as there was no government funding. The basic curriculum included literature, speech training, hygiene, marching, dancing and gymnastics.
In 1940, the Sisters opened an orphanage, to care for the children in need. The orphanage became an integral part of the school community. In 1942 Broome became a military defence station. Together with more than 600 people, St Mary’s was evacuated to Beagle Bay Mission where it became known as “Broome School” when it was re-established under a paper-bark shelter. With minimum materials, the children’s education continued. Times were hard for everyone, with people displaced, separated and some were off fighting in the war. Four years later the school moved back to Broome and because of the poverty at the mission, many Beagle Bay families also moved. The school’s population was now a mix of Aboriginal and Asian students and once again families worked tirelessly to rebuild the school.
The 50’s & 60’s was a period of consolidation for the town (population of 1400). The sense of school community was strong. “Bingo money” contributed to the building of classrooms, a Parents & Friends group was initiated, language exchange programmes were established and annual school concerts became a tradition.
Lay teachers, both Missionaries and paid staff were employed from the early 70’s. In 1973, the Loreto Sisters joined the staff and the Principal, Sr. Leone Collins, recruited and trained the first fully funded Aboriginal Teaching Assistants.
At the invitation of Bishop Jobst a secondary school (Nulungu College) was opened in Broome in February 1971. This school was run by the Christian Brothers. It was established to provide education for the rapidly growing number of Aboriginal boys in the Kimberley, who were staying on at primary school until turning 14 years of age.
Five buildings were completed in the first year and the first boarders arrived in 1972. Three years later in 1974 a similar complex for girls was established on an adjoining site and was managed jointly by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions and the St John of God. Both schools catered for day and residential students. Over the years boarders came from Aboriginal communities, pastoral stations, towns and cities throughout WA and the NT.
In 1975, St Mary’s began the first Pre-Primary in the State of W.A.
Initially Nulungu’s courses were vocationally oriented, providing practical skills with associated academic learning to furnish students with employable skills for their communities and town. Curriculum changes began to take place with core subjects being offered to cater for students entering apprenticeships. Pressure from Broome people also began to generate further change with the introduction of the Achievement Certificate.
St Mary's College came into being on January 1 1995 with the amalgamation of Holy Child Kindergarten, St Mary's Primary School and Nulungu Catholic College. The College is co-educational (catering for students from K-12) The College has since moved from strength to strength and continues to grow.