Our History
Established in 1980 and set on 27 acres in Watsonia, Loyola College serves north-eastern Melbourne and, by special arrangement, accepts international students.
Over many years Loyola has maintained strong links with its constituent parishes and developed links with other parishes. A comprehensive education is provided for young women and men, including an emphasis on active participation in one’s local parish.
The land on which Loyola College was built was donated to the Archdiocese of Melbourne by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1979 for the purpose of building a Catholic secondary school. The Jesuit Order had a presence on the site from 1934 to 1974 where a house of formation and studies for the Society of Jesus was located (the current Old Loyola building was purchased by the College in 2002). Loyola College is a member of the Ignatian Network, a group of Jesuit and non-Jesuit schools in Australasia together with others worldwide.
At Loyola College, parental engagement with teachers in monitoring a student’s growth and learning is a necessary commitment. In exercising a choice to send their child to Loyola College, parents are not only responding to a desire for Catholic education but signalling a wish to enter a community school on these terms. The College is dependent on parents and the wider community for their contribution, including time given at meetings and for supporting staff in their work.
Our College
As a Catholic co-educational College we focus on the importance of belonging to our community, strongly encouraging each student to discover their God-given talents. These gifts are to be developed, not for self-satisfaction or self-gain, but rather, with the help of God, for the good of the community.
As a College in the Ignatian tradition, Loyola has a clear purpose:
- To develop a well-rounded person of competence, conscience and compassion who will be of service in the world
- To instil in our students a joy in learning, encouraging the reaching for the Magis and a life-long openness to growth
- To nurture a sense of wonder and mystery in learning about God’s creation and seeking God in all things
- To promote individual care and concern for each person
- To provide opportunities for students to encounter the person of Christ as friend and guide, coming to know Him through Scripture, sacraments, personal and communal prayer, in play and work and in other persons, leading to the service of others in imitation of Christ.
Our Motto and Emblem
Our Motto 'Justice, Mercy, Faith' is a call to action for our young people and offers guidelines for a life of Christian service, which is inspired by the life and teachings of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.
The five bars on our emblem represent Loyola’s five founding parishes: St Damian’s, Bundoora; Sacred Heart, Diamond Creek; St Mary’s, Greensborough; Our Lady of the Way, Kingsbury and St Martin of Tours’, Macleod. Loyola College has since welcomed St Francis of Assisi, Mill Park and St Thomas’, North Greensborough into our Parish network. The College also serves the parishes of St Francis Xavier, Montmorency, including Holy Trinity, Eltham North and Our Lady Help of Christians, Eltham.
The two wolves eating at a cauldron are taken from the heraldic crest carved in the lintel on Saint Ignatius’ family home in Loyola, Spain. This imagery refers to the prosperity and hospitality of the Loyola family who, after feeding family, retainers and soldiers, had food enough to feed the animals.
Loyola College Archives
Loyola College Archives was established in 2006 to acquire, organise and preserve items related to the cultural heritage of the College.
The College Archives collects photographs, newspaper cuttings about the College, students and staff (past and present), sports and concert/drama programs, mass booklets, flyers, prospectus, uniforms, trophies, banners, diaries, newsletters – in fact, any memorabilia that documents the history of Loyola since it was planned in the late 70s. It is also collecting material about the history of Old Loyola.
Retrospective donations of items are very welcome if they fill a gap in the collection.
For donations or enquiries please contact the Archivist at Archives@loyola.vic.edu.au.
