Santa Sabina College

Eight Dominican sisters arrived from Ireland in 1867, to establish schools for Catholic children in New South Wales. Subsequently 3 hectares (6.5 acres) of land and a house in Strathfield were purchased from a wine-grower, Harold Lindeman. Santa Sabina College was established on this site in January 1894, with seven day students. The first three boarders were enrolled in April of that same year.[9]

Although the College saw its first student matriculate in 1906, it was not officially recognised as a secondary school until 1912, with the passing of the New South Wales Bursary Act. Organised sport was first introduced in 1918, with Tennis the most popular sport at the time.[9]

In 1936, Santa's most prominent building, Holyrood—originally built as Illyria by industrialist Charles Hoskins in the early 1890s—was purchased from William Adams of the Tattersall's Hotel. The carved sandstone facade came from the City Bank building in Moore Street (now Martin Place). This building was used as the College boarding house until boarding ceased in 1976. The building now houses the College music department.[9] The Del Monte property, located across the road from the College, was leased in 1949, with the first primary school students taking up residence later that year. In 1950, the owner of the property, Mary Bailey, died, leaving the property to the Sisters. Del Monte was subsequently renamed Santa Maria del Monte. Santa Maria del Monte was expanded in 1968, with the purchase of Lauriston,[9] which had been the home of the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney during the Second World War.[10] This purchase provided the school with a sports ground and additional classrooms.[9]

In 1991 the campus was used as the backdrop for the Australian TV series Brides of Christ.[11]

1996 saw the establishment of the Out of School Hours Centre (OOSH), and in 1997, a property at Tallong was purchased for outdoor education. In 1998, Mary Bailey House was opened as an Early Childhood Centre, and in 2002 classes for Years 6 and 7 commenced at the middle school campus, Martin De Porres.[9]

Santa Sabina is recognised as an employer of choice for women by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency.[12]

The following individuals have served as Principal of Santa Sabina College:

The current principal, Ms Skerman was previously, the principal at an independent, Catholic, girls’ secondary day and boarding school for 5 years.[13] She is a member of the Australian Heads of Independent Schools and the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia. In 2017, she was named as a Finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Award for leading growth and inclusivity through innovation.[13]

The College comprises five campuses: four situated along The Boulevarde in Strathfield, and an outdoor education campus at Tallong in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. The four city campuses are Mary Bailey House Early Education Centre (Pre-school), Santa Maria del Monte (Primary Years) and Santa Sabina (Middle and Senior Years). Santa Maria del Monte also takes boy students from Kindergarten to Year 4,[14] with most boys then continuing on to St. Patrick's College to complete their schooling.

The Strathfield campus includes a 33-metre (108 ft) outdoor swimming pool, six tennis courts, three ovals and a chapel. In 2002, a Middle School was established for students in Years 6 and 7. In 2005 The Aquinas Centre was opened, featuring a library, lecture theatre and student services facility.

• Monica Attard, ABC senior broadcaster and academic
• Cecily Backhouse KC, pioneering female lawyer and NSW District Court Judge
• Robyn Butler, writer, actress and producer, best known for The Librarians, and Upper Middle Bogan.
• Margaret Cunneen SC, Deputy Senior Crown Prosecutor
• Carmen Duncan, actress with a career spanning more than 50 years, both in Australia and overseas
• Paula Duncan, actress well known for her work in Australian TV and film, sister of Carmen
• Anne Gallagher, President of the International Catholic Migration Commission
• Cynthia Mitchell, Paralympian (Skiing)[18]
• Julia Morris, actress/comedian
• Gretel Pinniger aka Madame Lash, artist, fashion designer and dominatrix
• Rahni Sadler, ABC news reporter
• Anne Schofield AM, Australia’s leading antique jewellery dealer[19]
• Justine Schofield, former Masterchef Australia contestant, television personality
• Alice Spigelman AM, Chair Sculpture by the Sea
• Yvonne Strahovski, actress best known for Chuck, and The Handmaid's Tail
• Simone Thurtell, Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Grandstand announcer

• Anne Philomena O'Brien

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Santa Sabina College.

• 
  Lauriston
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  A sculpture in the College grounds, pictured in 2007
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  A College building, pictured in 2007
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  Holyrood
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  Brunyarra

• List of non-government schools in New South Wales
• Siena College (Camberwell)
• Catholic education in Australia

• Official website