Loreto Kirribilli was founded in 1901 following the move of the day school of Loreto Randwick to Kunimbla, a house in Milsons Point. In 1907, increasing enrolments necessitated a move to Fern Hill, a house in Upper Pitt Street, and in 1907 to the current site in Carabella Street. Elamang, a home owned by early settler James Milson, was purchased in 1907 with the financial assistance of Sarah Heaton, mother of, Philomena Heaton, a founding member of the Kirribilli community. This purchase allowed for boarders and an increase in day students. Adjacent properties were purchased over the years, including Coreena in 1921, The Hermitage in 1924, Thoms in 1952, and Araluen in 1975. The Loreto Kirribilli Chapel Tower was the highest point on the Kirribilli Peninsula for many years and remains a landmark dominating the skyline when viewed from Neutral Bay. Once the junior school, The Hermitage, was demolished in 1936 to make way for a playing field and tennis courts, and Coreena was replaced in 1961 by the present junior school. Government funding in the 1960s allowed for the building of St Joseph's wing, including science rooms and a library. This was also an era of significant growth in student numbers. The boarding school began its phasing out period in 1968, following an explosion which destroyed St Mary's. Loreto's last boarding students left in 1972. In 1980, Araluen, which had previously been a music centre, was extended to provide accommodation for the Loreto Sisters, and the community areas in the Elamang building were converted for use as staff rooms, general school administration and music. In 2010, Loreto acquired the neighbouring Tremayne Private Hotel, formerly a Y.W.C.A. and renamed it the Marian Centre.
Principals
Curriculum
Compulsory subjects
In the Loreto senior school the following subjects are compulsory:
In year 8 students choose a language from the following:
French
Italian
Mandarin
Year 9
In year 9 students chose four electives, two subjects that run for two years and two subjects that run for one year. They chose from the following subjects:
Academic Support
History Elective
Geography Elective
Visual Arts
Photography and Digital Media
Drama
Food Technology
Technology and Applied Studies
French
Italian
Music
Commerce
PASS
Library
The newly renovated Loreto library was opened in July 2013. The library contains over 27 000 books and resources. The library is located at the top of the Saint Joseph's Block. At the 2013 Spring Fair the library raised $3 000 for their sister school in Panighatta by selling handmade book related jewellery, in a stall named 'Read-Cycled'.
Extra curricular activities
Debating
Loreto currently participates in three debating competitions:
ISDA - Each year has 1 team in year 6+
CSDA - Each year has 1 team in year 7+
Archdale - 2 teams from both year 7&8, One team in year 9+
Music
Students are encouraged to join musical ensembles such as the Orchestra, Choir, Flute Ensemble,Concert Band, Stage Band or Chamber Strings Group. Private instrumental or vocal tuition as electives, is also available.
As with most Australian schools, Loreto has a house system to facilitate school based competitions and activities. House activities include Inter-house debating, athletics and swimming carnivals, music and drama festivals and other house activities. The school currently has four houses:
Barry – Gold
Heaton – Green
Milson – Red
Ward – Blue
There are a number of inter-house events during the year. These include the athletics carnival, swimming carnival, drama festival, dance night and Music Festival which is held annually at the Sydney Town Hall in June.
Notable alumnae
Tamsin Carroll – actress
Miranda Devine – conservative columnist
Emmy Dougall – actress in Home and Away and '
Isabel Durant – dancer and actress in Dance Academy and '
