St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon

Welcome to St Brendan's College, Central Queensland's leading Catholic secondary school for boys, operating since 1940. We are a day and boarding school for boys from Years 7 to 12, located on a beautiful 300 acres only minutes to the beaches of Yeppoon and only a 30 minute drive from Rockhampton.

We provide diverse academic and extra-curricular programs, giving boys significant opportunities to grow into young men of knowledge, respect and faith. Our emphasis is on the development of the whole person and in particular the need to grow boys into respectful, confident and successful young men of faith. A proactive Pastoral Care program and the Edmund Rice ethos underpins all endeavours and creates boys who understand and believe in service to the community in a spirit of justice and solidarity.

We have a strong academic program which offers multiple pathways for students to pursue tertiary education or move into trade-based qualifications, with a significant and renowned vocational education and training (VET) facility onsite.

The College is recognised nationally for its sporting prowess, and has abundant co-curricular opportunities, including music, cultural and technology programs that are second to none in Central Queensland.

Our College community strives for excellence and has a reputation for producing friendly, hard-working and down-to-earth young men. Enrolments are drawn from the Capricorn Coast, from rural and regional Queensland and from as far north as the Torres Strait. With this diversity of students, strong cultural and social interactions are assured and friendships are often maintained for life.

The boarding residences provide a wonderful living environment for boarders, nestled amongst beautiful gardens, abundant sporting fields and adjacent to the first-class academic facilities of the College. Every opportunity is at the boys’ fingertips and with guidance from our Head of Boarding, Fr Pius Jones, the Heads of Residence, House parents and members of the support services, there is space for them to grow and mature.

We are a diverse, vibrant and welcoming community founded on the values of the Gospel. St Brendan’s College is confident that in providing a well-rounded education in partnership with parents and families, the young men of the College will enter the world with the knowledge, confidence, values and skills to make a difference.

More than an education, we are proud that young men leave our College with a brotherhood and belonging for life. We invite you to discover a snapshot of life at St Brendan’s College by browsing our website and welcome you to visit and tour our College.

We believe that faith and formation are integral to the development of young men. As a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition, the faith life of the College, supported by a proactive Pastoral Care program, underpins all our endeavours. Our core mission is to create a safe environment for the development of young men of faith, respect and knowledge. As well as internal Masses, our students are often involved in the community of faith on the Capricorn Coast at other Masses and events.

Opportunities for reflection, prayer and liturgy are embedded throughout daily school life. This provides students with the opportunity to explore faith and spirituality individually, as a class group, a year level and as a whole school. Every Saturday evening our boarding students travel to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church to celebrate the Eucharist, giving them the opportunity for reflection and to grow in their understanding of the Catholic faith. All members of our school and wider community are welcome to attend this Mass.

St Brendan’s College has a rich history; part of the fabric and development of Yeppoon on the Capricorn Coast, Central Queensland. In 1908, Bishop Duhig acquired the property "Coplands" in Yeppoon as a site for a boarding school with the dream of gathering “the sturdy station children, the sons of cattlemen and sheepmen from the great, grand heart of the West, to be familiarized with Catholic faith and practice, in proper surroundings.”

During the 1930's Rev. Br. I. Dowd travelled the Rockhampton Diocese to collect funds and support to construct the new College on the "Coplands" site. The Christian Brothers' community in Rockhampton supervised the clearing of the site and the construction of the first buildings. They were helped greatly by a group of old boys and supporters of the Christian Brothers.

The foundation stone of St Brendan's College, Mary's Mount, Yeppoon was blessed by Right Reverend Dr. Hayes D.D., Bishop of Rockhampton on October 8th, 1939.

In February 1940 Bishop Hayes officially opened St Brendan's College in the presence of the then Archbishop of Brisbane the Most Reverend Sir James Duhig who had purchased the site some thirty years before. School commenced with 42 boarders and 15 local students. Rev. Br. J.B. Gettons was appointed the first Headmaster of the College and guided its growth in the early years. Bishop Tynan was a most active benefactor of the College in these early years.

Throughout its history the College has met the educational needs of young men from throughout Central Queensland, particularly supporting rural families off the land and from small rural townships. For many years there was also a deep connection to Papua New Guinea with many students attending St Brendan’s for their education. In more recent times, the Central Queensland mining boom brought students from Central Highlands and the growth of the Capricorn Coast also saw a steady increase in the day student population.

Fulfilling its mission, the College also committed itself to the education of Indigenous youth, with a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student population and this continues today. Over many years the College has worked to develop the structures, support and culture within the community to be a model of reconciliation in action.

The faith life of the College has underpinned all of its endeavours. The liturgical life of the College has always been deeply respected and has provided the rich experience that has led to a strong commitment to reaching out to others in the community in a spirit of justice and solidarity. In recent years the College has undertaken significant physical and structural change to improve the provision of its quality service, particularly with the introduction of Year 7 to secondary school. The College is strongly committed to educating young men from throughout Central Queensland and beyond on its foundation campus, always looking to the future for opportunities to grow.

St Brendan’s College is located on a 300-acre campus nestled at the foot of Mt Barmoya, minutes from Yeppoon beaches and central business district. It is an easy 40 minute drive from Rockhampton (direct air, train and bus access) to the seaside community in Central Queensland.

The main campus occupies a built area of 10-acres with the remainder a tranquil, bushland setting where the smell of eucalypt leaves you in no doubt you are among the green and gold, both that of Australia and of St Brendan’s where the school colours echo throughout.

The campus has numerous dedicated facilities assisting staff in the pursuit of academic, sporting, and pastoral excellence. This curated blend contributes to the unique nature of the College as a holistic facility, one that provides students the convenience and safety of being able to fulfil their needs without additional travel.