Sacred Heart College, Napier on its present site in Convent Road was founded by The Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions. In 1867 the school for ‘Young Ladies’ that would eventually become known as Sacred Heart College was blessed and opened. It was the first Catholic school and hostel established by the Sisters in New Zealand.

A BRIEF HISTORY

Amazingly, the original buildings withstood the earthquake of 1931. During the 1990’s, the whole site was re-planned, new buildings erected and existing ones upgraded. The new Barbier and Marian blocks were blessed and opened, and Ross and Dennehy blocks were updated and rededicated. The latest addition was the full-sized gymnasium named after Sister Mary Rose Holderness. On June 30 2001 the convent building, the chapel and a section of the hostel were destroyed by fire. Since then the hostel has been superbly restored and plans are underway for a chapel replacement.

As well as a day school, there is a boarding hostel for some seventy five girls. Both the College and the hostel are administered on behalf of the Sisters by the Mission College Napier Trust Board and the Hostel Management Committee. The Board of Trustees administers government funds and governs the school.

For its first one hundred years the College was staffed predominantly by the Sisters. Sister Mary Rose who completed her term in 1998 was the last Mission Sister to be Principal. The curent staff of the College continue to uphold the missionary spirit of the Sisters in today’s modern environment.

TYPICAL CLASSROOM Of 1936