Holy Cross College is an independent Roman Catholic secondary day school for boys, located in the Sydney suburb of Ryde, New South Wales, Australia. It is administered by Catholic Schools New South Wales, with an enrolment of 736 students and a teaching staff of 55, as of 2023. The school serves students from Year 7 to Year 12, and was originally conducted by the Patrician Brothers.

History and tradition

In 1808, Bishop Daniel Delany established in Ireland the Congregation of the Brothers of St Patrick and sought to have the youth of his native land instructed in the principles and lifestyle of the Gospels. The Patrician Brothers arrived in New South Wales in 1883, opening a Boarding College at Ryde in 1891, and by the end of 1892, the college had an enrolment of 20 students. The College moved to its present site in 1896, and was set to open in 1897, but the building was not completed until June 1898. The official opening and blessing occurred on 3 July 1898. The great sandstone edifice which is now a landmark of the district gradually rose on the heights above the Parramatta River. It celebrated 125 years in 2016.

Motto and crest

The Crest was designed in the early 1900s, and was installed in a stained glass window of the Oratory in the Monastery building. In 1959, a larger replica was installed in the new College Chapel. The Crest features the Waratah and Shamrock entwined, symbolising the shared Patrician Apostolate of Australia and Ireland. In one adaptation, the Harp is replaced by the Southern Cross. The overall design of the Crest is technically termed "Quarterly per Cross" and "Cross Fillet". The stars indicate the Southern Cross. Clockwise, from top left, the Quarters symbolise:

Sport

Holy Cross College was previously affiliated with the Metropolitan Catholic Colleges Sports Association (MCC).

Principals

The following individuals have served as Principal of Holy Cross College:

Notable alumni