Founded on the labours of the Oblates.
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In 1967, Mazenod College was founded as a regional Catholic boys’ secondary school under the administration of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The five local parish priests and parishes of Springvale, Springvale North, Clayton, Glen Waverley, and Mulgrave decided that the new College should be established in Mulgrave.
The parishes selected the name Mazenod College once the Oblates of Mary Immaculate had decided to administer the new Secondary College. In 1967, the College began on the grounds of St Joseph’s Parish Primary School, Springvale, and moved to its present location in Mulgrave in 1968.
Whilst the College’s early years were financially difficult, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the five parish communities, our parents, staff and students all united to make the new school a success. From the earliest days of our College’s humble beginnings, our students have always been encouraged to live out Jesus’ gospel message, and St Eugene de Mazenod’s edict to “leave nothing undared for the Kingdom of God.”
Original classrooms
Ground zero.
Mazenod College commenced on 7th February 1967 with 79 students and 2 staff — the first Rector and Mr Pollard.
Classes were held in 2 modest classrooms at St Joseph’s Primary School in Springvale until the first building was completed at our current Kernot Avenue address. Classes moved to this site in June 1968. Today, this campus provides a broad range of learning programs for over 1300 young men in Years 7 to 12.
Invitation to the Official Opening and Blessing of Mazenod College Vic.
Written in stone.
The Official Opening of the new College was held in November. Founded to serve the growing Catholic parishes of south east Melbourne in the areas of Clayton, Springvale and Waverley, and supported by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), Mazenod is named after the founder of the Oblates, St Eugene de Mazenod.
Building new science rooms
Welcome to the EIS.
Construction begins on the new science building. Mazenod was accepted into the EIS (Eastern Independent Schools Association), competing in sports and music with other schools in the region. Since 1999 Mazenod has been a member of the ACC (Associated Catholic Colleges).
College basketball courts and quadrangle
Cohort growth.
Despite the struggles of the early years, a clear vision for the school was created, and the College flourished. The student cohort numbered 570 in 1973 when Father Kevin Davine OMI took over as Rector.
Chapel construction
Campus expansion.
A chapel was built in 1983 and the College further expanded its buildings to the other side of Kernot Avenue with the addition of two Manual Arts Wings completed in 1982 and 1984.
O'Rourke complex
Co-curricular thrives.
By the beginning of Father Patrick Moroney’s OMI term as Rector in 1984, student enrolment stood at over 1000, with 66 members of staff. Music and performing arts thrived under Father Moroney’s leadership, and the campus continued to grow with the opening of the O’Rourke complex in 1987.
Aerial view of Mazenod College and its surrounds in 1990
Old faces, new circumstances.
Father Davine returned as Rector in 1989. An ever expanding Mazenod now had to contend with a rapidly increasing need for Information Technology and buildings were adapted and expanded to cater for computers. A new staff and conference room was added in 1992 to provide for the needs of increasing staff and use of school facilities.
New administration wing
Refurbishments.
Father John Sherman OMI was appointed Rector in 1996. He continued the tradition of the ever growing College with refurbishments to the Priests’ residence, Administration Wing, Gymnasium and major renovations of facilities in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The quadrangle was repaved and landscaped, and a new fountain was created outside the Chapel in 2000.
Founders complex
Ever evolving.
Father Moroney was re-appointed Rector in 2002. The new millennium saw the continued development of the College with the Founders complex opened in 2007, with dedicated space for Music, Drama and IT departments. The Founders' Complex was blessed by then Provincial, Very Rev Fr Harry Dyer OMI.
Improved grounds
Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve.
Father Michael Twigg OMI became Rector in 2010 with a strong focus on ‘Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve’. He quickly set to work in the improvement of the school grounds. The development of the synthetic football pitch, now called St Eugene’s Park, is FIFA and ICC approved, and brought Mazenod College into the forefront for hosting sporting events. The Provence Centre, a state of the art multi-sports centre was opened in 2014, allowing also for assemblies and community events to be held.
50 year anniversary plaque at the original site, St Joseph's Primary School
Faith ensured.
Father Christian Fini OMI commenced as Rector in 2015 and continued the traditions of charism by ensuring that Faith and Mission are an important part of the life of our College Community.
A refurbishment of the College chapel was completed in 2017 and Library in 2019.
Mazenod College celebrated its 50 year anniversary in 2017.
Masks on campus
Teaching through a pandemic.
Throughout the Covid pandemic of 2020 & 2021 Mazenod seamlessly transitioned between remote and onsite learning due to rolling lockdowns. Teachers went beyond the call of duty to deliver outstanding online lessons using Google Meets and MazCom. This allowed the College to maintain continuity of lesson delivery when students returned to face to face learning, albeit behind masks until the end of 2021.
Dr Paul Shannon
A new principal.
After a nationwide search, the College appointed Dr Paul Shannon as the first externally appointed lay principal, succeeding Mr Tony Coghlan. Dr Shannon is committed to maintaining the excellent standards of the past and embracing a new strategic vision to encourage excellence, every day, by everybody.
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