In 1951 Father Patrick O’Rourke, Parish Priest of Sandgate, decided to establish
a school to relieve the pressure on the over crowded Sandgate Convent.
Father O’Rourke began to search for a site for the school.
He purchased Morven in 1951 for £12,500.
The purchase was considered to be a bargain at the time, because the sale
price included the surrounding three acres of land.
Many of the local people did not take Father O’Rourke’s plans for Morven very
seriously. He was hardly the person
to be daunted by their lack of support.
He engaged architects to draw up plans for the renovations of Morven in
preparation for its opening as a school.
Father O’Rourke then visited Archbishop Duhig to ask him to obtain a
community of Brothers to staff the school.
His preference was for Christian Brothers to avoid rivalry between the
new school, Nudgee and St Columban’s.
On 15 January, 1952, Br Coffey and Br Rodgers presented themselves to Father
O’Rourke. He made a special point of
looking after the Brothers in these early days.
He would feed them each night and then drive them back to Nudgee where
the Brothers were living.
Father O’Rourke’s zeal and enthusiasm for the foundation was contagious, even
though he was well into his sixties, but with his flamboyant style he could
rarely be pinned down to anything definite.
Father O’Rourke was also a very generous man.
When the Brothers moved into Morven he employed a house keeper and a
nightwatchman and supplied much of the furniture for the Brothers.
At the official opening on 3 February, 1952, Archbishop Duhig praised Father
O’Rourke for his tireless efforts.
He also acknowledged him as the Founder of St Patrick’s College.
 |
House Dean |
Mr Andrew Pashley |
| House Colour |
Gold |
| Phone |
3631 9074 |
| Email |
apashley@stpatricks.qld.edu.au |