Caroline Chisholm College are very excited as a college learning community to be celebrating their 50th year in 2024.
The college started in 1974, with only 34 students who formed the pioneer year with the Catholic Parish Community of St Nicholas of Myra Penrith, driving the need for an all-girls school for the Greater Penrith region. Fr John Grady advocated for the school, and land was purchased at Regentville, at the time which was then a bush setting.

In the first year, the college commenced as a learning community in the St Joseph’s convent in Evan Street in Penrith, whilst the first building was erected. Later that same year, the staff and students went to the site at Regentville, which is of course the current school site, now known as Glenmore Park.

Since this time, the college has grown immensely and is now a Year 7-12 college, with approximately 1,150 students. Caroline Chisholm has always been a place of high quality learning, based on the charism of the college patron Caroline Chisholm, who was called to assist young women and children in particular who were marginalised, experiencing poverty, and requiring shelter.

The college motto that was formulated in the first years of the college is courage, tolerance, and faith, as the key values that still live on today in the college community through their everyday words and actions that model their Catholic faith. Today, the college is known for its high expectations for quality learning for young women, the faith life of the college and the social justice initiatives that they embrace wholeheartedly.

In this 50th year, they are celebrating on Saturday 18th May. This is with a community day for current and past staff and students to join together at the college and celebrate with college tours, a BBQ, college creative arts performances, official cake cutting and much more! They hope that their college alumni will be earmarking this date and gathering friends to enjoy the Chisholm spirit together, on this very special occasion. As well as this, they will be enjoying a cocktail function later in the year, on Saturday 19th October to conclude this wonderful, momentous year.