Our College
Nagle College is a Catholic co-educational school situated on the Lindenow-Dargo Road on the outskirts of Bairnsdale, Victoria. The College forms a Catholic education precinct with St Mary's Primary School. The College was founded in 1958 by the Presentation Sisters and has served the educational needs of young men and women of the East Gippsland region for over fifty years. Nagle College is a diocesan school that aims to support parents in educating their sons and daughters within the Catholic tradition and the spirit of its founders, Nano Nagle and St John Bosco.
The College is named after Nano (Honora) Nagle. A young girl born in the small town of Ballygriffin in County Cork, Ireland in 1718, the eldest of seven children. In 1775 after many years of devoted service to teaching the young, Nano Nagle founded a new congregation of nuns, devoted entirely to the service of working class people, not only in their homes, but in as many schools as necessary.
This congregation, the Presentation Sisters, founded Nagle College in 1958.
The first classes were conducted in rooms in St Mary's Primary School in the town of Bairnsdale. In March 1963 the school moved into premises in Francis Street, Bairnsdale. The school was relocated to its present site in time for the commencement of the 1979 school year. Between 1979 and 1996 nine stages of building were completed. In 1990 the College came under the guidance of the Salesian Society. In 2000 the St John Bosco Chapel was completed to further enhance the Religious and Spiritual aspects of the life of the College. In 2009 the next phase of building projects was commenced, with the opening of the Occhiena Centre, our administration and reception centre, named after the mother of St John Bosco. In 2010 major refurbishments of the Art and Science Wings were completed.
Nagle College has many different educational facilities, which include classrooms, Library, Information Technology Laboratories, Design & Technology Workshops, Food & Technology Centre, Science Laboratories, Art Centre, Drama Room, Music Suites, Physical Education facilities and Primary Industries Skills Centre. These are enhanced and complemented by extensive sporting facilities including two ovals, cricket nets and Presentation Hall.
Situated on 40 hectares adjacent to the Mitchell River, Nagle College can boast a unique learning environment. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and thoughtful landscaping, the restive rural aspect of the College enhances the extensive indoor and outdoor facilities. The ANZAC Memorial and the newly developed Hope Garden, together with the St John Bosco Chapel, provide areas for reflection, renewal and quiet solitude when required.
The Library and Resource Centre is open each day, and operates as a Study Centre one night per week with staff supervision.
A free bus operates Monday to Thursday, departing from the College at 5 pm, connecting with the town services on the highway outside Coles in Bairnsdale. This allows students to participate in after school activities such as tuition, rehearsals, sport, etc.
