End of An Era

Friday 31 October marked the end of an era – the last of the Christian Brothers to reside in Tasmania returned to the Mainland ending a 126-year presence of the Congregation in Tasmania. Approximately 400 Brothers gave service in this State during that period (St Virgil’s records show that 215 Brothers lived in the various communities in the Greater Hobart Area). In mid-1960s, the Brothers would have had up to 30 Brothers in six Tasmanian Communities in Devonport, Prospect, Launceston , Hobart, Austins Ferry, and Cygnet.

The following is the most iconic statement I have encountered about the mission of the College. At the official opening of St Virgil’s College on Sunday, 22 January, 1911, Brother M McCarthy, representing the Christian Brothers’ leadership, expressed his aspirations for the new college.

“The College would be,” he proclaimed, “synonymous with all that was broadest and best, most liberal, and most progressive in the educational work in the State. He hoped that, year by year, it would send forth a stream of young men of well-trained intelligence, of strong moral character, and of high ideals, young men who would enter as a vitalizing force into the social, intellectual, and civic life of the country and contribute the part of good citizens to its progress.”

Were Brother McCarthy’s hopes realised? The history of this State would undoubtedly have been vastly different as would the lives of the alumni of their various establishments had the Brothers not come to Tasmania. There is no way to quantify the Christian Brothers’ contribution – however, I would maintain that contribution has been enormous. The people of Tasmania have a lot to be grateful for. Thank you!

(This from the perspective of one who, over the period 1957 -2025, was taught by them, became one of them for six years and taught with them. Ed.)

I wish to acknowledge and thank Br Sean McManus for providing the following information by way of summary of Brothers presence in this State.

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS IN TASMANIA - a brief HISTORY

Christian Brothers came to Australia briefly in 1843-47 (Sydney) but returned to Ireland.
Christian Brothers returned to Australia (Melbourne) in 1868.
Archbishop Murphy tried unsuccessfully to get the Brothers to make an opening in Tasmania. The Archbishop bought the old hospital at Port Arthur to be a Boarding School run by the Christian Brothers (destroyed by fire 1895). In 1904 he laid the foundation stone of the College of St Virgil's (Barrack St).

TASMANIA

1908 Bishop Delaney met with Br Mark McCarthy about establishing a Christian Brothers School in Hobart - contract signed.
1910 First Brother, Alphonsus Prunster supervises building of St Virgil’s College Barrack St.
1911 First Brothers Community and St Virgil’s College, - Boarding & Day School at Barrack St Hobart.First day boy was Leo Doyle, father of Archbishop Adrian Doyle (now a campus of Guilford Young College) [Note: this was two years before the opening of the first Government High Schools in Hobart and Launceston]
1919 Opening of St Patrick’s College York St, Launceston, next to Church of Apostles. (now Centacare Launceston uses former Brothers’ house, and school rooms are used as part of the Sacred Heart Primary School. St Patrick’s Primary amalgamated with SHPS in about 1984.)
1944 Lourdes Hill Agricultural College Cygnet(later amalgamated about 1975 with Josephite girls school to become St James College Cygnet) Brothers Community on site.
1958 St Patrick’s College Prospect Vale (current site of the Co-ed school formed by the amalgamation with Sacred Heart and St Thomas More’s girls colleges in 1984. Several Brothers were Principal of the new entity until about 2003.)
1960 St Brendan’s College Devonport (current site of the co-ed St Brendan Shaw College formed by amalgamation with girls school. Several Brothers were Principal of SBSC) Brothers Community on site 1960 till about 2000.
1962 St Virgil’s CollegeAustins Ferry (current location of the College after Barrack St handed back to the Archdiocese for GYC in about 1995) Brothers community 1962-1989.
1985 – 2000 Gagebrook (Bridgewater area) Brothers community, from which Brothers worked at St Paul’s Bridgewater & St Virgil’s College.
1987- 2009 (approx.) Warwick St North Hobart Brothers Community from which Brothers worked at various locations. Office of Edmund Rice Camps till 2010.
1991 approx – 2011 Moonah- house in Ripley Rd West Moonah; Brothers in residence; travelled to work in schools.

Christian Brothers Community, 15 Amy St, Moonah 2011-2025
The Edmund Rice Centre Moonah included accommodation for two Brothers, visitors’ accommodation, offices and meeting rooms, and till 2025 was the headquarters of Edmund Rice Camps Tasmania.

OTHER:

EDMUND RICE CAMPS – 1985 -2025 (volunteer youth 16-26 years, mostly current/former Catholic school students, lead youngsters in recreational camps/activities mainly in school holidays. Youngsters referred by welfare agencies, school counsellors. Some preference given to those recommended by Catholic primary schools. Leader formation. Brothers involved variously as Coaches, Executive Officer, Board members, Advisers.)

Edmund Rice Camps ceased to exist in Tasmania in September 2025.

The BROTHERS WERE ALSO INVOLVED IN:

Hobart: St Peter’s Primary School (next to the Cathedral. Brothers were on the staff all its years. In 1996 it became St Virgil’s Junior School.)
BRIDGEWATER: St Paul’s Primary School 1984 (Brothers on founding staff with sisters of Mercy, 2 Brother Principals)
Guilford Young College 1995: (Brother on founding staff, two since)
MacKillop Catholic College Mornington1994 (Founding Principal Tony Smith & 1 Brother on staff)
Launceston, Sacred Heart Primary School: (2 Principals, 2 Brothers on staff)
John Paul II Primary School, Clarendon Vale opened in 1983 (1 Brother Principal Geoff Whitefield)
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School Devonport (2 Brothers on staff)
Catholic Education Office (3 Brothers, Tony Smith & Denis Phillip, & Br Peter Mitchell)
professional teacher development of Sisters of St Joseph New Town (1940’s+)
Spiritual Direction through Emmanuel Centre (Tim Moloney 2000’s)

In the mid-1960’s, the Brothers would have had up to 30 Brothers in 6 Tasmanian Communities in Devonport, Prospect, Launceston , Hobart, Austins Ferry, Cygnet.

THE FINAL TWO

Br Sean McManus (2011-2021) part of Brothers Mission Team for Vic/Tas, with responsibility for Edmund Rice Network Tasmania. Worked with detainees at Pontville Detention Centre, Asylum Seekers in Community and with Christian Iraqi humanitarian entrants & with Refugee Homework Help Program “Light the Way” (auspiced by CatholicCare) - left Tasmania in mid 2021

Br Peter Flint (1961-1967, 2000-2018 & 2020-2025) working as Campus Minister at St Virgil’s College Austins Ferry and with the College’s sailing program; Peter was formerly School Counsellor at the College. Official Visitor to Risdon Prisons; Worked with St Vincent de Paul and Louis Van and worked with Migrant Resource Centre as volunteer Driver Mentor. Peter was a member of the St Theresa’s Parish Council in Moonah and was a committee member of Concerned Catholics Tasmania.

Peter worked at St Patrick’s Preparatory College Launceston, St Patrick’s College Prospect Vale, St Brendan’ College Devonport and St Virgil’s College Hobart between 1961 and 2025, as well as in schools and residential care in Victoria and briefly in Kalgoorlie WA. Peter returned to the Mainland October 31, 2025.

(Peter is pictured at His farewell at St Theresa’s, Moonah)

The Christian Brothers have given much to the Church and State of Tasmania. They were the backbone of the Catholic education of boys for over 80 years. They have given witness to the Gospel values of Jesus Christ; they have professed the importance of serving their neighbour, especially the young and those on the margins of society…. Even though the presence of Christian Brothers may be diminished… their Brotherhood has been a gift to Tasmania.

Source: McManus, Sean, The Christian Brothers In Tasmania: A Portrait 1911-1988, Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Humanities at the University of Tasmania, 1996

Available online at

https://eprints.utas.edu.au/20350/1/whole_McManusSeanT1996_thesis.pdf