School History

Our Patron Saint is St Francis Xavier, a man ranked among the greatest missionaries of all time. St Francis Xavier 1506 -1552, began his missionary work in 1542. He is credited with converting tens of thousands of people to Catholicism during his life. He was canonized in 1622, declared Patron of the Orient in 1748, Patron of the Faith in1904 and Patron of All Missions and of Australia in1927. His feast day is December 3rd.

In 1891 a group of Presentation Sisters, led by Mother Joseph O’Connell arrived in the diocese of Geraldton from Ireland. Over the next few years they established a number of schools in towns throughout the Geraldton diocese.

Originally they taught from a school site in Marine Terrace. Eventually, in 1902, they moved to a site between the Cathedral and the Convent. The Stella Maris Presentation College foundation stone was laid in1911 and the first wing of the school was completed in the same year. The College catered for girls from primary school age to those preparing to sit the Entrance Examinations for the University of Adelaide.

In 1843 the first Christian Brothers travelled from Ireland to Sydney and in 1894, at the request of Bishop Gibney, a Perth Bishop, the Christian Brothers came to Western Australia. In 1926 they came to Geraldton and that same year, opened St Patrick’s College in Bayly Street and St Patrick’s Junior College in Cathedral Avenue.

St Francis Xavier Primary School, Geraldton, was opened on February 13th 1978. Prior to the formation of St Francis Xavier, students attended either St Patrick’s Junior College of Stella Maris Junior School. These schools continued their association with St Francis’ for several years after its foundation.

The initial enrolment of St Francis was 225 children from Years 5 – 7 under Principal Sister Mary Agnes Griffin. The first buildings on site were the present senior block, the administration building, which was used as a classroom as well as administration, and a number of temporary demountable classrooms.

The enrolment in the school increased over the following three years and by 1981 St Francis Xavier catered for Years 1 -7. The formal association with St Patrick’s and Stella Maris ended but the Presentation Sisters continued their involvement in the school as Principals until 1995 when Paul Hille became the first lay Principal.

The junior classrooms, music rooms, library and canteen were opened in 1980. The present Year 6 and 7 classrooms and the first pre-primary were opened in 1990. When Pre-primary changed to full time enrolment in 1994, a new room was built and in 1999 the kindergarten extension was added.

The administration area was upgraded in 1995 and in 1996 the computer room was opened. The latest stages of building saw the undercover area constructed in 2000, library extensions in 2002 and the multi-purpose room built in 2005.

Our school motto Christus Lux Mea, Latin for Christ My Light, is incorporated into the school crest. The crest also shows the crucifix, the symbol of Christ, showering light on St Francis Xavier Cathedral, representing the parish community of which our school is an integral part. Completing the crest are items of academic and recreation activity which show our commitment to the development of the whole person.

With Christ as our light all human values will find fulfilment and harmony.