Xavier College
Location
Melbourne , Victoria Australia
Coordinates	37°48′44″S145°1′54″E / 37.81222°S 145.03167°E /-37.81222; 145.03167
Information
Type	PrivateIndependent,Roman Catholicday andboardingCoeducational Basic education institution
Motto	Sursum Corda (Latin) Lift up your hearts
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic(Jesuit)
Established	1878; 147 years ago (1878)
Chairman	Anthony Nunan
Rector	Fr. Chris Middleton SJ
Principal	William Doherty[1]
Years	P–12
Gender	Co-educational (Kindergarten), Boys (F–12)
Number of students	1,558
Colour(s)	Cardinal  and Black
Affiliations	IPSHAAPS AHISAABSA JACSA
Alumni	Old Xaverians
Website	xavier.vic.edu.au

Xavier College is aRoman Catholic,day andboarding school predominantly for boys, founded in 1872 by theSociety of Jesus, with its main campus located inKew, an eastern suburb ofMelbourne,Victoria, Australia. Classes started in 1878.

The college is part of the international network of Jesuit schools begun inMessina,Sicily in 1548. Originally an all-boys school, theCollege now offers aco-education Kindergarten, and an all-boys environment from Foundation to Year 12. In 2011, the school had 2,085 students on roll,^[2] including 76 boarders.^[3]

The school is in theArchdiocese of Melbourne,^[3] and is affiliated with theIndependent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA) formerly theJunior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA),^[4] the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),^[5] the Australian Boarding Schools' Association (ABSA),^[6] and theAssociated Public Schools of Victoria (APS).^[7]

In December 2010,The Age reported that, on the number of alumni who had received a topOrder of Australia honour, Xavier College ranked equal tenth among Australian schools.^[8]

Grant Thomas described the school as "the best-connected school in Melbourne".^[9] Its notable alumni include one archbishop, two state governors, one deputy prime minister, one state premier, three deputy premiers, one High Court justice and numerous Supreme Court justices.

What is now called "The Senior Campus" is located on Barkers Road inKew, 8 kilometres (5 miles) from the centre of Melbourne. The foundation stone of the campus was laid in 1872 and the school began formally in 1878 on land known originally as Mornane's Paddock. Founded as aJesuit school, it was originally named St Francis Xavier's College. Construction continued during the school's early years, with the main oval added in 1883, and the West Wing and Great Hall in 1890.^[10] In 1900, Xavier replacedSt Patrick's College inEast Melbourne as the only Catholic institution among the six Associated Public Schools at that time.^[3] A Memorial Chapel on the Senior Campus was constructed in memory of Old Xaverians killed inWorld War I, opening in 1934.

In 1993, a multi-purpose sports centre, the Stephenson Centre (since renamed), was opened. A science facility and the Eldon Hogan Performing Arts Centre opened on the campus in 2008, with eleven science laboratories, amusic rehearsal room, and a 500-seatauditorium.^[11]

At his appointment as principal in October 1997, Chris McCabe was the first lay head of aJesuit school in Australia.^[12] On his retirement at the end of 2008,^[13] the post was filled by Chris Hayes, the former principal atSt Edmund's,Canberra.^[14]

Some buildings on the Senior Campus,^[15] and Studley House at the Burke Hall Campus,^[16] are listed on theVictorian Heritage Register.

Xavier has a long-standing rivalry withSt Kevin's College, in legal circles, an Old Xaverian Supreme Court judge quipping that 'You boys who were taught by the Brothers can never aspire to the Supreme Court. Positions on that Bench are reserved for those of us who were taught by the Jesuits'.^[17]

Memorial Chapel

An Italian Renaissance style chapel was built in 1927 to celebrate the golden jubilee of Xavier College.^{[citation needed]} From conception to completion, construction took around sixteen years and was led by Rectors Edmund Frost and Frank O’Keefe.

The foundation stone reads:

	AD HONOREM DEI VIVENTIS IN MEMORIAM SODALIUM DEFUNCTORUM HUNC LAPIDEM PRIMARIUM IMPOSUIT RMUS DANIEL MANNIXD.D. ARCHIEPISCOPUS MELBOURNENSIS FESTO CHRISTI REGIS AN. MDCCCCXXVII	In honour of our living God In memory of our fallen comrades This foundation stone was laid by His GraceDaniel Mannix D.D. Archbishop of Melbourne on the Feast of Christ the King In the year 1927

Burke Hall

In 1920, Studley Hall, a gift from T.M. Burke, a Catholic businessman, was opened in 1921 as Xavier's firstpreparatory school. James O'Dwyer SJ, Rector of Xavier between 1908 and 1917, became Burke Hall's first headmaster, before the campus was renamed Burke Hall several years later in honour of its benefactor. Burke donated a classroom block in 1923 and, in 1926, Burke's wife provided funding for a construction of achapel in memory of her deceased brother.^[10] The campus was extended in 1966 with the donation of an adjacent mansion from the estate ofJohn Wren following his death. After renovations to the original ballroom, which in 1975 became the library, and the original hall had been converted to classrooms, a new classroom block was built in 1987. A multi-purpose hall was constructed in 1997 overlooking the main oval that was re-graded in 1998. In 2002, a co-educational Early Years Centre was opened on the Burke Hall campus for students up to grade 4.^[3] In 2011, a new classroom block, the St Mary MacKillop Building, was added and named after the first Australian-born saint, the St Mary MacKillop is a space for classes year 5 & 6.

Kostka Hall

Following the request byDaniel Mannix, Archbishop of Melbourne, that the school should have a campus in the southern suburbs of the city,William Hackett SJ, Rector of Xavier opened the Kostka Hall Junior campus inBrighton in 1937 on the water of Brighton beach and within close proximity toBrighton beach railway station. Classes were from Year 2 to Year 8 and by the end of the first year, the numbers of students had grown to 62, including 16 boarders. The Kostka hallboarding house didn't last long though, with the boarders being moved to Burke hall in the early 1940's after scares that theJapenese would wash up of Port Phillip bay leaving the students in jeopardy. With the addition of a second building, Marchwood (also known as St Johns).^[10] This was demolished in 1959 to make way for a major building project, including classrooms, tuckshop, and administrative buildings, and achapel was built in 1967. Science rooms were added in 1969, and in the 1970s the Jesuits bought various adjoining properties to expand the campus. In 1996 a multi-purpose hall was completed with a new arts centre opened in 1998. In 2005 an Early Years Centre based on the one at Burke Hall was opened. After rumors of the campus closing for years In 2021, after 85 years, Kostka Hall campus closed its gates for the final time, due to a decline in enrollments and the substantial effect ofCOVID-19. Moving the students of Kostka hall to the newly built Manresa campus, a section of the school below the science wing. This was only used for the period of time inbetween Kostka halls closing and the new joint middle years campus. In 2024 the new building called 'The Kostka Building' was built, behind the chapel oval on the senior campus. Primarily to be used by year 7 and 8 students, who in 2024 transitioned from Burke Hall and Manresa to the Senior school. MakingBurke hall just a junior years campus.

Buxton Campus

In addition to the three main campuses, the school has an outdoor education facility inBuxton, nearMarysville, and a rowing shed on the banks of theYarra River. It previously leased the historical mansion Billilla in Halifax Street, Brighton, from theBayside City Council.^[18][19] In 2009, the Buxton outdoor education centre was temporarily closed due to extensive damage from theBlack Saturday bushfires in Victoria, and was later sold in 2015.^[20]

After existing in some form for several decades, in 1977, the system of inter-house sport and activities was restructured. Each house was assigned a housemaster and seven tutors. Boys are split up into these seven tutor groups within each house and the tutor group meets each day with the tutor acting as mentor during their four-year attendance. House meetings take place around once a week, lockers are organised according to house and several inter-house sporting events are held each year.^[21] In 1991, the houses, previously known by their colour, were given names.^[22] and in 2010, the new houses of MacKillop and Regis were added.

^† Unawarded 2001–2002.

^‡ Gonzaga and Claver shared the 2010 Old Xaverians Trophy for the Champion House, having accumulated the same number of points throughout the year.

The six houses of Burke Hall had existed for many years as Hodgson, Ignatius, Studley, Surbiton, Trawalla, and Waverley.^[22] In 1987, two new houses were added and with the exception of Ignatius, the houses were renamed. Due to the Year Seven and Eights moving to the Senior Campus in 2024, new houses will be made for the Junior School and will be implemented at the start of the 2024 school year.

^‡ Tied premierships: 1987, 2006.

Upon its foundation in 2002, separate houses were created for the Early Years Centre students at Burke Hall.

Awards commenced in 1971.

Xavier offers its senior students theVictorian Certificate of Education (VCE). Thirty-threeVCE subjects and five externalVET studies are offered. Xavier is one of only fifteen schools in Victoria to offerLatin and one of only two schools which offerAncient Greek, which it has done continuously since 1878. Xavier and sister schoolGenazzano FCJ College have collaborated to develop a cross curriculum appreciation of the Classics as seen in both school's Latin as aLOTE option. Xavier does not offer theInternational Baccalaureate.^{[citation needed]}

Xavier has a strong academic history. For each of the past sixteen years (excluding 2009 and 2015) theDux of the school received anATAR score of 99.95, the highest possible.^{[citation needed]} In 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2016, three students achieved this mark at Xavier out of 32 in the state.^[23] In 2012, five students achieved the maximum ATAR of 99.95.

The main activities include Sport, Music, Drama,Debating, and Community Service. Students may also join specific interest groups such as theChess Club. Outdoor Education is compulsory in Years 5 to 10, and students spend up to one week at a range of venues, where they are given instruction in a variety of activities.^{[citation needed]}

Students are encouraged to participate in community service, and a minimum amount of completed service hours is mandated. Each Friday evening Xavier students volunteer their time at a tutoring school inhousing commission apartments inRichmond, where many residents are recentmigrants orrefugees. This activity is completed with students from the sister schoolGenazzano FCJ College.^[25] Year 11 students are required to participate in an additional 35 hours while on a week-long community service placement.

In collaboration with Genazzano FCJ College, Xavier College participates in a community outreach program in conjunction with the combined parishes of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Deepdene, Sacred Heart, Kew and Immaculate Conception, Hawthorn. For the duration of one week, 12 students from the partnered schools participate in a community building program in Bourke, an Outback town of New South Wales.^{[citation needed]}

From Year 8 and above, students have the opportunity to participate in the Toorak division of the Debaters Association of Victoria competition. The college also takes part in the annual Jesuit Schools' Debating Carnival competing withAloysius,Ignatius Riverview,Ignatius Adelaide andLoyola Mt Druitt.^{[citation needed]}

Sport is compulsory for all students at Xavier,^[26] and in addition to cricket andAustralian rules football, a range of sporting activities are offered includingathletics,badminton,basketball,cross country,hockey,lawn bowls,martial arts,rowing,rugby union,sailingsoccer,swimming,table tennis,tennis,triathlon,water polo, andvolleyball.^[27]

Cricket alongsiderowing (colloquially known as XCBC) are the two biggest summer sports at the college. Two alumni who pursued careers in cricekt werePercy McDonnell (1860–1896) who captained the Australian Test team in six matches, including the tour of England in 1888, andKarl Schneider (1905–1928), who is described in Cricinfo as one of "the most naturally gifted batsmen to have graced the game".^[28] While at the school, he played in the 1st XI for four years, three of which as captain. He broke theAPS runs (1642) and wickets (139) records which remain unbroken,^[28] and captained Xavier to back-to-back premierships in 1923–24.^[29]

Xavier has won the rowing APS Head of the River 5 times. Sixteen Xavier rowers have gone on to represent Australia, winning multiple Olympic and World Championship medals, including, among others,Peter Antonie,Michael McKay,Nick Green &Simon Keenan.^[30]

The school'sAustralian rules football team has producednumerous VFL/AFL players, and has won thirty football premierships, third of theAPS schools behind Scotch (36) and Melbourne Grammar (35).^[29] TheOld Xaverians Football Club has also been successful in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA), winning eight premierships in the last decade.^[31]

Along with football, the school's Old Xaverian community also links with theOld Xaverians Soccer Club andOld Xaverians Athletics Club.

Xavier has won the following APS premierships:^[32]

• Athletics (16) – 1957, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1991, 2009
• Basketball (3) – 2000, 2014, 2019
• Cricket (11) – 1910, 1923, 1924, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2020
• Cross Country (3) – 2004, 2008, 2014
• Football (30) – 1910, 1917, 1924, 1932, 1933, 1955, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2021
• Futsal (3) – 2015, 2020, 2021
• Hockey (4) – 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
• Rowing (5) – 1928, 1929, 1937, 1948, 1999
• Soccer (10) – 1997, 1998, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024
• Tennis (4) – 1995, 2007, 2008, 2009
• Volleyball (2) – 2014, 2018
• Water Polo (8) – 2006, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
• Touch football (0) -

Performing Arts have been part of the school's activities since 1929, with Musical Theatre/Operetta and Dramatic Plays having a shared focus in the college's co-curricular program. The school conducts an annual Senior Musical Production withGenazzano FCJ College^[33] as well as the annual Winter Play and Spring Play, which has been performed in collaboration withLoreto Mandeville Hall since 2000. The two Junior Campuses also have Performing Arts and Dramatic programs, each staging a major production every year. With the development of both the Crypt Drama Studio, below the Memorial Chapel, in 1999 and the Eldon Hogan Performing Arts Centre, performing arts at the college has become an integral part in the school's co-curricular program.

The Yearly Senior Calendar includes:

• Annual Musical Production in late February/early March, produced in association with Genazzano FCJ College. (Year 10, 11, 12)
• The Comedy Revue, run entirely by and for students in late March. (Year 9, 10, 11, 12)
• VCE Theatre Studies Play, produced by the VCE Theatre Studies Class in May. (Year 11, 12)
• Annual Winter Play, produced in late July in association with Loreto Mandevalle Hall Toorak. (Year 9, 10, 11, 12)
• VCE Theatre Studies and Drama Solo and Monologue Performance Night in late September (Year 11, 12)
• Spring Play, coordinated and held at Loreto Mandevalle Hall, Toorak, in association with Xavier College Drama. (Year 9, 10, 11)

The Maytime Fair has been held annually in May since 1952 and is hosted by Xavier College. It raises funds for the work of the Jesuit Mission, with support from friends and benefactors connected with schools,parishes, and other communities in Victoria and beyond.^[34] The annual fairs have been assisted by traditional sister schoolGenazzano FCJ College, and together, the two schools have provided a number of student-run stalls such as "Go Nuts for Donuts", a Fairy Tent and face-painting, amongst others.

Each stall and attraction at the Maytime Fair donates its profit to the work of Jesuit Mission. The Maytime Fair consistently contributes over $100,000 each year for work in thedeveloping world, including India,Cambodia,East Timor andMyanmar.^[34] In 2008 over $130,000 was raised, which was given to assist in the relief effort by Jesuit Missionaries in response to the2008 Sichuan earthquake. In 2010, over $150,000 was raised, and in 2016 $260,000 was raised^[35]

Alumni of Xavier College are known as Old Xaverians, and all former students become members the Old Xaverians' Association (OXA).^[36]

In politics, academia and the law, Xavier's alumni include:^{[citation needed]}

In other areas, notable Old Xaverians include:^{[citation needed]}

• Laitham Vandermeer, Western Bulldogs player
• Changkuoth Jiath, Hawthorn AFL player
• Daniel Robinson, former Sydney Swans player
• Michael Green,Richmond Team of the Century

• Holding the Man, a memoir, a play, and afeature film, begins at Kostka Hall and then the Senior Campus.
• Remembering the Man, a feature-length documentary about the memoirHolding the Man, includes footage and photos of the Xavier College Senior Campus in the late 1970s and interviews with former students.
• Sir Les Patterson, a fictional character portrayed byBarry Humphries, "attended" Xavier College.

In March 2013, a submission was made toVictoria's parliamentary inquiry into child sexual abuse about the alleged abuse of children in its care in the 1960s and 1970s.^[37]

• Catholic education in Australia
• List of schools in Victoria
• List of high schools in Victoria
• Victorian Certificate of Education
• List of Jesuit schools

• Schrader, H. J. T. (1926).School songs of Xavier. Xavier College.
• Dening, Greg (1978).Xavier: a centenary portrait. Old Xaverians' Association.ISBN 0-9595926-0-1.
• Brennan, Peter (1981).Report on the Australian Jesuit schools. Jesuit Publications Australia.
• Hawkins, Thomas (1999).Sursum corda, "Lift up your hearts": a history of Xavier College, 1914-1928. Monash University.
• Penrose, Helen (1999).Lifeline to India: a history of the Maytime Fair. Eldon Hogan Trust.ISBN 0-9577067-0-7.
• Penrose, Helen (1999).Red, black and khaki: cadets at Xavier College. Eldon Hogan Trust.ISBN 0-9577067-2-3.
• Pertzel, Barbara (1999).The Sincere gift of himself: a biography of Eldon Hogan. Eldon Hogan Trust.ISBN 0-9577067-4-X.
• Walters, Fiona (1999).A better, gentler school: music at Xavier College. Eldon Hogan Trust.ISBN 0-9577067-3-1.
• Waterhouse, Catherine (2001).Xaverians on active service: from South Africa to Vietnam. Eldon Hogan Trust.ISBN 0-9577067-5-8.
• Henderson, Paul (2005).Xavier behaviour. Eldon Hogan Trust.ISBN 0-646-44662-2.
• Murphy, Frank (2006).The vision splendid: a history of the Xavier Memorial Chapel. Eldon Hogan Trust.ISBN 0-9577067-7-4.

• Official website

• Associated Public Schools of Victoria
• Educational institutions established in 1878
• Catholic primary schools in Melbourne
• Jesuit secondary schools in Australia
• Boarding schools in Victoria (state)
• Catholic secondary schools in Melbourne
• Boys' schools in Victoria (state)
• Catholic boarding schools in Australia
• Junior School Heads Association of Australia Member Schools
• 1878 establishments in Australia
• Private primary schools in Melbourne
• Jesuit primary schools in Australia
• Buildings and structures in the City of Boroondara
• Xavier College

• Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas
• CS1 maint: archived copy as title
• Webarchive template wayback links
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from January 2020
• Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata
• Coordinates on Wikidata
• All articles with unsourced statements
• Articles with unsourced statements from May 2012
• Articles with unsourced statements from November 2020
• Articles with unsourced statements from October 2017
• Articles with unsourced statements from October 2018
• Articles with unsourced statements from April 2018
• Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia
• Pages using the Kartographer extension