Our School History

In 1968, at the instigation of Father E. Leonard and the Presentation Sisters, St Anthony’s School opened with 51 pupils housed in the original Uki Convent School, which was brought to Kingscliff by road.

Looking towards the school from the rear, 2003. The original Uki Convent School building can be seen on the right.
 

Farewell to the Presentation Sisters
L-R Sister Elizabeth, Emily Buxton, Coralie Fisher, Fielda Windley, Father McEvoy, Sister Agnes Mary, Alan McIntosh.
The Presentation Sisters who continued until 1980, staffed the school.  Since then, the school has been under the leadership of a lay principal and staffed by lay teachers.
 In 1969, two new classrooms, a shelter area, Tuckshop and student amenities were opened by Bishop Farrelly. As the school continued to grow, additional accommodation was provided in 1974, again in 1981 with two classrooms and administration facilities being added and again in 1983 when the old Cudgen Public School was purchased and moved into the site.

Fr McEvoy
 

Fr McEvoy and Fr Parker 1985
During the years, enrolment numbers grew from the original 51 pupils to approximately 200 students. This necessitated the extension of three classrooms, toilet block and shelter area which were completed in 1989 and opened by Bishop Satterthwaite.
 Further extensions to the library, and attached classrooms were made in the early 1990’s, with the Tuckshop and administration refurbishment as well.

Construction begins on the church, circa 1992
 

The church begins to take shape
The global movement towards Technology and computer assisted learning has also meant the introduction of Information Technology Education for students and the establishment of a networked Technology Centre. The introduction of interactive whiteboards in 2006 has seen St Anthony’s continuing to provide state of the art facilities to maximise student learning outcomes.
 

First day of Kinder with Mrs French 1981

Construction begins on the Under-covered Learning Area (The Cola), 2000

Extensions to the Cola, October 2006

Temporary Classrooms – 2005

New look front wall – 2005
 

Construction underway for the new access road at the rear of the school, October 2006

Four new classrooms completed in time for the 2005 school year