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Our History
The story of Aquinas College began long before the College opened its doors at Salter Point.
Our origins trace back to 1894 with the establishment of Christian Brothers' College Perth on the corner of St Georges Terrace and Victoria Avenue. Founded at the invitation of Bishop Matthew Gibney, the College became the first Christian Brothers' school in Western Australia and the State's second oldest secondary school and boarding school.
Originally established as a day school, the rapid population growth brought about by the gold rush soon created demand for boarding. The first boarders were admitted in 1896, but it wasn’t long before limited space in the city meant a larger site was necessary to accommodate the College's future.
In 1917, Headmaster Brother Paul Nunan began searching for a new home, ultimately securing the magnificent riverside property at Salter Point.
The foundation stone for Aquinas College was laid on 11 July 1937, and the College officially opened in February 1938 with 160 boarders and 55 day students. Aquinas retained the Public Schools Association membership, College colours, honour boards and the proud history of CBC Perth, setting the new school up for success. Since then, generations of young men have been educated on the stunning campus with direct access to the Canning River and close to the city of Perth, guided by the Edmund Rice values of faith, character, learning and service.
Today, Aquinas is one of Australia's leading Catholic boys' schools and has been part of the Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) network since 2007. While the College has continued to evolve, its commitment to forming young men of integrity, compassion and purpose remains unchanged.
The Old Aquinians' Association
The Old Aquinians' Association (OAA) was established in 1938 alongside the opening of the new College, continuing the proud alumni tradition that began at CBC Perth. From its earliest days, the Association has ensured that the bonds formed at Aquinas extend well beyond graduation.
The Association's founding purpose was to foster lifelong friendships, strengthen the connection between alumni and the College, support students as they embarked on their careers, assist Old Aquinians in times of need, encourage participation in social and sporting activities, and promote the ongoing wellbeing of the College community.
More than eight decades later, those principles remain as relevant as ever. Through reunions, networking events, mentoring opportunities, bursaries and community initiatives, the Old Aquinians' Association continues to celebrate the enduring spirit of Aquinas and the lifelong brotherhood shared by its alumni.
