Our History
Our historical roots connect us to the Mother of Good Counsel Parish, The Good Samaritan Sisters, and the Marist Brothers communities.
Mother of Good Counsel Church & Parish
The first Church was built in 1891, followed by a second in 1906, both timber structures destroyed by cyclones. Dedicated to Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, the churches reflected Our Lady's connection to the Order of St Augustine. The current Church was opened and blessed on 5th August 1928.
Father Michael Martin Clancy, an Augustinian priest from Ireland, arrived in 1893. Together with the Good Samaritan Sisters, he helped establish Catholic education in the district.
The Church has played a key role in the growth of education at the College and remains a vital connection for our students, reinforcing the importance of Catholic teachings and values in our school community.
Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict
Motto: In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus (In all Things May God Be Glorified)
The Good Samaritan Sisters arrived in Geraldton (now Innisfail) at the request of Bishop James Murray and Father Michael Clancy. On 2nd November 1903, the first catholic school in the district, Sacred Heart Convent School was blessed and opened with 42 students. The Convent quickly became a cornerstone of Catholic education, with enrolments growing rapidly.
The Convent provided primary education for boys and girls up to Scholarship. Following the arrival of the Marist Brothers in 1938, the Convent continued to cater for boys up to Grade 3 and girls up to Scholarship. In 1941, a girls' secondary department was established. The Sisters withdrew from teaching at Good Counsel College in 1982 and from Good Counsel Primary School in 1992, after 90 years of service in Innisfail.
In 1975, Good Counsel College was formed as a coeducational merger between the Marist Brothers College and the Sacred Heart Convent. Before the merger, both schools had been sharing staff and facilities, and resources highlighted the need for a unified, coeducational approach.
This created a new coeducational system in Innisfail, with Good Counsel Primary School accommodating students from Grade 1 to Grade 7, while Good Counsel College served Grades 8 to 10 as a sub-junior school.
The College was parish-owned and jointly administered by the Marist Brothers and the Good Samaritan Sisters. Brother John (Januarius) Holdsworth served as the first Principal, with Sister Bernice (Bede) Moore as Deputy Principal.
The Marist Brothers
Motto: Recta Sapere (To know and to do what is right and just)
In 1938, the first three Marist Brothers (Brother Aidan O’Keefe, Brother Robert Wiliam Size & Brother Finan) arrived in Innisfail to establish a boys' primary school. They initially offered classes for boys from Grade 4 to Sub-Junior. The original school building, located on Owen Street, bore the name Good Counsel School on its façade but was commonly known as The Marist Brothers.
The school officially opened on 1st February 1938, with an initial enrolment of 51 students, which grew to 82 by the end of the year. The first student enrolled was John Standley Fraser, who is honoured annually through the Stan Fraser All Rounder Award.
The Marist Brothers played a key role in advancing education in Innisfail, introducing science classes to the region and expanding academic opportunities for local students.
After 45 years of dedicated service, the Marist Brothers left Innisfail in December 1983, leaving behind a legacy of faith, education, and commitment to the community.
A New Beginning
In 1975, Good Counsel College was formed as a coeducational merger between the Marist Brothers College and the Sacred Heart Convent. Before the merger, both schools had been sharing staff and facilities, and resources highlighted the need for a unified, coeducational approach.
This created a new coeducational system in Innisfail, with Good Counsel Primary School accommodating students from Grade 1 to Grade 7, while Good Counsel College served Grades 8 to 10 as a sub-junior school.
The College was parish-owned and jointly administered by the Marist Brothers and the Good Samaritan Sisters. Brother John (Januarius) Holdsworth served as the first Principal, with Sister Bernice (Bede) Moore as Deputy Principal.
We acknowledge the First Nations peoples of Australia, the traditional custodians of the land, seas, skies and waterways on which we reside, work, travel and meet. We pay our respect to First Nations elders past, present, and emerging, and support the Uluru Statement From The Heart. We acknowledge that the land, seas, skies and waterways of Australia were, are and always will be, that of the First Nations peoples.