History of St Michael's

The school commenced in 1892 when the Presentation Sisters opened Holy Cross College as its second establishment in Victoria.

Presently the staff of St Michael’s School is predominantly lay in nature.

Mother John Byrne was the visionary who brought the Presentation Sisters to Daylesford.

In 1955, a new St Michael’s School was built on the opposite side of Daly St on what was known as the Police Paddock. The school remained there until 1980 at which time it moved back to the Holy Cross site after the Parish of St Peter’s had purchased and converted Holy Cross to a primary school.

In 1992, land in Smith St was purchased by the parish for a new site for St Michael’s with occupation taking place in 1994.

Sports Houses are Daly, Nagle and Marian which represent our links to the Presentation Sisters.

In 2010, the Presentation Centre was built at the current Smith St site - a multipurpose area, which allows for the current students to enjoy Performing Arts, Indoor Sports and Assemblies.

In 2015, the School installed a sculpture at the front of the school building, in recognition of the contribution of the Presentation Sisters to the area.  It was blessed and opened by the Parish Priest of the time - Fr Gary Jones.

In 2018, the school building undertook a major refurbishment - the first since it was built.  Currently, the school community is in the process of applying for a grant to continue the refurbishments.

Many of the current students, are second and third generation of students who have attended at Holy Cross.

This year, in November 2024, we will celebrate 30 years at our Smith St Site.  We look forward to getting in touch with past students and families, to share their stories and memories.  We will also be acknowledging the completion of Stage 2 of our refurbishment that is currently underway.