The new College was built by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions - a missionary Congregation of Sisters dedicated to the education of women and girls. Arriving in Oakleigh in 1936, the Sisters established Sacred Heart Primary School. Noting there was no local opportunity for secondary education for girls or boys in the area to the south east of Oakleigh, the Sisters applied for permission to build a secondary school for girls.
Many of the girls were daughters of returned soldiers and immigrants from war ravaged Europe. The Sisters commissioned the prestigious architects’ firm Grounds, Romberg and Boyd to design a beautiful school for the girls, laying the foundation stone in 1952.
In 1957, 105 students - Years 7 to 12 - moved into the new building with seven teachers: four full time including the principal and three part time. Teachers doubled as School Secretary and cleaners!