NameStella Maris Catholic Primary SchoolTypeBuildingSchoolGeolocation[1] Description‘The Sisters of Charity’ were founded in Ireland by Mary Aikenhead. In 1837, Archbishop Polding asked Mother Mary Aikenhead to send some Sisters to NSW to help with his work. Five sisters volunteered for this mission and on August 18, 1838 set sail for Australia.
Stella Maris Catholic Primary School is situated at in Wilson Streets Shellharbour east of ‘Stella Maris’ Catholic Church.
The local Catholic community saw a need for a Catholic School in the area and Father Smyth the first Parish Priest obtained permission to open a Catholic School in Shellharbour.
Bishop McCabe of Wollongong approached the Superior General of the sisters of Charity to open the school.
The new school was opened in May 1958 as a memorial to Fr Smyth, who had recently passed away.
The school initially began with two Sisters of Charity Sr Regina (Kathleen) Munce Principal and Sr Francis (Deirdre) Hickey.
Stella Maris began with 46 children increasing to 317 currently and almost 30 staff members.