Our History
CBHS Lewisham was established in 1891 as a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice Tradition. Edmund Rice was deeply committed to educating marginalised and underprivileged children in 19th-century Ireland.
After experiencing personal tragedy, Edmund Rice dedicated his life to religious service and education. In 1802, he opened his first school in Waterford, Ireland, to offer a free quality education to poor boys, teaching them not only academic subjects but also moral and spiritual values.
Edmund Rice’s schools grew rapidly. By the 1820s, he had established several more across Ireland. His vision was to create schools that would help transform the lives of young boys by providing them with opportunities for a better future, regardless of their background. His work led to the foundation of the Christian Brothers religious order, which spread globally, continuing to run schools with a strong emphasis on faith, service, and education.
CBHS Lewisham began in 1891 with modest facilities. Its single building, which accommodated 100 students and a gymnasium, cost £1,500 to build at the time. Today, over 130 years later, CBHS Lewisham operates as an independent Catholic school under the governance of Edmund Rice Education Australia, serving 1,250 students from Years 5–12.
We remain true to Edmund Rice’s vision of providing a holistic education that fosters each student’s emotional, spiritual, physical, and intellectual development, preparing them to positively impact the world.
Past Principals
| 1889-1990 | Br L. Murphy (Newtown site) |
| 1891-1992 | Br B. O’Hagan |
| 1892-1996 | Br P. Nunan |
| 1897-1902 | Br V. Caffrey |
| 1903-1904 | Br B. Coyne |
| 1905-1906 | Br J.T. Quinn |
| 1907-1909 | Br F. Magee |
| 1909-1910 | Br P. Walsh |
| 1910-1912 | Br J.T. Quinn |
| 1913-1915 | Br. T.B. Galvin |
| 1916-1919 | Br T.P. Harty |
| 1920-1922 | Br P.S. Mulkerns |
| 1923-1924 | Br J.A. Kearney |
| 1925 | Br J.A. Fitzgerald |
| 1926-1931 | Br M.E. Breen |
| 1932-1937 | Br J.M. Wynne |
| 1938-1943 | Br J.S. Turpin |
| 1944-1946 | Br K.B. O’Farrell |
| 1947-1952 | Br J.K. O’Neill |
| 1953-1958 | Br R.B. Healy |
| 1959-1961 | Br V.A. Doody |
| 1962-1966 | Br W.V. Green |
| 1967 | Br M.B. Gallagher |
| 1968-1972 | Br M.L. Hanlon |
| 1973-1982 | Br M.Q. Brady |
| 1983-1988 | Br F.R. Pelin |
| 1989-2000 | Br P.A. Hester |
| 2001-2007 | Mr B. Roberts |
| 2008-2020 | Br P. Conn |
| 2021- Present | Dr M. Blowes |
