Founded in 1867 by Archbishop John Bede Polding and the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, Rosebank College is one of the earliest schools in New South Wales and is among the oldest in Australia. The College currently caters for 1400 students. Young men were welcomed into the Junior School for the first time in 2009 and full co-education was achieved in 2012. The Sisters of the Good Samaritan Congregational Offices were situated at the College until a few years ago where the moved to Glebe. There are private cemetery gardens where the early Good Samaritan sisters are buried. In 2008, the College and its grounds were heritage-listed under the Local Government Act for historical and cultural significance; "Rosebank College is a rare example of a nineteenth century estate that survives with most of its land in the Canada Bay Council area. The College has considerable significance for the 1850s chapel that, despite some alterations, retains the qualities of a Victorian Gothic chapel and for the 1876 school building that is a fine example of the work of George Allen Mansfield. The grounds of Rosebank College retain extensive lawns and plantings, many established in the early to mid twentieth century, that are part of the continuum of use of the site as a Catholic convent and college. The high brick wall around the perimeter is notable in the surrounding streetscape and adds to the amenity of the grounds."
Campus
Rosebank's facilities are housed in eight buildings. The College has just undertaken the biggest building redevelopment project in the school's history, its fourth stage was completed in June 2014, Which included complete restoration of all of the college's facilities and the construction of several new buildings. Students now have access to a Creative Arts & Performing Centre, the Scholastica Research and Study Centre, Science labs, the College gymnasium, computer labs, a Design and Technology Centre, the Benedict Hall, a food technology kitchen, textiles classrooms, visual arts rooms, the College's historic chapel, a Careers Centre and the Student Services building. The Rosebank College campus is notable for the high brick fence surrounding its perimeter and the extensive bank of roses that has existed on the property since the late 1840s. As of 2018, the College finished a new staff and administration building which includes 12 new classrooms.
