Our Foundress
Catherine McAuley

Sisters of Mercy
North Sydney
Mother Ignatius (Elizabeth) McQuoin, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy North Sydney, arrived in Sydney from Liverpool, England on 15 November 1865. She quickly established a school at St Patricks, Church Hill and began carrying on the work of Mercy.
Sister Ambrose Geary arrived as Principal to set Monte on the path of academic achievement. She updated old patterns and developed a more contemporary education style.
The twentieth century rolled on and Sister Clement Flanagan arrived at Monte to foster the pursuit of academic excellence and sporting achievements. Monte continued to grow and in 1939 the Middle School block was added to the buildings of 1906.
Sister Baptista Rankin replaced Sister Clement as Principal and faced the challenges of post-war education: the need for even more specialised accommodation for students who received the benefits of an ever-widening curriculum. By the mid-1950s Monte was well on the road to becoming a major force in education in Sydney.
Sister Maureen McGuirk AM became Principal and over the next 21 years continued the expansion of the curriculum and the updating of facilities and undertook a building program that has benefited the College community greatly.
Sister Sharon Price continued the development of the College and was the last Sister of Mercy to lead the College. She was responsible for the establishment of the College Board, the Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College Foundation and Board of Directors and for the readiness of the College for transition to lay leadership.
Mrs Beverley Johnson became the first lay Principal appointed by the College Board and the Trustees of the Sisters of Mercy. Under her leadership the College moved forward with innovative emphasis on teaching and learning and the integration of Information Communication Technologies to facilitate and enhance curriculum delivery.
Ms Catherine Alcock was the preceding Principal and her vision to provide choice and opportunity to Monte students led to the introduction of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years (IB MYP) and Diploma Programmes (IB DP). Monte was the first Catholic girls' school in NSW to offer both programs, placing the College at the forefront of educational innovation.
Mrs Nicole Christensen, Principal of the College, is a distinguished educator and leader who exemplifies Catholic education within the Mercy tradition.
Renowned for her dedication to academic excellence, she demonstrates exceptional expertise in shaping educational policy at both state and national levels. During the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,
including periods of lockdown, Mrs Christensen provided steadfast leadership, ensuring the
College remained open to support the children of essential workers while successfully transitioning to online learning—an achievement unprecedented in the College’s history.
Additionally, Mrs Christensen spearheaded the planning and construction of Scientia Terrace, the largest capital works project undertaken by the College, further solidifying her commitment to the education of young women.
In 2025, the College is proudly celebrating its Sesquicentenary, marking 150 years of
excellence in educating young women. Guided by the vision and mission of our founders,
the Sisters of Mercy North Sydney, we honour a rich legacy of commitment to values-driven
education and experiences.
We are deeply humbled to continue the remarkable work of Mother Mary Ignatius McQuoin, whose foresight and determination established Monte. Her groundbreaking contributions to Catholic education in Australia have profoundly shaped the
opportunities for generations of young women.