In 1910, five Sisters of Mercy from the Convent of Mercy in Fitzroy came to Heidelberg, at the invitation of the local priest, to conduct the primary school and the proposed Catholic high school. On 2 February 1910, the sisters held the first secondary classes for six students in a room at Roma, a private residence that was the first convent. The first school building was completed in 1911 and was called the ‘Superior School’. It operated with an enrolment of 14 students, including boys. Further building followed, with the convent building completed later in the year.

In 1927, the school’s name was changed to Our Lady’s College and much later, in 1962, to Our Lady of Mercy College (OLMC). The school grew slowly at first, but in common with many secondary schools began to expand after World War 11. Further expansion occurred in the 1970s when the College took on its present form.

The core values of the College are justice, compassion, courage and joy. These values are inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, in particular by the spirit of mercy which Jesus lived and taught and upon which the Sisters of Mercy were founded.

The College caters in the main for students from the Heidelberg, Ivanhoe, Bulleen, Rosanna, Macleod, Greensborough and Doncaster areas. We are the school of first choice for 1120 students and their families and the employer of choice for 150 staff.

The community of Heidelberg is an important part of the heritage of the school and of its future. In the local community and surrounding areas, OLMC enjoys high levels of community confidence.

Our learning environments feature technology rich learning spaces and purpose-built facilities for sport, the performing arts and science. Our curriculum balances academic and vocational pursuits and provides learning support for students with distinct learning needs. It delivers unique experiences for our Year 9 students and broad and extensive co-curricular programs. These provisions, combined with strong student wellbeing structures and programs, ensure that we achieve a consistent record of good learning outcomes and VCE results.

We are proud of our learning culture and hold fast to our maxim of being ‘a community with a passion for learning’. The learning environment is challenging and productive, with students supported to develop deep levels of thinking and application. We are continuously ‘raising the bar’ in providing learning experiences that will achieve higher levels of student motivation and engagement, and we are steadfast in strengthening a culture of high expectations where the girls are encouraged and supported to achieve their full potential.