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St Joseph's School had its beginning with the arrival in Stanthorpe by four Sisters of Mercy on the 9th February 1875. The four Sisters were Sisters M Agnes, Emilian, Muredach and Malachy. This small group of dedicated Sisters pioneered Christian education enduring great hardships in the fulfilment of their apostolic mission.

The foundation stone for the Convent building now on the Secondary campus was laid on 11 October 1931. The building cost the grand sum of 12,258 pounds and was solemnly blessed and opened by his Lordship DR J Byrne, Bishop of Toowoomba on the 17th April 1932.

The original school was formerly the Globe Hotel. The school occupied the position more or less where the current Presbytery now stands. It was thought that its initial roll call was in excess of 120 students, some of whom had travelled considerable distances by foot from the outlying tin mines. The original 'school' consisted of one large room with the barest of necessities.

In 1884, St Joseph's School had its first inspection by an Officer of the State Department who reported very favourably on the school, teaching and results generally. However the building was in a bad state of repair and the winter winds whistled through the floor, ceiling and walls. But for all of this the old Globe Hotel was to remain the school until 1907 and the arrival of Fr Matthew Ryan as Parish Priest.

A new school was built on the site that is now the secondary campus of St Joseph's School. The original church built by Fr Davadi was also pressed into service as an Infants’ school and was joined to the wooden building built by Fr Ryan. In 1955 the old school was sold for removal and the primary students moved to the site of the Mercy Centre - Adminstration. This site was part of the Moiaminda Guest House, which was occupied by Somerville House Girls from Brisbane during World War Two. In 1987 the school’s last Sister of Mercy staff member retired.

St Joseph's School's founded charism is the Mercy charism. As a way of illumintaing the Gosepl message of Jesus Christ, the School lives by the six MErcy Values:

Respect for Human Life, Compassion, Mercy & Justice, Service, Option for the Poor, and Dignity.

The School's motto has been changed in recent times to reflect this charism. The School's motto is "Living Mercy".

In recent times both the Primary and Secondary campuses have undergone extensive development and refurbishment. The BER Program assisted this development and new buuildings have been constructed to accommodate the move of Year 7 to Secondary.

In 1999 St Joseph’s extended to Years 11 and 12 for the first time in its long history. The school is staffed by highly capable and committed teaching and support staff.

Today St Joseph’s School is a P-12 Catholic co-educational school that caters for students from all faith denominations. The SChool offers families of the Granite Belt excellent, second-to-none facilities, experienced and enthusastic staff, and relevant and engaging  21st Century curriculum.