David Cook
Meet our Principal
Welcome to St Gabriel's School, where every child is valued, supported and celebrated for their unique strengths and talents.
Learn More
100 Years+
of History
Founded in 1922 by the Christian Brothers, St Gabriel’s School has supported children with diverse learning needs for more than a century.
Small Beginnings.
Big Impact.
Beginning as a small boarding school for boys who were deaf, located in the historic Southleigh homestead, the School quickly grew, evolving in response to the changing needs of its students and families.
Over the decades, St Gabriel’s transitioned to a co-educational day school, introduced innovative integration programs and expanded its focus to better support students with hearing impairment. As understanding of inclusive education grew, so too did the School’s vision.
In 2010, St Gabriel’s broadened its enrolment to welcome students with a wider range of additional learning needs, including autism and vision impairment. Since then, the School has experienced significant growth, expanding to become a K–12 learning community, with purpose-built facilities and a strong focus on wellbeing, inclusion and personalised learning.
“While St Gabriel’s has evolved over more than 100 years, its mission remains unchanged – Nurturing independence and Transforming lives.”
Our History
A timeline of milestones
1920
The Christian Brothers found a suitable property in Sydney on which to establish the school at Castle Hill. Southleigh consisted of "a fine old residence, a cottage nearer the road and 35 acres of good land".
1922
On 10 June, Two Irish Christian Brothers, Brother Joseph O’Farrell and Brother Damien Allen, arrived in Sydney with plans for the new building. They had many years of experience teaching and caring for the deaf. In September of that year, Archbishop Kelly blessed the foundation stone for the first building at St Gabriel’s School. Shortly afterwards, the School welcomed its first student, Patrick Kenna, and officially opened on 22 September.
1922
September 1922 - First class at St Gabriel’s School.
1923
On 6 May, St Gabriel's School was officially by Archbishop Kelly. There were 28 students.
1935
In the 1930s, a swimming pool was built for the boarders, with the students and Brothers contributing to its construction.
1937
A fire destroyed the original Southleigh homestead which was the Brothers' residence.
1940
An additional 16 acres of adjoining land was purchased in Marie Street
1973
St Gabriel's School changed from a residential day school for deaf boys to a co-educational day school. The first female students were admitted in 1973.
1976
An integration program was introduced where students attended St Gabriel's in the morning and their local mainstream school in the afternoon. The Early Intervention Unit (EIU) was established.
1979
St Gabriel's School moved into a new building making way for a new Catholic coeducational school, Gilroy College, in the old buildings.
2007
Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) was established and took responsibility for schools previously operated by the Christian Brothers.
2009
The Early Intervention Unit for hearing impaired students was closed. The School now focused on providing Primary school education.
2010
The enrolment criteria for the School was widened to include students with a mild-moderate intellectual disability, as well as additional needs such as autism, hearing impairment, vision impairment and other disabilities.
2019
Year 7 students (Class of 2024) commence Secondary School
2023
The four year development project is completed with the School now boasting three new buildings including a secondary wing, a primary and administration wing and a multi-purpose hall.
2024
Principal, David Cook is welcomed to St Gabriel's School. The Principal now solely overseas the School