Twelve De La Salle Brothers came to Australia from Ireland and France in January 1906. In February 1906, they opened their first school at Armidale in country New South Wales. From Armidale the work expanded throughout Australia and to New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Now one hundred and thirty Brothers work with more than eight hundred colleagues in schools, youth welfare and employment services, conference, camp and retirement centres, promoting the spirit and vision of St John Baptist De La Salle. For more information about the history of the Brothers in Australia click here

In 2006, the De La Salle Brothers marked the occasion of the Centenary of the arrival of the De La Salle Brothers in Australia in 1906 through a number of events.

Centenary Mass - Sydney - 26th May , 2006

The impressive altar of St Mary’s Cathedral Sydneywas the perfect backdrop for the Centenary Mass that brought Brothers, colleagues, friends, students and staff from De La Salle Ashfield, LaSalle Catholic College Bankstown, De La Salle Caringbah, De La Salle Cronulla, Holy Spirit College Lakemba, Casimir Catholic College Marrickville, De La Salle College Revesby and Oakhill College Castle Hill together in celebration.

The principal celebrant was Archbishop Frank Carroll (Canberra), joined by Bishop Julian Porteous (Sydney), Bishop Patrick Dougherty (Bathurst), Bishop Gerard Hanna (Wagga Wagga) and Bishop Kevin Manning (Parramatta).

In his homily, Archbishop Frank Carroll (Canberra), a former student of De La Salle College, Marrickville, said that it was “a great privilege to be present at this Mass of thanksgiving to pay tribute to the Brothers”.

He encouraged the students to appreciate something of the very special spiritual and educational heritage of which they are blessed to be a part and to commit themselves to sharing the mission of the Brothers and the good news of the Gospel.

Following the Mass, the students and special guests enjoyed a picnic lunch at Lady Macquarie’s Chair and watched a parade of Tall Ships and Ferries on Sydney Harbour as part of the celebrations.

Centenary Ball - Sydney - 15 July , 2006

Five hundred and sixty-six guests gathered at the Westin Hotel in Sydney on Saturday 15 July to mark the occasion of the Centenary of the arrival of the De La Salle Brothers in Australia in 1906 and to congratulate the Brothers on their contribution to education and welfare work in Australia.

The gathering included Brothers, former students, current associates, supporters and friends, many of whom travelled from Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Singapore and from all Australian States.

Two former students of De La Salle College Bankstown, the Hon Paul Keating, former Prime Minister of Australia, and New South Wales Police Commissioner Ken Moroney, joined other notables such as actor Bryan Brown (Kingsgrove) Minister of State John Della Bosca (Cronulla), Compère and Master of Ceremonies, Mike Bailey (Bankstown and Ashfield) in recalling days gone by and the Brothers who influenced them.

Br Ambrose Payne, Visitor, De La Salle Brothers District of Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea gave the official welcome. “The 46 Brothers present tonight represent the 134 De La Salle Brothers of the District. All of us have been inspired and walk in the footsteps of all those Brothers who have gone before us.

Our associates, former students and friends make up the Lasallian family that’s represented here this evening, rejoicing in all of which we are proud”.

The Honourable Paul Keating, former Prime Minister of Australia (1991 -1996) who was taught by the De La Salle Brothers gave the occasional address that touched the hearts of
this special group of “true believers”.

“I owe an enormous debt to the De La Salle Brothers. The ethos of the De La Salle Brothers affected me as Prime Minister in all sorts of ways, as Treasurer the same; the judgments that you bring to bear, are coloured by your experience and by your value system.

We are here tonight as a celebration of the hundred years of that enormous commitment and dedication, the belief which these men put in the lives of young people, their unswerving faith and commitment to their Christian values, and their impact on the rest of us which has changed Australia inextricably forever”, he said.

In acknowledging the debt of gratitude and honour that is owed to those Brothers who went before, Mr Keating said “ We celebrate those hundreds of members of the Order that have long since served and long since passed – we celebrate their faith, their commitment, their clarity about what their life’s work should be about. It was not simply about education, they could have been simply teachers in a secular school system, rather it was an apostolate in the propagation of the faith”.

At the commencement of the evening, Mike Bailey, as Master of Ceremonies asked the 46 Brothers in attendance to stand, which prompted a rousing applause from over 500 guests in appreciation of the contribution, commitment, unity and faith of the Brothers.

Centenary Mass - Melbourne - 9 August, 2006
Enormous affection characterised the occasion to mark the celebration of the Centenary at St Peter's Church East Bentleigh. The format of the evening included a liturgical celebration of a Thanksgiving Eucharist, presided over by Father Peter Sierakowski, P.P and former student, concelebrated with a number of Priests and Bishop Ron Mulkearns. Brothers, friends, Old Collegians, staff and students from the three Melbourne schools gathered to celebrate the occasion. After Communion, sixteen Brothers and Partners were presented with awards for generous service in the Lasallian mission. Following Mass, the guests enjoyed a delightful supper in the Parish Hall which was catered by the Parents and Friends from each of the Colleges.

Former Brothers' Gathering
About 100 former Brothers and current Brothers gathered at Oakhill College Castlehill, Sydney (Nov 11) and St Bede’s College Mentone, Melbourne (Nov 18) for a Eucharistic Celebration and dinner to mark the occasion of the Centenary.