 The history of the ACC goes back to the 1890s as Catholic boys schools began to grow and establish themselves in and around Melbourne.The ACC developed from the earlier group called 'The Combined Catholic Schools Association', which involved a number of schools conducted by the Christian Brothers and which held its first athletics meeting in 1902.The College Annual of CBC North Melbourne for 1916 lists four competitions in which that school was involved under the general banner of, 'Combined Secondary Schools'.