 Founded under much public consultation in 2006, St Stephen's was developed to provide the community of Mareeba with a local high school.Although originally planned as a co-institutional arrangement with Education Queensland in 1998, the Diocesan Education Board of Governance gave its approval for the establishment of a Catholic secondary college in 2002.By the end of 2004 all approval had been gained, and by Feb 2005 an interim College Board was formed.