 Opening in 1901, the facility has been used for a number of purposes since, most notably as an orphanage for boys operated by the Christian Brothers organisation; and also as a convent and as a day and boarding school.During World War II it was used as a training school for the Royal Australian Air Force.Through its history, it has housed and educated day boys and boarders, orphans, vagrants, children from disadvantaged families, child migrants and Aboriginal children.