Mary Helen MacKillop was born 15th January 1842 in what was then Newtown in the Colony of New South Wales (now Fitzroy Victoria) of Scottish descent. Her baptised name was actually Maria but she was always called Mary. In 1860 she took a job as governess for a family in Penola, South Australia then two years later took a teaching job in Portland Victoria. At the invitation of Father Woods she was invited back to Penola to open a Catholic School. On the 21st November 1866 she and other women including her sisters formed a group which they called the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Thereafter she and her group moved to Adelaide where they dedicated themselves to the education of the poor. Internal struggles resulted in Sister MacKillop and her group being excommunicated and the St Josephite schools closed.
Personal presentation to Pope Pius IX resulted in the restoration of her cause and the school, also reformation of teaching methods from exposure to European education methods.
Return to Australia saw a resurrection of the school and her teaching.
Mary McKillop died in Sydney on 8th August 1909.
In 1925, Mother Laurence of the Sisters of St Joseph commenced action to see Mary MacKillop recognised as a saint.
She was beatified on 19th January 1995 and finally canonised by Pope Benedict on 17th October 2010.
College Ave provides, would you believe, the frontage for MacKillop Catholic College at the western end and lovely outlook for new residences at it's eastern end. Very pleasant surroundings. Enjoy the area and the challenge.