Mother Margaret MacRory : Short Biography

Margaret arrived in Sydney on 4 November 1885. She taught at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Rose Bay, was professed there and became headmistress. In 1923 Mother MacRory was chosen to open a house for Catholic women at the University of Sydney and was responsible for building the residence on part o the land of St John’s College. She established its independence from St John’s, whose rector had seen the new foundation as an extension of his college. The new hall opened in 1926 with Mother MacRory in charge. it became Sancta Sophia College, and she was its first principal. She chose the college crest with it symbols of trust and wisdom and the motto ‘Walk in Wisdom’.

This Chronicle has been adapted by kind permission of the Aisling Society. The content has been inspired by the Aisling 20/20 Vision project, which forms part of a programme marking the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the Consulate General of Ireland to New South Wales. 

The Aisling Society is an Irish Australian cultural society whose main interests are the study of the history, life, and culture of Ireland, and the effect of Irish heritage on Australian life.