Skip to content

Sacred Sites

Home / Faith & Mission / Sacred Sites

Assumption College acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which the College stands, the Taungurung People. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.

The Assumption Story

Assumption College is an iconic educational institution with a proud history spanning more than 130 years. Our landscaped grounds bring together heritage buildings and contemporary learning spaces, creating a campus that reflects both tradition and innovation.

This page invites our community to explore the spiritual symbolism and sacred sites that shape life at the College.

Taungurung Garden

Honouring the traditional custodians of the land on which our College stands, the Taungurung Garden features a collection of native flora that reflects connection to Country. It offers a quiet space for reflection, conversation, and learning about shared responsibility and respect for the land.

War Memorial Doors

The Memorial Doors were originally erected at the College chapel, now the Heritage Centre in Shandon House, to honour the memory of 33 Assumption College students who lost their lives during World War I and World War II. They were blessed and unveiled in 1949 by the Most Rev B D Stewart, Coadjutor Bishop of Sandhurst, and remain a place of remembrance and gratitude for service and sacrifice.

Memorial Garden

The Memorial Garden honours the service and sacrifice of local servicemen and women from World War I and subsequent conflicts. It provides a peaceful setting for reflection on courage, duty, and the enduring impact of service on families and communities.

Black Saturday Bushfire Memorial

The Black Saturday bushfires of 2009 were Australia’s deadliest bushfire disaster, changing the lives of many Victorians, including members of the Assumption College community.

The memorial fountain on campus pays tribute to those affected and was unveiled and blessed by College Chaplain Fr George O’Connor as a symbol of resilience, compassion, and community strength.

In honour of Marcellin Champagnat

Founder of the Marist Brothers Order, Saint Marcellin Champagnat’s educational philosophy is captured in his words: “To educate children you must love them and love them all equally.”

The College embraces Champagnat’s vision to make Jesus Christ known and loved through quality education as the foundation of its teaching and pastoral care. Sculptures across the campus serve as daily reminders of his life, mission, and values, reflected in the way students are supported, guided, and encouraged to grow.

Locations include:

  • Marcellin Champagnat statue with a young student
  • Marcellin Champagnat sculpture in the Fourviere Courtyard
  • Original Marcellin statue at the entrance to the Boarding Houses

Our Catholic Heritage

The symbolism of faith is woven throughout the Assumption College campus. From commissioned artworks that reflect Christian tradition to historic statues that honour figures of devotion, each element contributes to a shared spiritual identity.

Original architectural features preserve the story of the College’s beginnings, while the iconography within Le Rosey Chapel creates a sacred space where beauty and reflection meet. Together, these spaces inspire the community to learn, serve, and grow in the way of Mary.

Features include:

  • Traditional statue of Mary the Immaculate at the entrance to Shandon House
  • Commissioned artwork of Mary of the Assumption inside Shandon House Reception
  • Original chapel and stained-glass window of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
  • Statues of Jesus and Mary in the Fourviere Building
  • Mary of the Annunciation sculptures
  • Le Rosey Chapel and Cross
  • Stained glass windows in Le Rosey Chapel reflecting the seasons of Summer, Autumn, and Spring