Xavier College

Xavier College is a Roman-Catholic, private day and boarding school located in Melbourne, Victoria. It is part of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. It was founded by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1872, with classes starting in 1878. The school has three main campuses:

  • Kostka Hall in Brighton;

  • Burke Hall in Kew; and

  • Senior Campus, also in Kew.

Burke Hall, caters to students from Early Years (3-year-old Kindergarten through to Year 4) till the Middle Years (Year 5 to Year 8). The campus caters for approximately 770 students at Kew. The school is co-educational up to Year 4 and then it becomes a single-sex boy’s school. Xavier College, in total, has a school enrolment of approximately 2000 students at all three campuses.

Xavier College has been linked with allegations of child sexual abuse by former staff and teachers of the school. This includes the following:

  • Father Peter Quin - is alleged to sexually abused a student, aged about 13, at Xavier College. The allegations were settled by the Jesuits out of court. It is also alleged also that he sexually abused other students by placing his hand down their pants and fondling/touching their genitals;

  • Father Celso Romanin - was a former housemaster and priest who is accused of sexual abuse and ritual humiliation. In current court proceedings, Father Romanin is accused of drawing on a boy’s genitals with a felt pen while older boarders watched;

  • Father John Byrne - is accused of extreme physical and sexual abuse at Burke Hall in 1971 against a student aged 11. Father Byrne was known for his violent physical abuse to the extent that he was removed from Xavier College in 1972 after a student was badly beaten by him and was taken by hospital by ambulance; and

  • Phillip Wallbridge - The Age on 26 January 2020 reported of allegations made against Phillip Wallbridge who was Xavier’s principal for two years from January 1992 to December 1993. A student of Xavier himself, he returned to the school in 1971 as a priest, and taught across its three campuses until he became headmaster. No charges were laid against him by Victoria Police and the family of Phillip Wallbridge have denied the charges.

Moody Law has represented a client in the past who has made allegations of sexual abuse against a member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). We have also represented clients who have made allegations of sexual and physical abuse within the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.

We invite former students, past teachers, and parents to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

Call us or complete the confidential enquiry form below.