St Peter Chanel

Catholic education began in the town of Smithton when St Attracta’s School commenced on 6 February 1951 at 98 Emmett Street by four sisters of St Joseph. The school was named after St Attracta – an Irish nun/saint and innkeeper. In 1977, land was bought on Tier Hill in Sampson Avenue. This land would allow enough space for a school, convent, presbytery, and church. With the assistance of a Federal Government Grant a new school was built in three stages. The school was renamed St Peter Chanel after Peter Chanel, a Marist priest, had been martyred on Futuna Island. He was called ‘the man with the good heart.’ We celebrate the Feast of Saint Peter Chanel on 28 April each year.