Ryan Catholic College was established by the Catholic Diocese of Townsville in 1979 to serve the rapidly developing areas on the outskirts of the city and the corridor development of the Upper Ross area.

In order to foster a sense of community and to provide a support for family life, the College was planned as a co-educational institution from its inception. It was Townsville’s first co-educational Catholic College for children from Preschool to Year 12.

Named after Bishop Hugh Ryan (the long-serving Catholic Bishop of Townsville), Ryan started in January 1979 with 74 boys and girls in Years 1, 2, 3 and 8. The first Principal was Barry Taylor, who led a staff of 5. By 1980, Years 4, 5 and 9 had been added and, as our reputation grew, additional groups followed until we received full Year 1-12 status in 1983. In 1992, a two-stream pre-school was added.

The Junior campus was opened in 2001, beginning with a new intake of Year 1 students. 2004 saw a full complement of students from Preschool (later Prep) to Year 4 located on the Junior Campus, with four streams in each year level. Ryan is now Townsville’s largest Catholic College, with enrolments of almost 2000 students and 220 staff.