St Patrick's College (sometimes referred to as St Pat's or SPC) was founded by the Christian Brothers in 1893. It is a Roman Catholic day and boarding school, located in Ballarat, Australia. It provides education for boys from Year 7 to Year 12, with an emphasis on sporting and academic programmes. The school continues the tradition of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, in providing education for boys in Victoria and continuing the tradition of Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, who founded the Congregation of Christian Brothers in 1802. The college was originally called Holy Ghost College, which was administered by the Holy Ghost Fathers and started in 1888. Also in 1888 St Alipius Primary School was established by the Christian Brothers. However, after a promising start, the senior school closed due to the Holy Ghost Fathers' departure for France. The Bishop of Ballarat at that time, the Most Reverend James Moore, quickly contacted the Provincial of the Christian Brothers in Australia, Brother Patrick Ambrose Treacy, to take over the running of the school. The new college opened its doors on 24 January 1893, as St Patrick's College.