Welcome

Perched on the breathtaking clifftops of Eden, our museum offers a serene and inspiring setting to explore history and heritage.

The St Mary MacKillop Museum celebrates the life and legacy of Australia’s first saint, canonised by the Catholic Church in 2010. The museum is housed in the historic building originally established by Mary MacKillop in 1891 as a gesture of gratitude to the Eden community for their kindness following the tragic loss of her mother, Flora MacKillop.

Flora drowned in 1886 when the Ly-ee-Moon shipwrecked off Green Cape Lighthouse, south of Eden, claiming most on board. Mary later sent Sisters of St Joseph to Eden, who opened St Joseph’s School in this very building. Restored and reopened as a museum in 2004, it now stands as a tribute to Mary’s faith, resilience, and deep connection to the town. Mary visited the school in 1899, and 1901, spending time testing the students and working 

Other significant St Mary Mackillop sites can be found at

• The Mary Mackillop Place Museum, 7-11 Mount St., North Sydney, NSW

• Mary Mackillop Precinct, 4 High St, Kensington SA 5068

• Mary Mackillop Heritage Centre, 362 Albert St, East Melbourne VIC 3002

• St Joseph's Heritage and Conference Centre, Perthville, NSW