New Farm's origins begin with the convict days of the Brisbane colony. The area was used, some 400 acres, to cultivate maize, potatoes, pumpkins and the like. The area became known as the New Farm and, ultimately, New Farm. The first buildings appeared in 1847. In 1923, when a house was brought to be used as a Mass centre, New Farm began to be developed as a part of the Valley parish. Holy Spirit Church was opened on June 1st 1930.
Holy Spirit School, founded by the Sisters of Mercy with Sister Mary Benigna in charge, assisted by Sister Mary Paul and Sister Philomene, opened on Monday, July 7th 1930. The school opened with seventy-nine students. It had classes for infants, junior and senior classes. The existing Mass centre was used for school until 1937.
A new school building was erected in 1937 to replace the old building. This building is still standing and is the main section we use for classes today. It was blessed and opened by Archbishop Duhig. It cost four thousand pounds, paid for by the generosity of the parish and anonymous donors.
Extensions were made to the building in 1959, which is the ground-level block you can see from Villiers Street. Holy Spirit Hall was opened in 1966 as a Memorial Hall. The Resource Centre, Resource Centre annex and tuckshop area was opened in November 1984.
The Convent (now school classrooms) was opened in 1970 and, until 2002, was home to some religious. In January 2003, the Convent was refurbished as a Preschool / Year 1 facility. In 2004, the school administration area, staffroom and 2 downstairs classrooms were refurbished. In 2006, the remaining upstairs classrooms were refurbished, and a Resource Centre was developed downstairs in place of the original classrooms. The Parents & Friends Association completed air-conditioning the school in October 2006.
Further renovations and extensions occurred in 2016, with additional classrooms, staff facilities and student amenities constructed. The Parents & Friends Association and school community supported the installation of a new playground and library renovation in 2017, the installation of energy-efficient LED lights, the creation of our prayer garden in 2020 and a prep playground refurbishment in 2022.
The school motto: “To Know What Is Right" is part of the rich cultural tradition that has been always with the school.