Mercedes College originated to support the rapid expansion of existing Mercy school, St Aloysius College, which still operates today in the Adelaide city centre as our 'Sister School'. To encourage girls from the country to attend as boarders, a property with plenty of open space was considered the ideal solution.
A Springfield estate of 100 acres owned by the Cornell family came onto the market, with widow Marjorie deciding that the size of the home no longer suited her. Although originally not wishing to sell the private estate to an institution, the property was sold to three men who were acting as nominees for the Sisters of Mercy in confidence. Two days after their purchase, in January 1953, the men sold the property to the Sisters as agreed.
Some time later Mrs Cornell met the Mercedes College nuns, and graciously agreed that their care and appreciation of the estate pleased her afterall.