Mother Vincent Whitty arrived from Brisbane with Sr. M. De Sales Gorry to make a foundation at the port of Rockhampton in 1873. The Sisters established a secondary school called St. Brigid’s and a free primary school. Through the efforts of the parish priest, Dean Charles Murley, a native of France, competent lay teachers also conducted two free Catholic schools, one for boys, the other for girls. The government continued to pay teachers in Catholic schools until 1880.

With the establishment of the Rockhampton diocese in 1882 the Sisters were able to form their own congregation distinct from the Brisbane congregation. Because the Josephite Sisters desired to remain with Blessed Mary MacKillop as Mother General, these Sisters withdrew from Queensland. The result was that in Townsville, Mackay and Bowen the Sisters of Mercy replaced the Josephites. These convents became branch houses of Rockhampton.

This Congregation continued to flourish with foundations: a large orphanage at Neerkol and further primary schools in Rockhampton, Mater Miservicordiae Hospitals in Rockhampton (1915) and Mackay (1927) were established.

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