History
Marist Brothers arrived in Australia in 1872, where they opened their first school at The Rocks, NSW. The Marist Brothers and the Sisters of St Joseph established the parish schools, in the early 1880 (In 1883 according to Marist Brothers Australia), on the corner of Gladesville Road and Mary Street, Hunters Hill. Although sharing the same site, there were separate boys' and girls' schools. The buildings were made of wood. The Josephites establishment was a convent school that had five Sisters, eight boarders and an assistant teacher all living on the premises, and a total attendance of 65 students.The original building was destroyed by fire and new premises were opened in Mark Street in 1908.
Three of the old classrooms remained until the 2007 Global Financial Crisis and "thanks"to the Rudd Government were demolished to make way for new classrooms.
Mark Street catered for boys only taking them from 1st Class to 3rd Year (then called the Intermediate Certificate) until the Wyndam Scheme kicked in resulting in the last of the boys finishing in 1966. There after it became a Coed Primary School.
| 1907 | Convent and school were destroyed by fire. Parish schools were eventually built separately: the girls' school on a block purchased from the Josephites, and the boys' school in Mark Street opposite St Joseph’s College. Both buildings opened in 1908. |
| 1965 | The Marist Sisters took over the primary school in Mark, Street enrolling both boys and girls. The amalgamated school was known as St Joseph’s School. |
| 1967 | Sr Julienne, Marist Sister, was appointed Principal. |
| 1968 | Sr Louise became Principal and asked the Cardinal for permission to change the school’s name to Villa Maria. |
| 1968 | Sr Herman was Principal. |
| 1972 | Sr Emilian was Principal. |
| 1978 | Sr Maria Clark was Principal. |
| 1979 | Sr Margaret Cummins was Principal. |
| 1980 | Sr Maria Clark was Principal. |
| 1981 | Sr Emilian was Principal. |
| 1983 | A new administration block and renovated hall were opened. |
| 1984 | Sr Carroll was Principal. |
| 1987 | Miss Mary Cloran was appointed Acting Principal. |
| 1988 | Miss Cloran became the first lay Principal. |
| 1989 | The new school library was opened, and the hall was returned to its original use. |
| 1993 | Mrs Price-Randall was appointed Principal. |
| 1993 | Sr Helen Leary was the last Marist Sister to teach and also assist in the Library at the school. She retired in December. |
| 1997 | Renovations to the school plant were blessed and opened. |
| 1998 | Miss Julie Cunneen was Principal. |
| 2011 | Mr Kevin Turner was appointed Principal. |
