The Ursuline Order was founded by Saint Angela Merici in Brescia , in Italy in 1535.  She named the order after Saint Ursula, patron saint of the Sorbonne in Paris and also the patron saint of Education. The choice of Angela's reflected her desire for women to seek a vision for their lives based on relationships which inspire trust, fidelity and personal integrity.

In 1882 the first Ursulines in Australia were invited to establish a school in Armidale.