The order of the Sisters of Mercy was founded in Ireland in 1831 by Catherine McAuley. Catherine was an extraordinary woman of deep faith and trust in God. She died in 1841, a mere ten years after founding the Order.

In 1846 the first foundation in Australia was made in Perth. In July 1891, descending from Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, a convent at Mansfield was established. From that foundation, a branch house was opened at Lilydale in 1896.

In 1975, Mount Lilydale became a co-educational school after serving as a school for young ladies since it's foundation. Through careful and continuous expansion, Mount Lilydale Mercy College today has an enrolment of 1,400 students and serves the educational needs of families in the outer eastern region of Melbourne and the Yarra Valley.

The ongoing development of Mount Lilydale Mercy College has given continual witness to the spirit of Mercy, courage, trust and confidence in God. As a Mercy school we have a uniqueness in our spirituality. The first class learning environment is animated by the spirit of freedom, love and mercy. Each student experiences respect, self-worth and unconditional acceptance.

Mount Lilydale Mercy College endeavours to emphasise co-operation and justice, leading students to play their role in protecting and enhancing human values in the world of the twenty first century.