Mother M. Agnes Graham is best known as the Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy of Ballarat East, Victoria, Australia. By the time she arrived in Ballarat East, Agnes had gained considerable experience in establishing foundations. Agnes had travelled with the founding party, headed by Mother M. Philomene Maguire, from Dublin to Worcester, England, in 1862.

Moreover, she was included as an assistant to Mother Philomene in the group that would establish Warrnambool (in the western district of Victoria) in 1872. 

Agnes led five sisters from Warrnambool to the prosperous Victoria town of Ballarat in 1882. The convent was established in Ballarat East. It was initially a branch of Warrnambool until it gained independence in 1884, with Agnes Graham serving as the first Superior.

Charlotte was born in 1839 in Belfast, County Antrim, the daughter of Hugh Graham and Charlotte Selina Savage. Her parents were well-off and sent Charlotte to the Sacré-Cœur Convent in London. Without her parents' consent, Mary left home in 1860 to join the Sisters of Mercy on Baggot Street.

Happily, both parents later gave their consent. In 1868, Charlotte’s younger sister, Josephine, became a Sister of Mercy.

Agnes Graham was an educated and accomplished woman before she joined the Sisters of Mercy.

She was a gifted educator who went on to form numerous education ministries.

The sisters offered boarding in addition to day schools. Agnes and her community also participated in other works of Mercy, following the tradition established by Catherine McAuley.

Mother M. Agnes Graham and her companions must have needed a great deal of courage to embark on the arduous journey to Australia.

Once they arrived in Ballarat, they were prepared to face further challenges in establishing new foundations. Religious prejudice against the Sisters of Mercy was rampant. Nevertheless, the instructions they provided dismantled this bias.

The Sisters of Mercy in Ballarat East were pioneers in education.

They had a significant impact on education in the primary, secondary, and postsecondary sectors that extended well beyond their immediate surroundings. Moreover, they initiated teacher training schools in Victoria.

Kerr, Berenice M, RSM. The Land That I Will Show You: History of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia 1981 - 2011. Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia, 2011.