[2] Kincoppal-Rose Bay is a member of an international group of schools conducted by the Society of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic teaching order, established by Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat in France in 1800.

The other was founded in 1909 at Kincoppal, the former Elizabeth Bay residence of prominent Catholic businessman John Hughes.

They selected the residence of Claremont on the Vaucluse peninsula in New South Wales to begin their task of offering students the educational vision of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, the founder of their Society.

The original building, leased in 1882 and later purchased by the Society of the Sacred Heart, was a private home built in 1851.

To commemorate the occasion, Sister Leila Barlow wrote and published Living Stones, a book reviewing the spirit, tradition and events of the school's first hundred years.

As of 2007[update] facilities of the school included: There are four primary houses at Kincoppal Rose Bay, all with aboriginal names.

The boarding school has three primary houses, each named after a significant contributor to the Society of the Sacred Heart.