[1] The college is located in Mount Clear, seven km (4.3 mi) from Ballarat's central business district.

Students at the old Girls High site were part of the Barkly Mini School.

[citation needed] In October 1981, a new building designed around the concept of the mini schools was completed.

By the end of that year all students had moved to the new site which was immediately to the east of the Mount Clear Recreation Reserve and just north of the former Mount Clear Railway Station.

In 2002 the official name of Mount Clear College was adopted.