They are about reclaiming the school's long heritage.

The $1.1 million redevelopment, mostly paid for by federal government funding, has seen a complete overhaul of a school building which dates back to the 1880s.

The works have given the school a new library and nine learning spaces.

In a ceremony attended by families and parishioners, the new facilities were blessed by Ballarat Catholic Bishop Peter Connors.

School principal Eileen Rice said the school drew a sense of pride from the refurbishment.

"The facilities were really run down. But it's more than just getting something new, it's about reclaiming a heritage that's so rich," Ms Rice said.

Heritage is certainly something the school is not short of.

Established in a tent in the goldfields in 1853, St Alipius is Ballarat's oldest continually operating school.

It was the 13th non-government school in Victoria.

Some of that history is captured in a display in the school's new library.

School deputy principal Jason Spark collected items found on the building site, including compasses, rulers, bottles and a 1930s copy of The Courier.

The building will now be known as the Mercy Building, an acknowledgement of the Sisters of Mercy at the school from the 1880s to four years ago.

The works are the second stage in a four-stage building program.

After yesterday's opening, Ms Rice announced tenders would be called for on stage three, an early years' discovery centre. The school hopes that building will be completed by this time next year.