Westminster School chairman Phillip Styles retires following $40m upgrade

Former Westminster School students won’t recognise their old stomping ground – and one person’s largely to thank for its multimillion-dollar upgrade. See the pictures.

The new Forder Centre at Westminster School at Marion.

Few old scholars could boast such a strong connection to their alma mater as retiring Westminster School chairman Phillip Styles.

The well-known Adelaide marketing identity will preside over his last governing council meeting next Tuesday after leading the Marion school for the past 13 years.

His biggest legacy is a $40m upgrade which has seen the construction or refurbishment of several buildings and the creation of a new open space.

“It has been for me a journey that started 60 years ago when I attended the brand new school, Westminster, in 1962, ” he said.

“Looking at the Westminster School I see today, the real joy comes from witnessing the student outcomes from the building program conducted over the past five years.

“Quality teaching has completed the package.”

The four-stage campus masterplan involved the development of a new innovation hub for STEM learning, a three-storey building with a dining hall, library, art rooms, recording studios, small theatres and dance studio, a refurbished senior school building, a new sports pavilion and a large new area of open space with an amphitheatre, Westminster Green.

Westminster School chairman Phillip Styles with his family in 2010.

Westminster College chairman Phillip Styles with his family at the Marion school in 2022.

Westminster is located on a 23ha suburban site which contains an early learning centre, junior school, senior school, working farm, boarding house and large sports fields, including AFL-sized football ovals.

It also operates an outdoor education centre on 68ha at Point Sturt, on the River Murray, as part of the Duke of Edinburgh program which hundreds of its students undertake each year.

Mr Styles said the total cost of the Marion masterplan was around $40m, which followed expenditure of $20m on other projects at the school.

Inside the Westminster School innovation hub at Marion.

Inside the new Forder Centre at Westminster School at Marion. Picture: David Mariuz

“Over five years ago, we set out on an ambitious journey of innovation and improvement to set Westminster up for the foreseeable future,” he said.

“We believe we have achieved our vision to ensure students will have access to the best educational resources in preparation for life beyond school.”

Mr Styles said the masterplan had been acknowledged “as having the greatest impact at Westminster since the school opened in 1961,” he said.

“We have carefully managed a massive improvement program for day and boarding students, while proudly building on our school’s rich history and the beautiful aesthetic of our campus.”

Mr Styles, who attended the school with his brother, Stephen, in the 1960s, said the delivery of the masterplan had been his proudest achievement as Westminster chairman.

The Thomas Pavilion at Westminster School. Picture: Tom Roschi

The former Australian Major Events and Adelaide Convention and Tourism Authority chairman said his greatest pleasure had been seeing his family become part of the school.

“I was married in the school chapel, our two children went there, our daughter has taught there for 23 years and four of our five grandchildren are students there now,” he said.

“Over the years nothing beats observing their enjoyment in going to school.

“The best investment any parent can make is in their children’s education.”

Westminster School students in the new Forder Centre.

Westminster School principal Simon Shepherd said working with Mr Styles had been “a fantastic experience”.

“Phillip’s passion for Westminster is unquestionable,” he said.

“The countless hours that Phillip has given to the school are evidence of his diligence, commitment and desire to see the School set up for continuing success.

“We have been fortunate to have such a dedicated chairman of council.”

Mr Styles will be replaced as chairman by another old scholar, Craig Need, who has served as treasurer for nine years.