St Luke’s Grammar: $35m private school expansion plans approved, Officeworks to close

NSW Planning has made their decision over $35m plans to expand a Sydney private school at an iconic heritage site, introducing a new senior campus and 600 additional students.

$35m plans to expand a Sydney private school, introducing an additional 600 students, a sports centre and a new senior campus has been greenlit by NSW Planning.

St Luke’s Grammar School lodged the for the adaptive re-use of the existing commercial site at 224 Headland Rd, North Curl Curl and the heritage-listed site at 800 Pittwater Rd, Dee Why for the purpose of a school sports centre and new senior school campus.

Currently tenanted by Fitness First, I-MED Radiology Network and Officeworks, the site at 800 Pittwater Rd will be converted into a new senior school campus for Years 10 to 12, with plans to construct a 300-seat assembly theatre, 220-seat performing arts theatre, 25m indoor swimming pool, wellness precinct, library and student learning spaces.

An artist impression of the interior of the proposed new senior campus at St Luke's Grammar School, Dee Why. Picture: Supplied.

Formerly a Top Dog manufacturing hall and Bonds factory, the iconic Dee Why heritage site will have various of its heritage elements maintained, including the exterior clock tower and curved former canteen.

The DA-approved site at 224 Headland Rd will be converted into a multipurpose indoor sports centre, including two full-size and one half-size basketball courts, a dance and exercise space, plus a new connection comprising of a lift and stairs to the new senior campus at 800 Pittwater Rd.

Approved by the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces on April 19, the DPIE noted that the project is permissible with development consent and is “in the public interest”.

“The project would provide a range of benefits, including the adaptive re-use of a heritage significant building to provide teaching and learning spaces … and will result in the creation of 209 jobs (including 149 construction jobs and 60 operational jobs) and a capital investment value of $76,394,429,” the DPIE said.

An artist impression of the interior of the proposed new senior campus at St Luke's Grammar School, Dee Why. Picture: Supplied.

An artist impression of the interior of the proposed new senior campus at St Luke's Grammar School, Dee Why. Picture: Supplied.

“The impacts on the community and the environment can be appropriately minimised, managed or offset to an acceptable level, in accordance with applicable NSW Government policies and standards.

“The issues raised by the community during consultation and in submissions have been considered and adequately addressed through changes to the project and the recommended conditions of consent.”

Growing concerns over traffic conditions were raised during the project’s exhibition periods in June 2020 and November 2022, with amended plans introduced proposing that Year 12 parking and drop-off and pick-up activities to be relocated from Pittwater Rd to the Headland Rd site to avoid queuing on Harbord Rd.

The site at 800 Pittwater Rd, Dee Why is currently tenanted by Fitness First, I-MED and Officeworks. Picture: Supplied.

“The Department acknowledges that the amended proposal will increase the number of vehicle movements to and from the Headland Road site.” the DPIE said.

“Conditions have therefore been imposed to address the traffic and pedestrian safety concerns at this location.”

A transport management plan is currently being prepared and undertaken in consultation with Northern Beaches Council and Transport for NSW as part of one of the conditions to identify the need for any additional traffic management areas, including an analysis of queuing impacts along Headland Rd during peak school periods.

Site preparation and construction is planned to take place across three stages, Stage 1 will consist of all works at 224 Headland Rd to be completed in 2023, Stage 2 will begin works to the northern part of the Pittwater Rd site (I-MED and Fitness First) with expected completion in late 2026, and Stage 3 will complete the remaining works at the site of Officeworks Dee Why, anticipated to be completed in late 2030.

The opening of the first stage of the new senior school campus is expected during Stage 2 in late 2026, introducing 360 students while Officeworks continues to operate until the completion of its lease in August 2029.

The sports centre and new senior campus is expected to be fully operational in late 2030/early 2031, with plans to hire out the sporting facilities at both sites outside of school hours.