MLC Burwood, St Luke’s Grammar Dee Why among Sydney private schools planning upgrades
Climbing towers and zip lines, rooftop tennis courts, Olympic-sized swimming pools and arts halls. Here are the latest projects and cash splashes for Sydney’s most elite private schools.
Local
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Stylish classrooms, adventure playgrounds and FINA-approved swimming pools.
Sydney’s most elite institutions are injecting hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade their already-prestigious schools with ambitious projects.
Many are classed as state significant developments, which means the state government’s Planning Department must determine the application’s fate before the tools come out and construction begins.
Here is the latest on projects across the city, from the northern beaches to the western suburbs.
Barker College
The co-ed Hornsby school for kindergarten to year 12 students will score a new aquatic centre, tennis courts, a performing arts and exam centre and maintenance shed under stage 1 of its development, which the state government gave the go-ahead to in December 2023.
The site at 91 Pacific Highway will expand the facilities to cater for the increased population of the school, which is one of the few “non-government coeducational schools in the north shore of Sydney”.
“Currently, the school is unable to accommodate around 200 students annually wishing to start their secondary schooling at Barker,’’ planning documents stated.
“Barker is now taking steps in recognising this increasing historic and future student demand, as well as being a good neighbour.’’
The performing arts centre would be perched on the southwestern corner of Unwin and Clarke roads while the swish aquatic centre and tennis centre incorporating an indoor pool and rooftop tennis courts would be on the northwestern corner of the same streets.
Minor demolitions of the C-block are slated with a new elevated east-west walkway along the southern edge of C-Block and incorporating spectator viewing to Bowman Field.
Construction of a north-south path linking the Rosewood Centre to the Junior School Campus is also planned, along with the construction of a north-south path connection along the western edge of Phipps Taylor Field.
Barker College has sat on its Hornsby site since 1895 and became co-ed 50 years ago.
The college, which charged $41,200 for year 12 students last year, received $15.7m in government funds. The funds allocated annually to students averaged out at $1586 from the state government and $2850 from the federal government.
The Kings
A climbing tower and zip line, new sports pavilion and boarding house are among a mind-boggling set of features planned for the prestigious North Parramatta school, where a masterplan was created in 2019.
Changes include a sports pavilion, boarding house, day-boy house, a new science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) building with 3D printers and additions to the preparatory school, including a revamped outdoor education precinct and an upgraded vocational education and training construction space.
There will be a 250-seat pavilion near the sandstone chapel of the Pennant Hills Rd institution with a classroom large enough to accommodate an entire grade and catering facilities to host events.
The 194-year-old boarding school is western Sydney’s richest school with a gross income of $403.5m, according to financial records from the combined past five years.
Two years ago, the school was ordered to cease the construction of a plunge pool at the headmaster’s residence after the state’s regulatory body found a proposed private plunge pool for the principal and his wife would be an illegitimate use of the school’s money.
There will also be a media room with a production studio, camera equipment, tripods, lighting, stands and drones.
St Luke’s Grammar
The Dee Why school is undergoing a $35m expansion to accommodate another 600 students after NSW planning green lit the three-stage project in 2023.
Under ambitious plans, the school lodged plans on the commercial site at 224 Headlands Rd North Curl Curl and the heritage-listed site at 800 Pittwater Rd at Dee Why where Officeworks and Fitness First stand.
A multipurpose indoor sports centre with two full-size and one half-size basketball courts, a dance and exercise space, plus a lift and stairs to connect to the new senior campus at 800 Pittwater Rd are planned.
A 300-seat assembly theatre, 220-seat performing arts theatre, 25m indoor swimming pool, wellness precinct, library and student learning spaces are also in the pipeline.
Formerly a Top Dog manufacturing hall and Bonds factory, the Dee Why heritage site will retain several heritage elements including the exterior clock tower and curved former canteen.
The senior campus is slated to open in 2026, while Officeworks continues to operate until the completion of its lease in April 2029.
The sports centre and new senior campus is expected to be fully operational in late 2030 or early 2031.
Meriden School
A $34m pool is proposed at this Anglican girls’ school in Strathfield.
In an environmental-impact statement, the proposed “state-of-the-art” aquatic centre is designed to be compliant with FINA standards for water polo.
If the Planning Department grants the state-significant project approval, the block of units at 12-14 Margaret St would be demolished to make way for the facility, which would sit on part of the Lingwood Campus at 16 Margaret St where a business office stands.
The pool would be on the basement level and amenities on the lower basement. Additional administration offices and spectator seating will be at ground level.
The aquatic centre would replace the existing swimming pool on the senior school campus which will be demolished to construct the approved social sciences building.
The approved two-storey administration and student centre will no longer be built.
Plans for the aquatic centre are on public exhibition until June 16.
MLC
A $198m sports centre and performing arts hub spanning more than 22,000sq m will appeal to athletic and creative types at the Burwood school.
The mega project received a tick of approval from the state government in May.
Under plans for the site at Park Rd and Britannia Ave, demountables will be removed to make way for the sports centre which will include an expanded aquatic centre, two tournament-sized courts for basketball and netball, cardio and weight gyms, a health centre and a dedicated learn-to-swim pool. The outdoor hockey fields will remain.
An environmental-impact statement reveals a 400-seat theatre for arts and music and upgraded music, dance and drama facilities are also earmarked to replace the “dated, impractical” facilities, along with a multifunctional assembly space for gatherings, concerts, theatrical performances, lectures, meetings and cultural events.
“This project aims to provide MLC School with a state of- the-art facility to support curriculum-based learning for drama, dance, music and sports,” the report states.
The three-storey performing arts centre will include two dance studios, two drama studios, two change rooms, two dressing rooms, five music teaching rooms and 12 instrument rooms.
It is estimated the development will generate 177 jobs while 10 full time jobs have the potential to be generated once it is open.
The development comes as major infrastructure projects including the metro are under construction at Burwood, under the Burwood North Precinct Masterplan.
MLC is one of several “excellent” 14 public, Catholic and independent primary schools and 11 public and independent secondary schools in the Burwood local government area.
“Many of these schools contain large parcels of land that are used for sporting facilities,’’ the planning document states.
“As the population grows, there is a need to plan for upgrades.’’
In 2018, Burwood’s population was 39,886 and is expected to grow 44 per cent by 2036 to 57,500, with most of the growth centred in its CBD.
Moriah College
The Jewish Orthodox school at Queens Park received the green light to undertake an $81m redevelopment four years ago and has recently since submitted modified plans to the state government following a wave of public objections, mainly over extra traffic.
The changes related to stage 1 of the massive project, which mainly related to the science, technology, engineering, arts and maths, and independent learning centre buildings.
The maths and science building will be up to four storeys to replace the ageing block and include a 250-seat auditorium, cafe, library and hi-tech classrooms.
In its submission to the government, the school said modifications would improve learning and teaching facilities and internal traffic management and security arrangements.
The college expects to cater for another 290 students in just over a decade.
Under the plans, 84 carparking spaces will be removed and 103 created on site.
Newington College
The school, which was founded in 1863 and has been at its Stanmore Rd site since 1881, is proposing a colossal $110m for its students as the school transitions into a co-ed campus.
Through the government’s state significant project process, plans include additions and alterations to Centenary Hall and the development of an adjoining, four-storey with classrooms.
The Concordia building will be redeveloped to accommodate a performing arts theatre, multipurpose gallery and exam space, classrooms and a basement carpark with preferred access from Stanmore Rd.
Planning papers state the preferred outcome for the Concordia redevelopment also includes a pedestrian bridge across Stanmore Rd to the main campus.
The controversial decision for the school to go co-ed was made in November 2023 and the first intake of girls is due to begin in 2026, in kindergarten and year 5.
In 2028, 50 girls will start in years 7 and 11 at Stanmore.
The college plans to be fully coeducational by 2033.
The size of each year group will rise from 250 now to 300.
Santa Sabina College
An aquatic centre with a heated pool and a sports hub in the senior campus will be the chief drawcard in a $52m project for the Catholic girls’ school at Strathfield.
The “not fit-for-purpose” Siena Hall, outdoor sports courts, change rooms, pool and carpark at the 131-year-old school on The Boulevarde will be demolished to make way for the modern makeover.
The 2755sq m sports centre will house a gym, three indoor multipurpose sports courts, offices, change rooms, a covered promenade to the south of the sports centre which will connect to the 1967 Centenary building and a basement carpark with 77 spaces.
Extra traffic and noise during construction were raised as key concerns from the public feedback submissions.
Concerns were raised over traffic and access via Jersey Rd and The Boulevarde.
In a response tabled in a planning document, urban planners stated a traffic impact assessment concluded that the proposed sports and aquatic centre was not anticipated to generate an increase in traffic or parking demand on surrounding streets. Vehicle access to the site will remain via the laneway on Jersey Rd.
In response to noise concerns, the planners stated Santa Sabina College worked with an acoustic consultant to prepare a noise and vibration assessment that will help to understand the potential impacts associated with construction, and the ways any potential impacts can be mitigated.
Construction is due to begin soon.
Scots College
The elite Bellevue Hill school for boys is diving into a $7m upgrade to rebuild its swimming pool so it is heated and deep enough for water polo.
Last year the school applied to Woollahra Council to replace its existing L-shaped pool with an expanded 14-lane heated swimming facility to cater for more than 2100 students.
Woollahra Council is considering the proposal.
The school – which, according to latest government figures, receives more than $8m in annual state and federal funding – says the new pool will ensure its facilities are of a modern standard.
Waverley College
The eastern suburbs school’s $141.5m expansion plans have drawn criticism over an upgrade that could see more than 200 more students taught at the college.
The upgrade to the 131 Birrell St campus would include new sporting, teaching and wellbeing facilities for students.
However, plans show the development would result in student numbers topping 1500 pupils – 266 more than current levels.
Waverley Council, Transport for NSW and residents have criticised the plans over traffic congestion forecast to cope with the future student population.
The total number of carparks at the college would drop from 87 to 73, with new bike parking spaces to offset the parking reduction.
The plans are still under consideration.
‘End of era’: Indoor climbing centre set to be replaced by 24-hr gym
A rent hike has forced a popular northern beaches’ indoor climbing centre to look for a new home as a 24-hour a day gym looks set to move into the premises instead.
‘Don’t call us NIMBYs’: Fury grows for residents at rezoning coalface
A western Sydney community fed up with the government’s “cheap shots” of calling them NIMBYs continues to fight plans for an imposing unit complex in their neighbourhood.