Marist College North Sydney: top school’s $89m expansion determined
An elite north shore private school’s expansion plans have been determined after transitioning from providing boys-only education to coeducational. See what it will mean.
North Shore
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An elite north shore private school has been given the green light for a multimillion-dollar expansion in a move which will boost the school’s population by almost 700 pupils.
New teaching rooms and an early learning centre are among the facilities set to be added to Marist College in North Sydney after plans were approved by the Department of Planning on Friday.
The $89.4 million project includes bulldozing two existing buildings to make way for two new five and four storey buildings fronting onto Carlow and Miller Sts.
There will also be a new auditorium with 1528 seats, a two storey pavilion with a canteen, refurbishments to existing school buildings, a 90-space early learning centre catering on site carparking with 114 spaces for cars and 109 for bikes.
The project will be built in seven stages and will involve a staged increase of 692 extra school students – bringing the school’s total headcount to 1984 students.
The development comes after the school became coeducational in 2021 after operating as a boys-only school for more than 130 years.
Sydney Catholic Schools, which operates the college, said the development would support the shift towards coeducation and provide modern teaching facilities for the influx of new students.
The new buildings would accommodate teaching areas including science rooms, a library, staffrooms, student support areas, and general learning areas.
Other features of the development include new pick up and drop off areas on Carlow St, landscaping works and rooftop courtyards with recreational areas and basketball courts.
The approval comes after submissions from some nearby residents raised concerns over impacts on traffic congestion, parking, noise and the loss of 61 trees.
The Department of Planning – in approving the development – recognised there had been concerns but said the impacts could be “appropriately minimised” through conditions on consent.
The conditions include a green travel plan to encourage students to walk, cycle or take public transport to school.
The school will also have to complete an out of hours event management plan to manage any large scale events.
Plans by the school stated the development would positively support educational opportunities in North Sydney and create 61 new jobs once completed.
“The redevelopment and upgrade of school facilities and open space will meet contemporary and evolving learning and educational standards now and into the future and the expectations of the school community,” the plans stated.
“The increase in the school student population will contribute to the provision of 21,900 new student spaces required within the (northern Sydney) district in the next two decades.”
Construction is expected to begin next year with completion by 2027.
A bulk of the new students are set to be added to the college in the 2025 school year.
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