Cranbrook School, Bellevue Hill: Official opening of upgrade, including Olympic aquatic centre, chapel, theatre

An impressive upgrade of one of Sydney’s most prestigious private boys schools has been unveiled, featuring an aquatic centre, chapel, and theatre.

A state-of-the-art $125 million upgrade to the prestigious Cranbrook School at Bellevue Hill has been unveiled, with features including a world class aquatic centre, chapel, theatre and orchestra room.

The school’s 129ha grounds now feature a grand four-storey Centenary Building, housing an elevated chapel with harbour views, a great hall, classrooms, a dining area and an orchestral room with speakers which pipe into the 350-person capacity The Packer Theatre.

At the base of the grounds is an Olympic-sized pool, the centrepiece of the cavernous Murray Rose Aquatic and Fitness Centre which most recently hosted Team USA.

Construction on the extensive upgrades began in 2019 and were funded by a combination of generous benefactors and parent donations.

NSW Governor Margaret Beazley opened the school’s impressive renovation at a community-focused event, officially unveiling the revamp before more than 300 parents and former students on Saturday.

Artist impression of the Cranbrook School upgrades. Image: Cranbrook School.

Cranbrook School Memorial Chapel. Photo: Cranbrook School.

Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales opened the school’s impressive renovation. Photo: Cranbrook School.

The purpose-built centres will facilitate the IB Continuum approach to learning, which favours interdisciplinary learning and cross-age group collaboration.

The Memorial Chapel designed by Australian-based architecture firm Architectus features an all wood interior and expansive space which is to be used for public gatherings and school services.

The world class Murray Rose Aquatic and Fitness Centre hosted the US swim team. Photo: Cranbrook School.

Photo: Cranbrook School.

A community event on Saturday attended by over 300 parents and former students. Photo: Cranbrook School.

Architectus was the lead architect for the upgrade, working alongside with Richard Crookes Construction and EPM Construction Project Management.

In a statement, Cranbrook School said the new facilities would be open to the broader community including services in the Memorial Chapel, musicals open to other schools, orchestral and musical ensembles, and a Learn to Swim School and Swim Squads at the Murray Rose Aquatic and Fitness Centre.

The facilities have already been used by visiting sports teams including the Team USA swimming team, which used the aquatic centre ahead of US-Australia competition Duel in the Pool in August.

The revitalised facilities come ahead of another major shift, with the elite all-boys private institution to become co-ed within the next decade.

The four-level Centenary Building housing a great hall, classrooms, The Packer Theatre, dining area, chapel and orchestral rehearsal room. Image: Cranbrook School.

Photo: Cranbrook School.

Cranbrook’s school council announced in July it would move ahead with plans to admit female students in Years 7 and 11 from 2026, resulting in the senior school (Years 7-12) being fully coeducational from 2029.

Headmaster Nicholas Sampson said the model represented the correct pathway “for the future” of the school, which “cements our existence as a school based on equality, inclusion and respect for diversity.”

The lavish renovations also come amid a rush of upgrades among the eastern suburb’s elite private schools.

In the past two years Moriah College has received approval for an $81.7 million redevelopment, while Kincoppal – Rose Bay received approval for a $48.8 million refurbishment.

Mr Sampson said the new buildings would provide a “cohesive coeducational environment” for the school’s future.

“All of our new facilities were inspired by our educational mission and will build community, creativity, and encourage and enable higher aspiration.”