Brisbane Catholic Education to open new primary school in Merrimac following $7 million property purchase

A Gold Coast suburb is set to gain a new primary school after the sale of a prime property for $7 million.

MERRIMAC is set to gain a new primary school after Brisbane Catholic Education bought the former home of Queensland Independent College for $7 million.

Brisbane Catholic Education, which has plans to open seven new schools in the next six years, said the property at 16 Ghilgai Rd would provide education for students from Prep to Year 6, as well as childcare. A name has not been chosen, nor an opening date.

“These decisions will be made in 2020 as we finalise relevant approvals for the new school,” it said in a statement.

Queensland Independent College, which opened in 2008 at 16 Ghilgai Rd as the Queensland Montessori College, closed in 2017, with most students moving to Silkwood School in Mt Nathan.

St Joseph's College being officially opened and blessed in a ceremony by Archbishop Mark Coleridge. Picture: Jerad Williams

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The school previously catered for prep students through to Year 7.

The property was sold by Merrimac Land Pty Ltd, linked to Justin Zulamoski, which bought it from the Australian Section Theosophical Trust for $4.9 million in 2017.

BCE said there was strong demand for Catholic education on the Gold Coast.

“This Merrimac site provides a great opportunity to establish a new school for this community within walking distance of St Michael’s College,” it said.

“Brisbane Catholic Education has continued to grow in the Gold Coast region in recent years.

“St Joseph’s College, Coomera – a Prep to Year 12 college – has just completed its first year of operation.”

The Busy Bees Academy is located at 1 6 Ghilgai Rd, Merrimac.

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The sprawling property on Ghilgai Rd encompasses five detached buildings – one of which hosts the 140-place Busy Bees Academy child care centre.

Other features include an arts studio, music room, administration building and two basketball courts.

The property hit the market last year through Ray White Commercial Gold Coast’s Brandon Johnson, who was assisted by Jared Johnson and Lachlan Marshall.

Buyers were offered the opportunity to lease or purchase the whole site or the vacant independent school facility on its own.

However, BCE opted to buy the site outright.