St Patrick’s College Boarding Precinct Complete

After nearly two years and more than $7m spent on construction, St Patrick’s College was delighted this week to see the completion of its brand new boarding precinct.

While our fortunate boarding students were able to move into their new accommodation at the start of 2018, construction workers remained on site until last Friday, building a new reception, kitchen, servery and dining area to ensure all boarding resources are located in one designated location for the first time in the College’s history.

A welcome dinner for our current boarding students and their parents was the first official meal in the new facility on Sunday, August 5 while the boys enjoyed their first recess and lunch in the dining room the next day.

The custom-built three-storey facility has enabled the College to reopen boarding to students at all year levels with several Year 7 students already reaping the benefits of a boarding education.

Importantly, the refurbishment of the two College-owned former boarding houses (previously known as McCunnie House and Nangle House) is also complete. These two houses now provide distinct self-contained housing for boarding staff. This enables our boarding staff to raise their own families on site while enjoying large living areas and their own outdoor entertaining areas. This is again seen as a major development for the provision of boarding at the College and allows us to raise our boarding students in a familiar family environment.

-This investment at St Patrick’s College allows us to reopen our boarding houses to boys from Year 7 for the first time in many years,- Mr Crowley said.

-In many ways boarding is the lifeblood of the school. It provides the heartbeat -“ the place in the school where the greatest of friendships and bonds are formed and where the traditions and cultures of St Patrick’s College manifest daily into the lives of fine young men.-

The new boarding precinct features a new kitchen, laundry and dining area, separate indoor study and recreational areas for boys, spacious new bedrooms and bathrooms, an outdoor recreational courtyard and refurbished accommodation for staff.

-Importantly, this project will bring our boarders together in one designated precinct in the north-west corner of the College where they will have access to brand new, ultra-modern, spacious, comfortable and, most importantly in Ballarat, warm facilities,- Mr Crowley said.

-They will live as one community. Our boys will learn, dine, study, play, relax and grow together. They will have wonderful new amenities, both indoor and outside and will form their own vibrant community once again.-

Mr Crowley said the precinct ensures the continuation of boarding at St Patrick’s for generations to come, providing first class education for boys from throughout regional Victoria.

-This, I believe is a once-in-a-generation moment for St Patrick’s College. We have a chance to build upon our boarding greatness in a dynamic and exciting manner,- he said.

-All aspects of our College will benefit enormously from this project -“ our academic levels will rise, our co-curricular endeavours will continue to improve, our Indigenous Education Program will strengthen and our community will continue to grow from the most solid of foundations.

-I can think of no more exciting way for us as a College to continue to raise fine boys to the status of great men.-

Business Manager Andrew Ballesty said the massive capital investment in the project would reap benefits for decades to come.

-Already we are seeing an increase in the number of students wanting to come and board at St Patrick’s College and we anticipate that out new facility will fill quickly in the coming years,- Mr Ballesty said.

-We aim to have up to 90 students living in the precinct when it is full.

-Importantly the provision of such facilities also opens the possibility for St Patrick’s College to welcome international students and we are working towards this for the 2019 school year.-

Mr Ballesty said the College was incredibly thankful for the ongoing support of its governing body, Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA), for providing financial approval of the project and guidance through the construction process.

He also thanked many members of our broad community, including current parents, Old Collegians and suppliers, who had donated generously to the College’s Building Fund to support the project.

-More than half a million dollars has been raised to date and these donors will be honoured in a prominent position inside the precinct,- Mr Ballesty.

-We would also like to particularly thank those companies who have made this building possible. Resicare have been fantastic in constructing the precinct on time and to a high standard, while the vision of Morton Dunn Architects brought this dream to life.-

The College is planning a formal event in Term 4 to officially bless and open the new precinct.