On Thursday, 4 June, we officially opened the Catford Building. It’s been wonderful to welcome the community into Catford this year, having achieved practical completion late in 2025. Catford is our new ‘home at school’ for Senior School students. Named in honour of our founding Principal, Geoff Catford, and his family, Catford now stands as a centrepiece of our campus.
The official opening was an opportunity to express our gratitude to those involved with the project, and commit to the ongoing stewardship of our learning community. Business Manager, Amanda Simpson and Property and Grounds Manager, Peter Slawinski were recognised for their tireless leadership and internal oversight of the project. Both contributed countless hours and were integral to the coordination of the project. We acknowledged staff and community members who contributed to the design consultation process, and we thank our Board who had the foresight to endorse the Catford project, so soon after the One College project which consolidated our school onto one site in 2019.
Architects Swanbury Penglase, led for the bulk of the project by Simon Best, have designed a tertiary-style hub which has already seen a material impact on engagement and learning. The lantern at the heart of the building is the architectural highlight; a constant reminder of our mission to see our students’ lights shine. Fibre optic cabling has our Catford Lantern shining permanently as a ‘light on the hill’.
The professionalism displayed by our builders Marshall and Brougham throughout the construction phase was exemplary. We commend in particular Damon Kiely for his project management and Christian Thiry for his meticulous site management. Navigating a project of this scale within an active school environment is no small feat; the Marshall and Brougham team managed the safety and logistical challenges with a level of care that ensured daily operations continued without disruption.
My thanks to all involved in making Catford a reality, and those who ensured this week’s official opening was such a wonderful celebration. Students can be proud of the way they have embraced and are caring for the space; we look forward to Catford being a place of belonging, connection, learning, striving and opportunity for generations of students to come.
