Mount Alvernia College in Kedron has applied to demolish the Elizabeth Hayes Learning Centre, a long-standing part of its campus, to make way for a new five-storey facility designed to enhance learning and student resources.
Read: Nature’s Classroom: Discover La Foresta, Mount Alvernia College’s Thriving Garden
Plans showed the new building will feature a state-of-the-art library, learning centre, and auditorium. The project also includes plans for a redesigned forecourt area on the ground floor.
The new facility will have a gross floor area of 1,975.59 square metres across five levels, adding 1,011.31 sqm of space. Although the existing Elizabeth Hayes Learning Centre will be removed, key structural components will be salvaged and repurposed in the new construction. The design will integrate seamlessly with adjacent buildings at the ground level and on levels one and two.
According to planners, this redevelopment aims to enhance the functionality of the campus without increasing student capacity. The initiative is part of an ongoing effort to modernise the school’s infrastructure and provide improved learning spaces for current students.
“This proposal is part of an ongoing program of upgrading and improving the College facilities and to improve the efficiency of the College Campus. It is not intended that this proposal will increase student capacity, rather the upgrading of the library building will provide for an overall improvement in the facilities available to existing students,” planners stated.
About Mount Alvernia College
In 1930, the Missionary Franciscan Sisters arrived in Kedron and, at the invitation of the Parish Priest, established Saint Anthony’s Primary School. Their long-term vision of a secondary school for girls was realised in 1956 when Mount Alvernia College opened with only 10 students.
The Elizabeth Hayes Learning Centre, named in honour of the pioneering educationalist who founded the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in 1854, has played a key role in the college’s history. Constructed in 1996, it has served as the school’s library but could soon be replaced by a more modern and functional educational facility.
Read: Padua College and Mount Alvernia College Announce Expansion Plans in Kedron
If approved, the project will mark a significant milestone in Mount Alvernia College’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality learning environments while continuing to honour its heritage.
Published 18-February-2025
