Gilroy College Expansion

By Bev Jordan

Plans for a $20 million expansion at Gilroy College at Marie St, Castle Hill will be determined by the Sydney Central City Planning Panel in the next few months.

The Development Application for the construction of Phase 2 of the college’s expansive upgrade was lodged with the Hills Shire Council at the end of last year.

The proposed new building will be a two-storey research and creative learning centre with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Visual Arts, Sport Science and a new canteen facility.

The building has been designed to integrate into the Marie Street streetscape of the Gilroy campus and complement its existing buildings.

The demolition of the single and double-storey buildings known as ‘Block’ D & Block ‘E’, as well as the Marie Street frontage, will be required as part of the project. New landscaping will also be included in the project.

Block D is currently used for music, Drama and TAS (Technology and Applied Studies). Block E is general-purpose classrooms. Appropriate temporary accommodation will be provided during the building works. The recently completed Block G will also provide new Inquiry hubs.

Principal Cheryl Merryweather said: “We’re so excited about the potential of these exciting new facilities to support student learning. Great opportunities to cultivate creativity and build skills in research will set these young people up to make a strong contribution to our communities.”

Construction will commence late 2022 / early 2023 pending approvals.

Mrs Merryweather said student safety is a priority for the school along with working hard to prevent disruptions to families during construction.

Phase One was approved by Hills Shire Council in 2019. The $19 million expansion for Phase One included the demolition of an existing block of classrooms and a demountable and the construction of a new three-storey building housing 16 new classrooms and general learning areas.

Gilroy Catholic College was founded in 1980 with 12 staff members and 137 students enrolled in Year 7 and is named after Cardinal Sir Norman Thomas Gilroy, the first Australian-born Cardinal and the first Cardinal to be knighted since the Reformation.

Gilroy now has more than 1000 students and 90 staff. It was founded on the site of St Gabriel’s School for hearing impaired students which occupied the site from 1922.