The facilities replace the school’s existing indoor sports facility (a single indoor court built in 1965) and an existing aquatic centre built in 1994.

Although these facilities have served our girls well, they no longer meet the demands of modern sport and fitness programs, nor can they cater for the varying needs of almost 1700 girls from ELC to Year 12.

 

The new Sports, Aquatic and Fitness Centre began construction in January 2023 and is anticipated to be completed in early 2025, in time to celebrate our 150th Anniversary.  

 

The new facility will be located in the south-eastern quadrant of the campus, running parallel to Burwood Highway and stopping before Elgar Rd.

 

The sports centre will be the size of three basketball courts, which can also be configured for badminton, netball and volleyball.  It includes a 50 metre, eight lane swimming pool, a 25 metre learn to swim pool, diving towers and seating for 400 visitors. There is a gymnasium and spin room, multipurpose spaces for aerobics, dance, relaxation, table-tennis and class teaching, staff areas, collaborative meeting spaces for students and staff and an underground carpark.

 

The project is funded by school reserves, borrowing and philanthropy. No government funding has been provided as the government does not fund the development of facilities at independent schools. The new facilities are the result of years of planning and careful financial management by the school. The facilities represent a long-term investment by PLC in the physical and mental health and wellbeing of girls and young women. 

 

The 50-metre pool will be available for the community to join our swimming, diving, Artistic swimming clubs and Learn to Swim classes. We currently already offer weekly swim lessons for the community at: plcaquatic.com.

 

7. Will there be any impact to current Aquatic Centre programs and activities?  

The College anticipates that all Aquatic Centre programs will continue as normal. However, access to the Centre via the upper main doors will be closed and will be via the lower entrance door only, opposite the main school oval.  Parking access will continue as normal via the Senior School carpark at Gate 4 or along Parer St and the Gate 5 pedestrian gate. Gate 1 access before 7:30 am and after 6:30pm for club training will not be affected at this stage. There is to be no parking via the Gate 1 bus zone.

 

The College has a scheduled plan of works to minimise disruptions to the life of the campus. However, there will be some changes that include closing Gate 2 for non-construction traffic, moving pedestrian access from Gate 2a to the new pedestrian-access zone near Gate 1 (the bus gate) and closing the Hethersett/Koorinya Ring Road, from the Junior School/ELC driveway through to Gate 2, for all internal movement.

 

All parent and visitor carparks in the ELC, Junior and Senior Schools will operate as normal. Parking surrounding Hethersett, Koorinya and the Aquatic Centre will be restricted during the project.  

 

The project has been designed by leading architectural firm Warren and Mahoney Architects. The project builder is ADCO and our other partners are Stantec Australia, Remington and Associates, Taylors and Hydrautech Design.

 

The College will eventually demolish the current centre to make way for and significantly enhance the on-campus, car-parking facilities.

 

To see all the latest photos, videos, progress reports, news and updates regarding the Joan Montgomery Centre, please visit our Information Hub.