Australia’s oldest girls’ school, Mercedes College, is undergoing a $13.5 million transformation project with work having commenced on Stage 1 of the Capital Development Plan with new facilities.
The project started in 1997 with a comprehensive curriculum review and construction is the first major building programme in the school since 1997.
Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1846, and led by Sister Ursula Frayne, Mercedes was Perth’s first school and began in a rented college with one student.
Located in the heart of Perth’s CBD on its original site, today it is Australia’s oldest girls’ school with 940 students.
The initial stage commenced the process of addressing the College’s future needs, putting in place the infrastructure and facilities required to provide the most modern learning environment for students.
Stage 1 includes two key structures.
The Serisier Learning Centre, which includes:
l Conversion of the eight-lane outdoor pool into a modern, heated, indoor pool;
l Level 1 above the pool will provide Science Laboratories and associated rooms;
l Level 2 will house six general purpose classrooms;
l On the lower Hay Street level will be the Information Technology Support Office and the College Wear Shop.
Stage 1 also includes the Coady Sports Centre which will be a multi -sports centre providing for netball, basketball, badminton, volleyball, rhythmic gymnastics and a climbing wall.
On the mezzanine level there will be a fully equipped fitness centre.
Progress of work was interrupted in December with the discovery of an old wall dating back to 1865. The heritage significance of this wall led to further investigation of the site by the project archaeologist, Fr Robert Cross, who discovered a treasure-trove of artefacts – almost 1,000 in total.
These are now being cleaned and catalogued. It is hoped some of these treasures will feature in the new buildings.
During the holidays, one of the school’s iconic date palms was also moved to make way for the new buildings.
It has been relocated to its new home adjacent to the Serisier Centre and will form an integral part of the focal point of the school and its historic buildings.
Students returning to school earlier this month witnessed the giant crane manipulating the pouring of the massive footings for The Serisier Learning Centre.
In addition to Stage 1, a total renovation of the canteen is under way to provide a modern cafeteria-style facility. The $850,000 project, being funded by the Government’s Building Education Revolution (BER) programme, will provide students and staff with a functional, well equipped, modern facility.
College principal Sheena Barber said the new facilities will provide teachers and students with new opportunities and enhance the “diverse and adaptive educational environment”.
The new canteen is due to open in Term 2, while Stage 1 of the Capital Development Plan is due for completion at the start of the 2011 school year.