Funding scholarships, preserving our unique heritage, and renewing our facilities into innovative, 21st Century learning and living spaces.
From the very beginning of our history, members of our generous community have made gifts to the School to ensure they leave it a better place than when they arrived as students or parents.
Below is s snapshot of the difference these gifts have made to the Geelong Grammar community over time.
The School for Performing Arts and Creative Education, known and loved as the SPACE, is a building that brings people together and has the infrastructure to promote excellence in the arts. Made possible through the generosity of our community, with leadership from Ian Darling AO (P’79) and his wife Min, and opened in 2015, the SPACE has become such an integral part of the School, serving so many different needs, that it is hard to imagine life without it.
In 2005, the Austin Library at Bostock House underwent a complete refurbishment thanks to the late Frank Austin (M’33) and his wife Alison, in commemoration of Frank’s brothers, James Austin (M’37) (1920-44) and John Sanger Austin (M’35) (1918-43), who both died in service during World War II. The library was also a celebration of the longstanding connection between the Austin and Bostock families.
The opening of the stunning Timbertop Music School to celebrate the campus’ 50th anniversary was made possible through the generous benefaction of John B Fairfax (M’60) and his family, and the late Robert Albert (Cu’52) and his wife Elizabeth.
The transformation of the Fisher Library to a 21st Century Knowledge Access Centre was completed in October 2005. The major renovations were made possible by Geelong Grammar School parents Prem and Eugenie Premraj, who generously donated the white Vitri Panel on the outside of the Building. The Geelong Grammar Foundation also contributed $850,000 to the project.
Opened in May 2005 as part of the School’s 150th celebrations, the Centre was possible thanks to the generosity of the late James Fairfax (M’50) and a significant gift from the Old Geelong Grammarians Association. The Centre is located in the Hawker Library and houses some of the School’s most significant memorabilia and archival volumes.
The Hirschfeld Mack Centre, commemorating the wonderful Head of Art from 1942–1957, was made possible by a small group of individual donors led by Foundation Board members Dougal Ramsay (P’66) and Mark Robertson.
The Centre, opened in June 2001, was made possible with the generous benefaction of Helene Bender. The Centre was built and named in memory of her late husband Norman (Ge’41) who was a student at Geelong Grammar from 1938 to 1941. Norman was a member of the School Council 1968–1980.
A specialist art facility opened in May 1999, it was converted from the old maintenance workshops thanks to the generosity of The Sinclaire Trust. Stannard Clark, a past parent and grandparent at GGS, and his daughter Sandra Ivory, a past parent, also enabled the School to renovate the Technology Centre for woodwork, metalwork, ironwork and textiles, and generously donated three sculptures by renowned Australian sculptor Heather Ellis.
The 560-seat assembly/theatre/sports hall with adaptable learning spaces was made possible by the Campaign for GSS. It was opened in February 2008.
The $16 million Handbury Centre for Wellbeing, opened in April 2008, was possible with the generosity of Geoff and Helen Handbury, the Richard Hinds Bequest and the parents and friends of Geelong Grammar School. The Centre enhances the School’s pillar of Positive Education through a proactive approach to good health and wellbeing. The magnificent Centre boasts an indoor swimming and diving pool, gymnasium, weights and fitness room, dance studio, medical centre and classroom facilities.
