The Changing Face of Austins Ferry!

From a potential boarding school and sports fields to the finest of contemporary educational facilities.

THE  BUILDINGS

1. THE HESSIAN WING – Named in honour Bro. James Malachy Hessian  – a former principal of the College The administration and originally the Brothers’ accommodation. In 1986 that accommodation became much needed staff facilities.
2. THE GALVIN WING – the original classroom block  named after Sir John Galvin – a multi-millionaire former student whose financial assistance facilitated the initial development on this site.  General learning areas along with Student Services and House Heads offices.
3. THE EDMUND RICE HALL– named after the founder of the Christian Brothers. Originally a multi-purpose hall –  it was converted to a full size gymnasium in 2005. Underneath are Outdoor Education offices and storage.
4. THE RESOURCE CENTRE (library) Built in 2010. Previous library sites were in the Science Wing (1962-1996) and Doyle Wing (1996-2009)
5. THE DWYER WING was opened in 1970 and named in honour of Bro. C G (Gonz) Dwyer (staff  1958-66 & 76 -81). He was one of the original staff  at Austins Ferry. The building was refurbished in 2017 and it  houses several ‘general learning areas’.
6. THE ADDICOAT WING, named after Bro Tom Addicoat (staff 1951-56, 68-75  & 79-88)  was built in 1996 to house woodwork and metal work classes. It was extended in 2010. The lower level caters for Automotive Studies  (Woodwork classes were introduced on this campus in 1982)
7. THE CLOHESY BUILDING houses the music department. It was named after the first principal of the Austins Ferry campus – Bro Bill Clohesy (Principal 1962-69).  Music was added to the curriculum in 1985.  This building has an outdoor stage.
8. THE SCIENCE WING was one of the initial buildings, but has been extended and significantly refurbished in 1990, 2014 and again in 2023 and is now an extension of the DOYLE WING.
9. THE DOYLE WING was opened in 1996 and initially housed  the Library and a Computer Laboratory .  What was the library has since been restructured to p[rovide three General Learning Areas and a room for Drama. The building the work of Bro Paul Doyle. He was a student at the College (1943-47) and on staff  (1961-73 as Principal and 1986-92 as Deputy Director).
10. THE HIGGINS WING, opened in 2005, contains Food Technology facilities, a Learning Support area and  a Chapel.  The building honours the contributions of Bro Jack Higgins who having attended the College in 1936-37, returned to join the staff for the lengthy period 1979-2011
11. THE JOYCE PERFORMANCE CENTRE was completed in 2000, and is named after Bro Edmund Dominic who was on staff from1916 till his death in 1961. During this period he served as Principal for two periods 1928-30 and 1935-37. The building caters for a variety of presentations and for school assemblies as well as a function centre.  The understory provides extensive storage for the ground staff equipment.
12. THE CLOTHING STORE which in recent times has been outsourced to a private firm.
13. THE HISTORY CENTRE, opened in the College’s Centenary Year (2011), contained an extensive collection of memorabilia.

In 2016 a roof was constructed over the quadrangle.

In future editions we will look at how the Junior campus has changed.