Christian College - A Brief History
Christian College, Geelong commenced in 1980 in one wing of the former St Augustine’s orphanage in Highton. All students from Prep to Year 10 were taught on the one Campus which is now the Middle School, Highton Campus.
In 1986 the St. Augustine’s orphanage was advertised for sale by tender. This became a huge challenge for the small new school of 70 students. Such was the commitment of College families – parents, staff and Board members, that a deposit was made and the offer was accepted. It was truly an answer to prayer.
Enrolments continued to increase as Geelong families recognized the quality of the education offered. With Williams House Kindergarten established and the new VCE programs being piloted, it was evident that another Campus was needed.
In 1996 the Junior School (Kindergarten to Year 4) commenced in the magnificent buildings of the Glastonbury orphanage in Belmont, located only one kilometer from the main campus.
Early in the 1990’s three busloads of students were travelling to the Highton campus from the Bellarine Peninsula. With the peninsula being a growth corridor for Geelong, it was opportune that the Bellarine Shire office complex in Drysdale was available for purchase following local council amalgamation. The City of Greater Geelong allowed the College to lease the complex for three years prior to purchase. The Bellarine Campus from Prep to Year 9 commenced in 1996 with 60 students. It has now increased to over 400.
Soon after, Christian College was able to lease the ‘Back Creek’ farm at Scotsburn and the Rural Studies programme commenced there in 1997.
The Senior School buildings complex was offered to Christian College following the consolidation of the Geelong Grammar School campuses. Senior classes commenced there in 2000. The commitment to the development of expansive specialist senior facilities led to the acquisition and unique refurbishment of the Arts/Technology complex, Villa Paloma in 2004.
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