One of Perth’s most expensive private schools has asked parents for “philanthropic” donations to fund a new multimillion-dollar performing arts centre on the banks of the Swan River – set to be the “largest building investment the school has ever made”.
Christ Church Grammar School was unanimously granted development approval by the Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel for their $39.2 million Perform project.
The view of the new centre from the Swan River.Credit: JDAP
“When you give to Christ Church, you are helping lay the foundation for skills that extend far beyond the classroom – into the boardroom, the workplace, and every aspect of life,” a Facebook post on the plan states.
“Every gift, no matter the size, helps make this vision a reality.”
The school had previously received approval from the panel for a similar project costed at $50 million in November 2022, but it never went ahead due to “rising construction costs” which “have rendered the design unfeasible”.
Changes include a 465-seat auditorium instead of 480 seats, reduced “building bulk”, further setback from the bank of the river and no changes to the existing car park.
The building will be three storeys high with a basement underneath and will also have a 220-seat Black Box theatre.
Construction will require the demolition of current music classrooms, the chaplain’s residence and preparatory school and removal of seven existing non-heritage listed trees.
“The Perform building will accommodate music and drama lessons and events as part of the school’s arts programme, and is planned to service the school’s needs for decades into the future,” the proposal reads.
“The building has been designed to facilitate performances and student rehearsals for drama, musicals, orchestra, dance, as well as presentations, talks, functions and other events.
“It is not intended that the facility will be leased out for use by others outside of the school community.”
It is expected to be completed by December 2027.
Christ Church isn’t the only boys’ school with big plans
The approval of the $39.2 million facility comes after Wesley College received approval for a multimillion-dollar water sports facility, complete with lap lanes and a water polo pool.
The school’s Blanckensee Physical Education Centre, located next to the swimming pool, also closed on June 30, and will be upgraded to the tune of $32 million to transform it into a “high-performance centre”.
Over at Aquinas College, an application to install a $2.37 million digital billboard on Kwinana Freeway to raise money for its bursary for disadvantaged students through third-party advertisements was rejected on Wednesday.
The City of South Perth recommended the application be rejected, and this was supported unanimously by the Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel on Wednesday, despite strong opposition from the school and town planners Urbis.
The proposed sign would have been 40 square metres, almost exactly the size of a standard Transperth bus, just north of Mount Henry Bridge, visible to north and southbound traffic.
Officers wrote the bulk, scale and illuminated third-party ads would harm the amenity of the surrounding bushland and homes, “introducing a visually dominant illuminated structure into an otherwise natural and low-impact landscape.”
Former City of South Perth councillor Stephen Russell had previously said he was “having difficulties reconciling Aquinas funding college infrastructure to the tune of $25 million yet needing to rely upon third-party advertisements to fund a bursary for disadvantaged students”.
He was referring to Aquinas’ plan to build a new recital hall, music school, Aquinas Club and hockey pavilion, approved almost a year ago.
Construction started on that plan about a month ago, with plans for the recital hall and music school to be opened by 2027.
Head of Arts Chris McMillan said the first thing to happen was that the school’s tennis courts would be removed and relocated closer to the hockey pavilion.
“The recital hall will be a much-needed facility for the whole college to enjoy,” he said.
“As well as being a venue for our performing arts students to showcase their talents, it will also play host to all kinds of school events from assemblies to parent functions and everything in between, giving the school a venue fit for all these occasions.”
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