North Sydney Catholic Education Precinct will unite parish and community around innovative education and Catholic values.

The reinvigorated education precinct will support students from early learning to year 12, to new and exciting pathways beyond school. The precinct will bring together Our Lady of the Way Parish with St Mary’s Church at the centre and join together St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and the new K-12 co-educational school – Marist Catholic College North Shore.

MCCNS View from Carlow Street, North Sydney

View from Carlow Street, North Sydney

View from Miller and Carlow Streets, North Sydney

The precinct will continue to grow a learning community that is focused on excellent outcomes for students, as they transition through the stages of their education. The precinct will include new piazza spaces accessible to our neighbours and connections with local businesses, both onsite and close by, supporting both students and the local economy.

The Marist College North Shore master plan has been informed by best-in-class education precincts and leading national research. Designed by award-winning architect WMK, the design has been inspired by the Marist charisms – quality education for all, lifelong learning and the five pillars Presence, Simplicity, Family Spirit, Love of Work, In the way of Mary – and responds to the needs of contemporary students.

The design will:

  •   Pay homage to our heritage – enhance and reuse existing heritage fabric
  •   Create a campus heart – creating a network of diverse learning and recreation spaces, creating a central street that connects the campus. 
  •   Deliver a connected campus for our community – clear wayfinding and visual connections
  •   Incorporate all-weather spaces for learning, play and reflection – rooftop and open air covered play spaces.

The project will be delivered over 10 years in a series of stages ensuring minimal impact for parish, students and neighbours throughout construction.

Sydney Catholic Schools’ planning application was approved in late 2022 and construction will commence in mid to late 2023 with Stage 2B (Carlow Street) Building being the next stage.

St Mary’s Church, view from Miller Street, North Sydney

St Mary’s Church, view from Miller Street, North Sydney

The future of education is dynamic, flexible and student-centred.

As North Sydney grows to be an essential hub for education and businesses on the lower North Shore, Marist Catholic College, with its new facilities and 21st century flexible learning spaces will be a new and sought-after school that has not existed in the past.

  • Marist Catholic College North Shore will increase its student capacity incrementally from 1,300 students today, up to 2,000 students by 2030, including a 90-place early learning centre.
  • Construction of a four- storey, state of the art building on the corner of Miller and Carlow Street, will support the flexible learning of the new K-12 school.
  • Construction of a four-storey building along Miller Street will complete the school, accommodating contemporary learning facilities, an early learning centre and auditorium.
  • The presbytery building will undergo a full restoration and a landscaped piazza will invite parishioners to connect in lovely gardens outside St Mary’s Church. The piazza area will provide green space and complement surrounding parklands.
  • Construction of a new basement car park for approximately 70 vehicles. Two designated under-ground drop off zones for the school community.

From 2021, Marist Catholic College North Shore will provide a unique, Catholic co-educational opportunity in the heart of North Sydney.

Access, traffic and parking

A traffic and parking assessment has been undertaken and assesses staff and visitor parking, how students travel to and from school, current road networks and future transport projects. This informed the master plan, drop-off and pick-up procedures, new carpark and ways to encourage alternative modes of transport.

Managing school drop-off zones and times to minimise impacts for neighbours is a crucial part of the project.

There will be two drop-off zones; one for St Mary’s Campus (primary) and one for the La Valla campus (secondary). Both drop-off zones will be utilised at busier times to minimise possible congestion. This includes the existing pick-up and drop-off on Ridge Street and a new underground pick-up and drop-off on Carlow Street.

A Green Travel Plan will encourage sustainable and active transport modes to be used by Parish, school community and visitors.

CONTACT

More information on the development

Sydney Catholic Schools is committed to keeping school and parish communities, as well as near neighbours and the broader community informed about Marist Catholic College North Shore project. Approved plans and information about the project can be found here.

Please contact the college on info@mccns.catholic.edu.au or 9957 5000.

Community Updates

Fact Sheet, Number 5 – August 2023
Fact Sheet, Number 4 – November 2021
Fact Sheet, Number 3 – February 2021
Fact Sheet, Number 2 – October 2020
Fact Sheet, Number 1 – June 2020