A 60-year-old convent at a Braybrook school is making way for a new performing arts centre, with construction already under way on the $5 million project.
While the Caroline Chisholm Catholic College building has not been used as a convent since 1993, it holds a significant place in the history of the school.
After being opened in 1956, and serving as a home for the nuns that were the first teachers at the college, it was the only structure among the original church and school buildings to emerge undamaged from a fire in 1961.
The convent was refurbished in 1999 to create classrooms and allow for music classes. While many of the internal artefacts will be preserved, the building itself will be torn down to make room for the new centre.
College principal Marco DiCesare said the new building would be a creative hub.
“We have invested significantly in our facilities over the past three years and the response from students and staff has been overwhelmingly positive,” he said.
College communications director Richard Liistro said the new facility was eagerly anticipated by the school.
“The school community have been looking forward to this for some time, and the opportunities we can offer once it is finished will be huge for the students,” Mr Liistro said.
“The convent would have cost too much to convert and the new centre will be larger and a much better use of space.
“It will be able to host drama, visual arts, and we’ll have a recording studio for our music program.”
The centre is scheduled to be opened early next year.
