St Francis is the Patron Saint of Flora and Fauna and eschewed earthly possessions and pleasures. It is now around 800 years since his death, and yet today his message seems as potent as ever.
As a result, our Master Plan for the College proposed three significant gardens: community, gathering and recreation. Buildings were conceived as subservient backdrops to the primacy of the gardens themselves.
The Community Garden (La Foresta) is the main entrance to the College, offering daily experiences of gardens in bloom, beds lying fallow, native bees swarming the hive, chickens cultivating the earth . . .
As, or more importantly, the garden is a visible and demonstrable dedication to caring for nature. In return, nourishment is returned in abundance. The garden is used educationally, socially, emotionally and spiritually, and has become intrinsic to the life and culture of the College.
Significant functions surround and activate the garden, including Home Economics, Vocational Educational and Tuckshop that harvest the produce, the College Leadership Team to be visible and accessible, and a sacred space central to all.
The buildings themselves take their earthly responsibilities very seriously, with a carbon-conscious palette of predominantly render and timber, and a commitment to no airconditioning where possible, including an exemplar suite of 16 classrooms able to be naturally lit and ventilated year round.
