Refurbishment of Bulkeley House boarding facilities nears completion
After over 20 months of planning and 12 months of hard work by local contractors and College staff, Stage 1 refurbishment of boarding accommodation in Bulkeley House is nearing completion.
‘We have been excited to see this major upgrade of Bulkeley House taking shape throughout the year,’ says Head of College Mr Richard Ford.
‘Opening the doors on the newly refurbished boarding facilities within Bulkeley House is much anticipated as it will meet the ongoing demand for the College’s boarding program.’Â
Bulkeley House has been the site of several improvements over the past few years with the establishment of the strength and conditioning gym and the fit-out of examinations room on the ground floor.Â
The lion’s share of refurbishment work in 2024 focused on the expansive upgrade of the first floor of Bulkeley House to include new bathroom facilities, new boarding accommodation areas with a mix of single bed cubicles and private mirror bunk cubicles and a large open plan common room.
‘We conducted significant research to find stylish, fit-for-purpose boarding furniture with which to fit-out the individual bedroom areas, working closely with our Boarding staff, lead by our Director of Boarding Mr Josh Williams, who together contributed valuable insights from their lived experience,’ notes Mr Ford.Â
The spacious common room houses a ping pong table, extensive board games collection, kitchenette, TV, couches and dining room table and chairs. Students also have access to a shared area off their bedrooms which has been designed for individual or small group activities such as reading, card games or completing jigsaw puzzles.
‘We have furnished the space so students have access to three different types of living areas allowing them to engage at different times in communal, small group or individual pursuits  depending on their needs and interests,’ says Mr Ford.
The newly refurbished Bulkeley House boarding facilities will open at the commencement of 2025, welcoming Year 7 and 8 boarding boys who will also be the first to enjoy the College’s new dedicated junior boys boarding program.Â
Director of Boarding, Mr Josh Williams, is excited about the introduction of the focused junior boys program.Â
‘This dedicated program has been thoughtfully designed for Year 7 and 8 boys and offers a uniquely tailored supportive and engaging environment where young boys can develop the essential boarding and life skills needed before they transition to the senior boys’ boarding house in Year 9,’ says Mr Williams.
‘Families choose boarding for their children for a myriad reasons including distance from home to school, stability, community, independence and more.’
‘We find boarding provides students with a unique community, eases the burden of significant daily travel and allows students the opportunity to engage in a broader range of after-school activities than might otherwise be possible.’Â
‘Our boarding programs include dedicated evening study times led by qualified teachers. This coupled with controlled technology use helps boarding students thrive, both academically and socially,’ says Mr Williams.Â
Families interested in learning more about the College’s boarding facilities, the new junior boys boarding program and boarding options available (weekly, short-term or full-time) are encouraged to contact the College Registrar, Mrs Lisa Ellery.
Tel: 02 6333 4726
