Waverley College Master Plan
An exciting new era for Waverley College
Our story begins in 1903 with our first intake of just 22 students. Today, we are a dual-campus school accommodating over 1,500 students and celebrating over a century of educating Sydney’s young men. This first stage of our master plan includes a number of projects designed to enhance the facilities for our students and the wider community.
A State Significant Development Application has been submitted to NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure by Waverley College for the construction of a new building, and staged upgrades to existing facilities over 20 years.
The future of the College is looking bright.
Proposed Project includes:
- Construction of a new 6-storey ‘Building 1’ and on ground car parking, including new vehicular access point.
- Alterations to Braidwood Court configuration and landscaping
- Alterations and additions to Centenary Building
- Alterations and additions to Library / Chapel
- Construction of covered Library area and roof top deck
- Conlon Link and Conlon Building refurbishment
- Landscaping of Airmount Courtyard
- Demolition of 3 school owned buildings along Henrietta St and 3 school owned buildings on Carrington Road
- Landscaping additions and alterations across the site
- Creation of active and outdoor learning spaces
Design
Waverley College is committed to providing high-quality learning environments for students. At the heart of our planning is a commitment to delivering real educational and wellbeing benefits to our students while delivering environmentally sustainable outcomes and mitigating impacts to neighbouring residents.
Waverley College assisted by m3 architecture and Taylor Brammer are committed to providing a world-class design.
The design will aim to locate local places of significance for First Nations People and educate the Waverley community, connecting them to First Nations culture and history.
The design will:
- Respect the existing local scale
- Consider access to landscaping and sunlight
- Design for natural light and natural ventilation
- Address the existing sound streetscape
- Retain existing significant trees
- Enhance existing microclimates
- Improve and add to existing open space and learning space
- Feature new opportunities for outdoor learning
- Include new native planting
- Address issues with disabled access across the site
We aim to work with our school community, relevant government agencies and the local community, seeking feedback on the design.
Planning Process
In October 2024 an SSDA application was lodged, as part of that process there was an opportunity for the community to provide submissions regarding the proposed works. A response to these submissions is currently being prepared by the consultant team.
A community engagement process was undertaken in March 2024 to provide feedback about the proposal and to influence the design.
The project plans were placed on formal exhibition from 25 October 2024 to 21 November 2024 by the Department of Planning and Environment as part of the State Significant Development Application process. The planning pathway chosen was appropriate for projects with a capital investment value of more than $50 million.
On 26 August 2025 the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Approved the SSDA Project. The School will now plan to commence work in 2026.
Project Status
- Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) – Issued
- Site Analysis – Completed
- Design – Completed
- Community Consultation – Completed (March 2024)
- State Significant Development Application (SSDA) – Lodged (October 2024)
- Public Exhibition – 25 October 2024 to 21 November 2024
- Public Submissions Closed
- Response to Submissions Report published (12th June 2025)
- SSDA Determination by Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) – Approval provided (26th August 2025)
- Construction – Not yet started
- Completion
Community Engagement
We will continue to provide project updates to the local community and notify you of opportunities to provide your feedback. In the meantime of you have any other questions please feel free in contacting the school using the following email address: ssda@waverley.nsw.edu.au
To learn more about this project, please follow the links below.
NSW Major Projects Waverley College
NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Notice of Decision
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a plan to increase student numbers at the school following construction?
There is no plan to increase student numbers as part of this proposal, beyond the natural projected increase.
At what stage is the proposal?
A formal SSDA Application process was undertaken and was lodged with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. A period of public exhibition and submissions was completed and the final report in response to the submissions published.
On 26 August 2025 the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Approved the SSDA Project. The School will now plan to commence work in 2026.
Information relating to the determination can be found here:
https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/alterations-and-additions-waverley-college
In 2026 the school will commence smaller projects around the Aquatics Centre and Performing Arts Centre as well as some enablement works in the Kenny Quad. As part of these works any of the conditions of consent that require community engagement will be enacted.
When will construction take place?
Now that approval has been granted Waverley will commence works in 2026 by addressing enablement works and smaller projects contained within the SSDA. There is currently no confirmed start date for the work on the Science Building.
How will the new developments benefit the school and the wider community?
Waverley College Senior Campus seeks to provide a world class educational environment for students that allows them to further their education. The proposed upgrades will provide students with high-quality open spaces and create access and mobility throughout the site.
The proposal aims to enhance the surrounding streetscapes including:
- Improved landscaping
- Conserve the character buildings
- Improve on-site recreational facilities and
- Improve onsite parking to mitigate impacts on, on-street parking demand.
What will be the impact on local traffic and parking?
The potential impacts of our proposal have been the subject of comprehensive modelling and analysis by our traffic consultants. These traffic studies have been submitted as part of the application process. The reports have informed planning and design, as well as potential engagement with relevant local/State roads authorities to discuss necessary mitigation measures, if needed.
Relevant traffic reports studies are publicly available through the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure through the formal planning process.
What is being done to preserve and maintain the area’s character and heritage?
Heritage is a significant part of the site, and design of the new facilities has been developed to recognise and respond to heritage features of the school.
The potential impacts of our proposal will be the subject of studies by relevant consultants. The results have informed planning and design, as well as potential engagement with relevant State agencies.
Relevant heritage reports are publicly available through the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure through the formal planning process.
Has there been any local consultation with First Nations people?
Waverley College, the project architect and the College’s First Nations advisory group have worked together throughout the development of the masterplan. We have consulted with local interested Aboriginal parties as part of the preliminary SSDA process and a further draft will be issued for comment prior to lodgement of the SSDA. Further consultation is ongoing to inform design finalisation.
What steps have been taken to engage with the community so far?
The College liaised with our staff, students and members of our community to seek feedback to inform ongoing planning and design.
Engagement has included:
- Distribution of community letters
- A community survey seeking detailed community feedback
- Door-knocking of impacted residents
- A community drop-in session
- Creation of a dedicated page on our website as a central point for information and updates.
- Attendance at local community meetings
- Establishment of dedicated email address for questions ssda@waverley.nsw.edu.au
How will construction impacts be managed?
Construction activities would be subject to a detailed Construction Management Plan that will be made publicly available and shared with the school community and neighbouring residents. The Plan will provide details of permitted hours of work, the types of work that can be undertaken and the range of potential construction mitigation measures that would be implemented.
Construction activities will be staged to minimise impacts on the school and local communities.
The Plan will also provide details of the proposed arrangements for construction-related vehicles, including the use of local streets, access to the site and parking.
A Traffic Management Plan will be developed to manage pedestrian safety and traffic arrangements throughout construction.
An updated Traffic Management Plan was submitted as part of the Response to Submissions.