Young minds are nurtured
Originally for the ‘boys of the bush’
ST JOSEPH’S Nudgee College has a rich history that dates back over 125 years, with a grand reputation built by successive generations of students, staff, parents and community members.
Located only 16km from Brisbane, the college’s campus sits on 136 hectares of bushland and ovals.
Founder Ambrose Treacy recognised the need for a Catholic boarding school for rural Queensland in the 1880s, as boys from the region were sent to boarding schools far away in New South Wales.
Treacy raised money for the college and gathered boarding enrolments travelling on horseback around regional Queensland.
“We say that Nudgee College was originally built by funds from the bush, for boys of the bush,” principal Peter Fullagar said.
Since those early, humble beginnings, the college has continued to grow from strength to strength. Today, Nudgee College has 1580 day-school enrolments and 280 boarders.
Students are taught, cared for and challenged by teachers who want the best for each student. A focus on the holistic education, personal development and well-being of each student is central for the college.
Offering some of the best facilities in the country, Nudgee College has everything available to students on ‘one footprint’– modern, technologically advanced classrooms, an exceptional agricultural centre (that includes cattle yards), state-of-the-art science labs, and a trade centre designed for vocational education learning areas.
“In any one day, boys can move from one of our many Google classrooms, to the agricultural centre to tend to the on-site cattle, take a PE class on our Olympic-grade athletics track, or perform on stage in our purpose-built 400-seat auditorium,” Mr Fullagar said.
One of the most outstanding facilities the college has to offer however – and one of their proudest achievements – is the boarding village.
“The boarding community has been at the heart of the college since its founding, and is a valued and thriving facet of Nudgee College, with plenty of fantastic opportunities to further all aspects of a student’s development,” Mr Fullagar said.
The Bathersby Boarding Village features spacious individual rooms, shared common areas for study and recreation and a large communal courtyard with eco-friendly design.
It also offers a health centre staffed with skilled nurses, doctors and physiotherapists that are available 24/7 and a kitchen staffed with chefs that prepare nutritious, well-balanced meals.
Boarders include students from all over Australia, the South Pacific and beyond.
“Our focus in Nudgee College Boarding is to help boys to find and develop their strengths. We do this by creating a safe, supportive environment where boys have multiple resources and opportunities to cater for their interests,” Mr Fullagar said.
“Ultimately at the end of their Nudgee College journey we hope we have moulded an independent, empathetic, culturally aware young man who is able to fulfil his potential.”