The beginning of an exciting journey

The 8th of February is a special day in the College’s calendar. It was on this day in 1916 that the founding Principal, Dr John Marden, welcomed 60 young ladies as the very first students at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Pymble, now known as Pymble Ladies’ College.

With that momentous occasion in mind, our Principal, Dr Kate Hadwen, Chair of the College Board, Mr Chris Fydler OAM, Board members, parents, staff and girls gathered to celebrate the start of construction at Grey House Precinct with a special soil-turning ceremony. First Nations elder, Mr Tim Seymour, was a special guest and gave a moving and heart-felt Acknowledgement of Country before conducting a smoking ceremony.

The first stage of the College’s Master Plan, the new Grey House Precinct development will deliver a world-class educational and co-curricular learning space that prioritises student and staff health and wellbeing with leading pedagogical practices and the flexibility to accommodate developments in learning and teaching methods.

The Grey House Precinct will provide a new home for girls in Years 5 and 6, a Dance Centre with six new studios, out-of-school-hours care and an Early Years School catering for 90 girls and boys from birth to six years. A new purpose-built health and wellbeing centre will also be created within the Precinct. The Years 5 and 6 Junior School component will provide high-quality general and specialist learning spaces, with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Pymble’s Dance Captain Emily spoke eloquently about the future of dance at Pymble and two of our Junior School students shared their excitement about the new learning spaces.

“I am honored to be here this morning to mark the beginning of an exciting journey for Pymble Dance. 

“One of my biggest highlights throughout my time at Pymble has been my involvement in the dance program. Since joining the college in 2013, I have participated in many classes in a diverse range of styles and levels. This has enabled me to develop strong dance skills and to form memories and friendships that I know will last a lifetime.

“The Grey House Precinct will soon be home to multiple dance studios, including six studios (two of which will be able to convert to a performance space with lighting and tiered seating), a physio room, a media room, reception area, dance office, meeting rooms, and a kitchen. This new addition will allow us to expand and enhance the program in ways we never thought possible.

“The years 2024 and 2025 will be filled with planning, dreaming, and excitement. Both the teachers and students are thrilled about the endless possibilities this center will bring.” – Emily (Year 11) 2024 Co-Curricular Dance Captain

“I am so excited to be given the opportunity to learn in Grey House Precinct. I really love that the centre will offer students a unique and enriching experience that combines the best of both worlds: STEM and the arts. I love science, because it allows me to explore and understand the world around me, and we can use it to find solutions to real world problems.

“We are all different, but Grey House Precinct will offer us all a space to be our best selves as learners. I am so grateful to Dr Hadwen, Mrs Brown, and all the staff and builders who are working so hard to make this happen.

“I can’t wait to see how this new site will inspire and encourage us to be the best students we can be and send ripple waves of change into the world around us.” – Violet (Year 3)

“I am really excited that Grey House Precinct will bring together Year 5 and 6 in one space from 2025 – it’s going to be an AMAZING space for us all.  It’s lovely that we will have dance studios there too which we will be able to use for rehearsals for our Year 6 musical which is a highlight of Year 6.

“Most of all I can’t wait to be learning in a space with a huge STEM centre right there so we can easily access technology tools and resources to spark our curiosity, challenge our thinking and help us be innovators.” – Arin (Year 4)