On the last day, the weather let up a bit, giving us a chance to go see some big rocks (otherwise known as the Twelve Apostles). The trip came to a full circle on the way back, when we stopped by a place called Frying Nemo and bought ourselves some well-deserved chips. (Be sure to visit them if you’re ever on the Great Ocean Road).

The trip is no doubt a valuable memory for all that went. You may be wondering, “What could be so good about being blasted by rain all day?” To be honest, I don’t know. But I’d definitely do it again if I got the chance.

Trinity Grammar School, Kew has long been recognised for its aspiration, authenticity and deep-rooted values. Over the years, we have evolved in thoughtful and deliberate ways, balancing tradition with innovation, to ensure Trinity students receive an education that is both timeless and forward-thinking.

As we look to the horizon, our responsibility is clear: to build on this foundation and ensure we remain not only relevant, but leading. In a rapidly changing educational landscape, remaining competitive requires more than excellence in the classroom. It demands visionary thinking, contemporary facilities, and deep investment in student experience and opportunity.

From left to right: Lucy Cohen, Director of Community Engagement, Adrian Farrer, Principal, James Brown (OTG 1992), Chair of Trinity Foundation, Ash Butler, Chair of School Council.

In recent months, we have entered the quiet phase of a capital campaign – a period of careful planning, consultation, and early engagement with key supporters. This phase has enabled us to refine our vision, secure early commitments, and lay the groundwork for the launch of the campaign for the Bulleen Pavilion. These efforts have been guided and championed by a strong alliance between the School Council, the newly established Trinity Foundation and school leadership – a united commitment to the future success of our students and our institution.

Now, as we step into the next phase of this journey, we are proud to introduce the first exciting development in the school’s Masterplan.

Trinity Together

The Bulleen Pavilion

Our focus for a connected future

As we look to the future of Trinity Grammar School, Kew a number of major initiatives are taking shape – projects that will strengthen our community, expand our capabilities and deepen the experiences of every student. Leading the way is The Bulleen Pavilion at the Marles Playing Fields – the first in a series of key developments that will shape the next chapter of our school’s story.

The Pavilion will replace the much-loved Just Pavilion and Cohen Room, spaces that have served us well across decades of school life. But as our community evolves, so must our infrastructure. This new development has been carefully envisioned to reflect not only the breadth and aspirations of Trinity today, but also our belief in building strong, connected foundations for the generations ahead. The Pavilion will become a central hub, connecting sport, community and culture, while supporting future generations of Trinity students.

In its new form, The Bulleen Pavilion will offer improved functionality for sporting events, inter-school fixtures and visiting teams, while also supporting OTG events, school-wide gatherings, and partnerships with external organisations. This will be a place for meaningful engagement, a setting where memories are made and where community life thrives.

This is a project not only about physical infrastructure but about investing in a shared sense of belonging. The Pavilion will serve as a daily reminder of the importance of community. A place where friendships are built, achievements are celebrated and memories are made. The Pavilion will also function as a purposeful learning environment fostering leadership, resilience and connection through experiences that complement the school’s academic program. It will also be a springboard for being our best selves, ensuring students and staff have the facilities they need to thrive.

Our vision for the Pavilion is ambitious, but it is grounded in our belief that exceptional environments inspire exceptional outcomes. The impact of this new space will be immediate and long-lasting, enriching the daily experience of students, families and visitors alike.

Importantly, The Bulleen Pavilion sets the stage for what comes next. Following its completion, attention will turn to the development of the Year 9 Village, a transformative environment purpose built to this pivotal stage of student growth. Together, these two projects mark a sequential investment in both community connection and educational innovation.

The success of this first project will shape our momentum. As such, we are calling on the Trinity community to help bring The Bulleen Pavilion to life. Just as we are known for our strong values and deep community connections, so too must we be known for our vision. The Bulleen Pavilion is that vision made real — a new home for our school’s heart and spirit.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why does the School feel this project is important?

In 2024, the school undertook a Feasibility Study which helped to determine that this project was important to the Community. The pavilion at the Marles Playing Fields is part of the school’s Masterplan and no longer meets the needs of our current and future students. We must ensure our facilities are contemporary, safe and can support all stakeholder requirements and our strategic intent.

2. Why aren’t school fees enough to pay for the new pavilion?

School fees are allocated toward the day-to-day operation and educational needs of the School. Capital projects like this require a one-time, significant investment beyond the annual budget. Fundraising ensures we can build this facility without compromising the quality of our existing programs.

3. Will I be asked to contribute?

The campaign is about helping our community gain an in-depth understanding about the project and having conversations about what families and individuals can do to support. It will take some months for all these conversations to take place and so some amongst us may not be approached about the campaign for some time. Others of us will be involved more quickly. As the campaign progresses, there will be an opportunity for everyone to be involved at a level that is personally meaningful.

4. What is the timeline for construction and completion?

Pending successful fundraising, we aim to begin construction at the end of September 2025 with completion projected for October 2026. We look forward to providing regular updates as the program and timelines are confirmed.

5. How can I donate? Are donations tax-deductible?

Donations can be made by credit card or bank transfer or through a pledge over time. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by Australian Tax law. Donors will receive acknowledgment letters and receipts for tax purposes. Please contact Lucy Cohen or Hayley Galloway from the Community Engagement Office if you are interested in supporting this project.

6. How will construction impact facility access or programs?

We are working with the school’s architects, engineers and builders to ensure minimal disruption to people and programs. Some modifications may be needed during construction, and planning has been underway for some time to source convenient and equitable alternative spaces. All core programs will continue and communication will be provided in advance of any changes.

7. Why is there a need to fundraise given the amount of funding provided to the School by the North East Link Project (NELP)?

The school has in the past been the recipient of some funding from NELP to enable the replacement of facilities such as the Tennis Courts on the western boundary which was affected as a result of the NELP occupation of a significant portion of the Marles Playing Fields.

The total project cost is budgeted at $20M. While the School will contribute a significant portion, we’ll also be inviting the wider School community to partner with us by making a combined contribution in excess of $2M. The more our community can contribute, the more capacity the School will retain to deliver future projects.

Portraits by Year 10 students Lang Qin and Jerry Tang.

For his portraits of Louise Ross (parent) and
Ethan Peng (student), Lang used oil paint on canvas.
For his portraits of Ewoud Botha (staff) and Tom Young (OTG),
Jerry used various digital sketch tools on Procreate.

2024 was another outstanding school year, be it in the classroom, on the sporting field, performing on stage or supporting and serving the wider community. The continued good work by our staff and students, supported by the School Council and parent community, has allowed the 2024 school year to sustain a strong enrolment position, with outstanding academic and cocurricular results, underpinned by ongoing high levels of community engagement.

Whilst the school’s financial position at the end of 2024 remained very sound, the decision by the Victorian State Government to remove a century-old exemption and impose payroll tax on more than 50 independent schools this year has resulted in the need for higher than forecast tuition fee indexation to counter this new school tax. At Trinity, the diligent work of our Finance Team allowed us to avoid having to pass on the full cost to our families through a revision of our expenditure and being able to achieve that without impacting on people and programs is testament to those efforts.
The financial program for the year aligned well with the budget and forecast position set by the School Council recognising the need for strong deliverables and student learning outcomes. The Council was conscious of the cost-of-living challenges faced by families and delivered a responsible budget program that enabled and supported a vibrant student learning program.

The school was able to navigate a range of important enabling capital works, titled ‘Stage 0’, which needed to be completed to allow the endorsed Masterplan to kick off with no impediments once statutory approval is received.  In preparation for the Development Approval green light, a range of enabling works was undertaken including the refurbishment of the Robertson and Shann Buildings, the demolition of E-Block, which was replaced by a new two-storey six-classroom modular building (now known as the Batson Building), followed by a range of upgrades to a number of the school’s residential properties, and interim relocations whilst the works were occurring. Additionally, in relocating the Year 7 cohort to the Batson precinct, we completed an upgrade of Merritt House late in the year to accommodate three homerooms and adjoining locker and break out spaces.

Masterplan works continued at the Marles Playing Fields in Bulleen, whilst navigating the impact of the North East Link Project (NELP) tunnel construction on and adjacent to our site. The new Caretaker’s residence was completed on Barak Street and town planning permission was granted to commence the construction of the new Grounds Facility. Submission of the planning application for the new Pavilion was lodged, this being the final major project supported by the Funding Agreement with the State Government.

The Treasurer presented details of the 2024 Financial Year at the Annual Community Forum and at the recent Annual General Meeting of the School. A summary of the financial position of the school, along with comparative information, has been provided in graphs and tables.

The chart below details the comparative fundraising income that has been generated by the School:

Copies of the audited Financial Statements can be obtained from the office of the Director of Business. 

Now in the thick of Winter Sport season, many of us have found ourselves bundled in green and gold supporter-wear on the sidelines of sport fields with frost still crisp underfoot.

Sport is something that brings us together. It unites us in our desire to see our young people become the best version of themselves. Sport also is a community builder and connector, and an important part of a holistic education. Whilst the students benefit from physicality, leadership and team building skill; parents, carers, families and old Grammarians revel in the time to chat, laugh and build relationships.

This, and many of the aspirational projects outlined in our Masterplan, require careful planning and management of funds to achieve. We are in a strong financial position as a school, but significant investments such as these require special consideration.

Approximately 26% of the Bulleen property, or roughly 16 acres, has been leased to the State for up to 10 years as part of the North East Link Project. The mandatory temporary acquisition of part of our site was an unexpected, yet ultimately advantageous scenario for our school. A fair and reasonable agreement was sought to cover the land lease, as well as the cost of the facilities lost that required replacement.

We have been able to allocate a portion of these funds to help support the replacement of the Bulleen Pavillion, a much-loved but tired facility that no longer fits the contemporary needs of our students, families and wider community. The new pavilion has been purposely designed to be multi-use. School Council and the Senior Leadership Team deliberately wanted the new facility to be not only used for a broader school and community sports program, but also be an educational space, a meeting and gathering space and have function capabilities. The total cost of the new facility is expected to be approximately $20 million, meaning it will require community support to bring it to life. I encourage you to read more about this exciting project here.

Decisions like this are part of the future-proofing piece that is much of the focus of School Council. We aim to retain the wonderful charisma of our school today, whilst providing contemporary learning and co-curricular spaces and safeguarding against the variables of tomorrow.

In our day-to-day life, we all make decisions that ensure our future, not only for ourselves, but for our families, our children, our grandchildren and beyond. Whether big or small, they signal our desire to see our legacy continue, and to invest in what is important to us for the future.