A Changing Landscape

When Old Girls return to the campus for the first time in a long time, they are surprised by the many changes made to buildings over the years. Whilst many buildings have changed, some also remain the same.

Mooloomburram has been restored to its former glory in recent years. Having been built in 1886, it has a central position, both physically and figuratively, on our school campus. Known at various times as Avoca and “The Hall”, we have retained its original name of Mooloomburram. Named by the Petrie family, its name was taken from the Maroochy Aboriginal dialect combing Mooloon (shady tree) with burram (parrot).

Community House has had many name changes over the years from Patrick Durack’s ‘Maryview’, Frederick Hurwood’s ‘Rosalyn’, John Dunmore Lang’s ‘Donatello’, St Margaret’s House when the school purchased it and then, in 1928, Community House. It was the first building bought by the Sisters on our present site and for several years was the school house, the boarding house and the Sisters’ accommodation. Once Mooloomburram was purchased and West Wing was built, the school and boarders moved out and it became, and still remains, Community House.

In 2024, the Forest was created and, later in 2025, it will be joined by the Canopy Café. This replaces as area that was, until recent times, called Avoca Courtyard. The first stage of Avoca (as far as the main entrance) was completed in 1975, and it was extended in 1981. At the time, the building contained general classrooms, a computer room, laboratories and the Wearin Room (named after Vera Wearin who was Senior Mistress from 1934-1964.)

The site of Avoca was originally taken up with tennis courts, Middle Block classrooms and the Commercial Room. These were all demolished to make way for the present building.

The running track, the summer house, the ant-bed courts and then the all-weather courts took up considerable room on campus at various times. Depending on your era, Old Girls would remember the area quite differently. We were the envy of many schools as we had four netball courts. But sadly, progress and increased enrolments meant that playing spaces made way for, firstly, the Arts Centre and then the Eunice Centre. The courts moved to Windsor Park and joined two ovals, a cricket pitch, athletics track and wide-open spaces where HPE lessons, training and house carnivals are now held.

There have been other changes – too numerous to mention! But I invite Old Girls to email me (msurtees@stmargarets.qld.edu.au) or phone me on (07) 3862 0816 to share their memories of the various buildings – both those mentioned and those not mentioned.

Per Volar Sunata

Mary Surtees
Archivist