The Dedication and Blessing of Community House and the Canopy Café

Inspired by market halls around the world, Blight Rayner Architect’s design beautifully integrates a new cafeteria style seating area opening out to The Forest on one side, terraced decking on the other and Churchill Lawn beyond.

The café blends history with modern design; the steeply pitched terracotta red roofs are a nod to the surrounding heritage buildings including the Boarding House, the Health Centre and the Darnell Music Rooms, all of which were designed by architect Lange Powell in the 1920s-30s. Contemporary elements such as the lightly coloured brick mimic those used in the Sports Precinct.

The new cafeteria has significantly transformed and rejuvenated the school campus, replacing the former tuckshop and adjacent undercroft of an existing school building into a vibrant space with an abundance of indoor and outdoor communal seating areas that promote social interaction and engagement while the decking will provide additional seating as well as another performance space for small ensembles.

The Canopy Café seamlessly connects the primary and secondary schools and will be enjoyed by students of all year levels.

It will also afford opportunities for St Margaret’s staff, parents and past students to congregate, connect and collaborate.

St Margaret’s Catering Operations Manager Scott Johnson said the Canopy Café will provide a shift away from the traditional tuckshop model towards a cafeteria style approach, prioritising a more balanced and nutritious meal experience for students.

“One of the features of the new Canopy Café is a pizza oven which will allow us to offer a range of freshly prepared hot meal options.

“The self-servery will provide flexibility for us to experiment with offerings including buffets, grab-and-go fresh salads and more.

“Our focus is on providing a wide range of healthy options,” Scott said.

The Canopy Café was officially dedicated on Tuesday 10 June by The Most Reverend Jeremy Greaves, Archbishop of Brisbane. Also in attendance were Bishop Sarah Plowman ('90), Sister Gillian and Reverend Sister Jan Crombie (SSA). Here are some remarks made by Principal, Ros Curits AM at the ceremony:

“Three and half years or so ago the Master Planning Subcommittee of the School Council embarked on developing an ambitious amendment to the St Margaret’s Master Plan. In this process, it identified no fewer than 19 projects to improve the facilities and resources of St Margaret’s. Number four on the list was completion of the Forest and Canopy Café – tick – and number 2 was the conversion of Community House into the Student Wellbeing Centre – tick.

Now I have got you thinking of the remaining 17… But that is for another day.

2025, with our theme of Community and Connection, is a great year to be formally opening these two very student focussed resources.

Do not be surprised when I tell you that I put the school theme, Community and Connection, through AI to see what it would say about its meaning. Copilot said it really well; I could not say it better. AI (and me) tells you that there is little doubt that a thriving school community is built on strong connections. Community and connection are intertwined, fostering a sense of belonging, support, and shared purpose, ultimately enriching our lives, and strengthening the bonds that hold us together.

Through a dedication and a blessing, we are acknowledging two very important contributors to strengthening our school – where community and connection are at their very heart.

These are not just geographical locations on a school campus but areas where networks of people bound by shared interests, values, or experiences gather and meet. Community House, with its precious link to our founding Sisters, for example, is a place where individuals find support, belonging, reduced feelings of isolation and loneliness. It is a place of Social Support where strong connections among staff and students offer a network of support during times of need, both emotionally and practically.

A united community, with the provision of this Café, is also an outcome of this space. Built for both the primary and secondary schools and visitors to our campus, this area will become the focus of student, staff and parent interaction and connection.

In terms of connection to the past, as you are all aware the old tuckshop stood on this site and it was made possible through a bequest in 1999 from Kathleen Campbell-Brown, a French teacher at St Margaret’s from 1933-1945. The original plaque commemorating this is on the wall between the servery area and the café.

Funds raised from previous Giving Days contributed to both Community House and the Café, and we all thank the community for your support.”

The precinct was designed by Blight Rayner Architecture and built by FARA Fitout and Refurbishment Australia.