Home > Facilities

Stella Maris consists of two campuses: the main campus on Eurobin Avenue and Benedict Campus, a short five-minute walk away on Pittwater Road.

Across the road from Benedict Campus, the playing fields and tennis centre at Keirle Park are accessed daily by the girls. The main campus is only metres from Queenscliff Beach and the girls regularly use the beach, promenade and lagoon park for PDHPE classes and sport activities. The Manly Boy Charleton Swim Centre is also just a short walk from the College and is used for PDHPE lessons, swimming/lifesaving training and our swimming carnival.

Year 7s star in this two-part video tour of the College plus you will find more details about our facilities in the drop downs below.

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• Star of the Sea Convent and Chapel

   

  Built in 1930 in the distinctive Inter-War Spanish Mission style, the heritage-listed Convent was once the home of the local Good Samaritan Sisters community and is the finest example of its style in the Sydney region. The ground floor houses the administration offices and Student Services and the carved timber stair framed by a stained glass window, accesses the first floor College Museum and wide verandah looking into the canopy of our precious fig trees, which are also heritage listed. Original picture rails supporting contemporary artworks created by our girls line the ground floor hallway, with its rich stained and waxed Oregon timber and period tiling.

  Built around 1888, making it the oldest part of the College, the Chapel is a place of prayer and quiet reflection in the midst of the ‘busy-ness’ of everyday school life. Much of the original stained glass remains, depicting scenes of the Annunciation, Nativity and Baptism of Our Lord. Painting carried out in more recent decades has been stripped back in places to reveal the original paintwork. Echoing our Good Samaritan Benedictine heritage, the early timber choir stalls remain in place in the monastic style as they were when the Sisters prayed the Office and observed the Liturgy of the Hours in decades past. Class liturgies and Staff masses find a distinctively sacred home here in our most cherished space. Additionally, this spiritual heart of the College regularly hosts ex-students’ weddings and baptisms, and is open for bookings by the general public.

  Book the Chapel

• The Sister Colette Egan Information Centre

  Stella girls love to read. The Sister Colette Egan Information Centre, our Library in the Scholastica building, is where they come to explore ideas, work collaboratively or individually, or just immerse themselves in a great story – either in print, digital or audio. It is also a space where classes come to undertake research for assignments. The Library is open from 8am to 5.30pm and there is free tutoring after school by high achieving recent Stella graduates in all subject areas. The still considerable print collection is much-loved, as are the ebooks and the many databases that the girls access regularly. Research and reading for pleasure are equally valued. Mystery is one of our most popular genres. An avid Year 7 reader said of her love of mystery, “It is fascinating to the watch the plot unravel, to reread the story and look for the clues”.

  Click here to find out more about the Information Centre.

• Star of the Sea Theatre

  The Star of the Sea Theatre is a professional two-tier 300-seat theatre, complete with its own orchestral pit and lighting and sound rigs. It is used by the College’s performing arts students and senior Entertainment students for ordinary lessons and also on the many music, drama and dance nights hosted by the College. It is also used regularly by professional theatre companies, local primary schools and community groups.

  The distinctive exterior of the Theatre references the original tiles of the Convent roof and the small windows facing the street are based on Gregorian Chant notation.

  Click here for more information about the Theatre.

• Visual Arts

  The Visual Arts rooms have the blessing of a northern aspect in the Marian wing of the College, giving the advantage of wonderful natural lighting. What once were Science labs have recently been repurposed into excellent art spaces with plenty of sinks and large workbenches for practical activities such as printmaking, painting and sculpture. Two kilns offer plenty of opportunity for ceramic work.

  The Senior Art Studio is a large airy space with an abundance of light for the use of Year 11 and 12 Elective Visual Arts students. Our extensive catalogue of Art books are stored there for accessible inspiration. The studio is open to students during class and in their study periods. Girls from other Years may stretch their creativity in this space at Art Club.

  Elective Photography & Digital Media students have access to a black and white darkroom which includes a bank of enlargers. Here, PDM students explore traditional black and white film development and photographic printing, as well as alternative techniques in wet photography. Many of the photos you see on our website were taken by our Photography students.

• Textiles Technology

  The Textiles Technology rooms are fully equipped with computerised sewing machines, overlockers, ironing boards and various other pieces of equipment that enable the girls to ‘stretch the fabric of their textiles creativity’ in a multitude of directions.

• Commercial Kitchen and Food Technology

  “Are you being served?” In keeping with our Benedictine values, Hospitality is a popular subject and the girls enjoy the facilities of the fully equipped commercial kitchen. As well as the large commercial kitchen we have two equally well-equipped rooms for teaching Food Technology. We are also very lucky to have a full time, qualified chef to support the teachers and girls with demonstrations, advice and preparation for classes. Hospitality students gain industry experience catering for a variety of College functions.

• Performing Arts Studios

  The Drama Studio provides students with a chance to create and perform in a professional environment. The space is designed to allow students the room to explore the diversity of theatre. Being fitted with stage lighting, sound, whiteboards and blackout curtains, the Drama Studio has its own stage-like appearance with the capacity to hold an audience of 30 to 40 people, and with sprung wooden floors and access directly to the Star of the Sea Theatre, it is an inspiring place for young drama enthusiasts.

  Click here for more information about Drama.

  Dance students at Stella Maris discover the art of movement in purpose built studios designed for classes and performances. The studios are equipped with mounted bars, floor to ceiling mirrors, sprung floors and Denon sound equipment. In addition to the learning tools, the studios can be transformed into intimate performance spaces. Curtains frame the perimeter of the rooms and provide a professional setting for performances with small audiences. The Dance Studios are fitted with a data projector and an observation screen that creates a dynamic learning environment. Our Dance Company has been selected for the Sydney Eisteddfod Dance of Champions more than once, in no small part because of the confidence that learning in these professional spaces instils.

  Click here for more information about Dance.

• Multimedia

  The Multimedia Room is a flexible space that can be reorganised to suit a variety of different studio settings. It is used by all Multimedia classes for single and multi-camera interviews, chroma key work, lighting and sound activities. There are no permanent fixtures and the studio is set up using portable lighting, sound, digital camera and vision mixing equipment giving it maximum flexibility and responsiveness to the ever-changing needs of the curriculum and of the students.

• Science

  Need something dissected? Our Science laboratories are where the Stella mad scientists explore the weird and wonderful. Our Science curriculum and Spectra, the Science Club, are supported by six bright, well-resourced wet and dry laboratories located in the Scholastica building. Many girls go on to careers in STEM-related fields. All Science classes are held in labs, facilitating a fully immersive science learning experience. Even the art works that line the corridor depict important scientists of the ages. They were created by a past student for her HSC Visual Arts Major Work and she then went on to study medicine.

• Music Practice Rooms

  The College has eight practice rooms available to our young musicians for personal practice and private music lessons. Over two hundred students each week receive music lessons from our private tutors. Each of the practice rooms is equipped with a MIDI-capable digital piano and computer to assist students with composition and music assignments. Our Conservatorium-trained teachers provide individual or group lessons, both of which are available at the College during school time.

  Click here for more information about Music.

• Benedict Campus (for Seniors)

  

  Year 11 and 12 students enjoy the facilities at ‘Bennies’, our Senior Campus, which complement and extend the main campus, including:

  • general purpose classrooms all fitted with interactive data projectors and Apple TV
  • operable walls between six of the classrooms meaning that the space can be opened up for major examinations, guest speakers and special events
  • a spacious study and comfortable common area including a fully equipped student kitchen

  All Year 11 and 12 exams, including the Higher School Certificate Trials and final HSC examinations, are held at Bennies, at which time the top floor of the campus becomes a dedicated exam space that is supportive of the girls’ particular needs at this very important and often emotional moment in their Stella journey.

• Careers Education Centre

  The Careers Education Centre is located in the Scholastica building, providing convenient access to information on many college, university and TAFE courses in Australia and overseas. Appointments can be made or students can drop in for advice on UAC and other tertiary requirements. Career, employment application and job interview advice is also available.

  Click here for more information about Careers Education.

• The Canteen

  Parent volunteers have the chance to be part of the College community by working with our Canteen Coordinators. It serves fresh and healthy food to the College community everyday and is open from 8.30 am until 2.20 pm for breakfast, recess and lunch. The Canteen is completely cashless and the girls’ My Student Account ID cards are used to make purchases. Lunch orders can be placed in person or via email to the Canteen Coordinator. The girls are encouraged to think about nutrition and they earn reward points for their House when they make healthy choices. The Canteen supports Australian-made, fair trade and sustainable production suppliers wherever the option is available.

  Click here to contact the Canteen Coordinator. Click here for the Canteen menu. Our most popular items? Buttered rolls, lasagne, sushi and sparkling water.

• Uniform and Book Shop

  From 8 am to 4.30 pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday our Uniform Shop Coordinators assist girls with uniforms and books. The Uniform Shop is also open during some school holidays as advertised on the home page towards the end of each term. Payments to the Uniform Shop are made via the girls’ My Student Account ID cards.

  What does our uniform look like and why even have one? Click here to find out.

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