Into the Sixties
In 1961 the Chapter and Standing Committee of St Andrew's Cathedral decided to commence the staged development of the entire city block on which the Cathedral stood, including the Kent Street buildings acquired from the 1935 agreement with the City Council. Stage 1 of the St Andrew's site development involved constructing a two-storey building for the School on the corner of Bathurst and Kent Street with frontage to St Andrew's Place, adjacent to the Worker Building.
These 'New School' premises were opened in March 1965 by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Michael Ramsay. Following a subsequent government grant in 1967, two science laboratories were opened in June 1968 above the classrooms of the building. For the first time in its history the School occupied purpose-built educational premises for student learning and teaching.
The School prospered in its new facilities. The 300 boys enrolled enjoyed modern facilities and a wide ranging educational experience in the heart of the city.
Despite the School's apparent security, Diocesan events beyond the School's control were about to take place that would jeopardise the very existance of St Andrew's and seriously threaten its continuity. In September 1970 a report presented to Anglican Church authorities recommended that buildings in the Cathedral precinct, including an electricity sub station, Sydney Council workshops and the Worker Building on Kent Street be demolished as well as the School's new facilities opened in 1965. Diocesan Church House was also be demolished to make way for the redevelopment of the entire Kent/Bathurst Street site.
The Diocese voted to proceed with Stage 2 of the Sydney Square development. As a result in August 1971 the Cathedral Chapter advised the School that its relatively new 1965 premises were to be demolished to make way for this large commercial site development with frontage along Kent Street. Additionally, Synod had decided by a narrow voting majority that no place could be found for the School in the proposed new high rise building.
School personnel investigated numerous alternative locations around Sydney to possibly relocate the School from the Cathedral precinct. For various reasons these sites proved unsuitable. In effect, Synod's decision to proceed with the total St Andrew's site redevelopment meant that Australia's only Cathedral school faced closure.
Many friends and Old Boys of St Andrew's protested about this decision during the traumatic year of 1972. The prayerful dedication of a devoted band of supporters led by the Headmaster Canon MC Newth, eventually changed the Synod vote. In October 1972 the decision to exclude the School from the redevelopment was rescinded. The Cathedral 'choir' school had been saved from extinction.
The St Andrew's House site redevelopment involved the demolition of older buildings along Kent Street and, unfortunately, the relatively new 1965 New School premises. The School's occupation within the proposed new building was vigorously debated. Many design alternatives were reviewed. Initial design concepts located the School in a vertical 'slice' at the building's southern end, facing Bathurst Street. Finally it was agreed the School would occupy the top two floors of the building, giving students access to much-needed rooftop recreation space. City Council planning restrictions placed a 90- foot height limit on the new building, equivalent to the height of the Cathedral spires.
Between 1973-76 when the St Andrew's House site redevelopment was underway the School occupied space in the Church of England National Emergency Fund Memorial Centre (CENEF) building (diagonally opposite its previous School building) on the corner of Bathurst and Kent Streets, the site of the present Medina apartment building.
In September 1976 the School's 400 students moved back into the completed St Andrew's House. The School enjoyed its their own entrance off Kent Street and a dedicated School lift to Levels 7 and 8. Connecting stairs provided student access to the enclosed rooftop for passive recreation during recess and lunchtime. The School occupied these premises under a Diocesan Ordinance which provided a 40 year occupation in St Andrew's House until 2016, under certain concession terms for occupation. The Ordinance did not allow the School's continuing existance in St Andrew's House beyond 2016. An endowment fund was established to secure long term funds for the School's eventual relocation from St Andrew's House beyond this date.
