Sydney Square was filled with colour, laughter and celebration as the St Andrew’s Cathedral School community came together for the long-awaited Fair in the Square on Friday 19 September.
Held once every ten years, the Fair returned for the first time since 2014, marking a joyful highlight of the School’s 140th anniversary celebrations. Students, staff, families and Old Andreans joined together in the heart of the city for a day that captured the energy and community spirit that defines St Andrew’s Cathedral School.
The Square buzzed with excitement from morning to afternoon with rides and games, live performances, a petting zoo, delicious food stalls and the ever-popular Dunk Tank. It was a celebration that brought every part of the School together, from Junior School to Senior College.
A special feature of the day was the 140th Pop-Up Museum: Celebrating Our Heritage, where visitors could step back through the decades and see how the School has grown and changed since its founding in 1885. The exhibit included photographs, artefacts and stories from students and staff past and present, a fitting reminder of the strong traditions that continue to shape the School’s identity today.
Music was a constant feature throughout the day, with bands, choirs and ensembles performing on the main stage beside George Street. The variety of performances reflected the depth of musical talent within the School and added to the lively, festival atmosphere.
In a moment that perfectly symbolised transition and togetherness, our Year 12 students returned from their Seven Bridges Walk, a beloved rite of passage marking the end of their schooling years. Their arrival coincided with the height of the celebrations, greeted by cheers, hugs and applause. After crossing the city’s bridges, they returned to the heart of their community for one final celebration, a fitting close to their own chapter in the School’s 140-year story.
One Year 12 student reflected that the atmosphere “felt like the whole school was celebrating together, it was such a full-circle moment after our Seven Bridges Walk.”
Everywhere you looked, there were reminders of what makes St Andrew’s Cathedral School unique. Parents and staff worked side by side at stalls, alumni reconnected over coffee and students laughed as they queued for the Meltdown ride or Mini Putt Putt Golf. It was not only a fair, but a living portrait of what the School stands for: community, shared joy and enduring connection.
As Head of School Dr Julie McGonigle reflected in her message for the 140th year,
“Celebration is a discipline. Whilst that may seem paradoxical, in today’s busy world, stopping to look back, to see the good, to show gratitude to those whose shoulders we stand on, is a lost art.”
The Fair embodied that spirit: a pause to look back, a day to look around and a light cast forward toward the generations to come.
The Fair was made possible through the incredible efforts of our Community Engagement team, parent volunteers, students and staff who dedicated countless hours to planning and preparation.
After 140 years, the spirit of St Andrew’s remains as vibrant as ever – a community where the way of light continues to shine through generations.
