4 April 2022

Iona College Geelong, Charlemont, has officially opened the Columba Centre in a recent ceremony at the college.

The college’s first building, the Columba Centre, was officially opened by Senator for Victoria, the Hon. Sarah Henderson. Iona College, the Archdiocese of Melbourne’s newest Catholic secondary school, first opened in 2020 with the initial group of Year 7 students. Adding another year level every year, the college currently has almost 600 students in Years 7 to 9.

‘We are extremely thankful to the Commonwealth Government for their support in the provision of a $5 million grant that has principally funded our first building, the Columba Centre’, said principal Damian McKew. ‘The establishment of a brand-new Catholic school has only been possible through the Commonwealth Government support, and I know our students are delighted to be in possession of wonderful facilities. I would like to thank Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) and in particular Finance and Infrastructure services. They have walked every step of this journey with us.’

The official opening of the Columba Centre comes weeks after the Stage 2 opening of the college’s AFL-approved oval, gymnasium, and learning spaces for food technology and music.