Holy Spirit College Fitzgibbon, New Secondary Catholic School in 56 Years, Officially Opens

After more than a year of construction, Holy Spirit College Fitzgibbon, the first co-ed Catholic high school to be established in Brisbane in 56 years, has officially opened!



The school welcomed nearly 100 students attending Year 7 at its new $1.35 million facilities in February 2022. But on 3 June 2022, the school welcomed His Grace, the Archbishop of Brisbane Mark Coleridge, alongside The Hon Stirling Hinchliffe, the Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport, and Member for Sandgate for the blessing and opening ceremonies. 

Holy Spirit College Fitzgibbon Principal Stephan le Roux said that they were inundated with applications from parents within a few months of the announcement of the plans to build a new Catholic school in North Brisbane. He confirmed that enrolments are “fully subscribed until the end of 2025.” 

Two more buildings are due to be completed in the coming years. Wunya, which means “welcome” in the local Turrbal language, will house the administration block. The other building will be called Garrnang, which means “community”. 

The buildings were funded by the Queensland Government and Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE).

The last BCE high school to open in Brisbane was Clairvaux Mackillop College, Upper Mount Gravatt in 1966.  

Executive Director Dr Sally Towns that locals in Fitzgibbon have been looking for a faith-filled co-educational schooling option and BCE recognised the community as a priority growth area. 

Needless to say, the students and staff have been eager to come to school and experience the “innovative approach to education, implementing project-based learning to enhance the teaching of the Australian Curriculum,” according to the principal. 



Fitzgibbon Prepares for Opening of New Holy Spirit College in 2022

A new Catholic high school in Fitzgibbon is preparing to welcome its first batch of students for the January 2022 school opening as the construction of Holy Spirit College, located on the site of a former golf driving range, is ongoing.



Stirling Hinchliffe MP announced that Holy Spirit College received $1.3 million in funds from the State Government under the Non-State School Capital Assistance Grants. The money will be used for more construction work on the external infrastructure and to pay for related Council headwork charges.

The new school will consist of several blocks of classrooms in buildings that are one to three floors high. The blocks also have a music and performance hall, a sports centre, a cafe and the campus piazza. 

Holy Spirit College
Photo Credit:  Holy Spirit College
Photo Credit:  Brisbane Catholic Education

Some 96 Year 7 co-ed students are expected to attend the school in its inaugural year whilst applications have been opened for the next three years (2023, 2024 and 2025). Enrolments are currently accepted at the school’s temporary office at Unit 2, The Clock Corner 521 Beams Road in Carseldine.

Holy Spirit College will be the 147th school under Brisbane Catholic Education. It was named after the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters who founded Zillmere’s St Flannan’s School in 1953. The congregation has done various ministries in education, pastoral work and health care in north Brisbane.

“At Holy Spirit College, we aim to educate our students with an appreciation of the spiritual as well as the intellectual and physical aspects of their lives. We strive to work with our parents/care​rs to produce young people of faith and character,” Stephan le Roux, the school principal said in a statement on the school’s website.

“We strive to create an environment that puts the student at the centre and where that student supported by dedicated teaching staff and tremendous community spirit.  As a team, we are looking forward to developing further, the learning and teaching opportunities that will engage our students and build our teaching tools to deliver a dynamic and progressive curriculum.” 



For enquires, phone 07 3375 8500 or email the school administration at secondaryfitzgibbon@bne.catholic.edu.au

Expressions of Interest for New Catholic Secondary School on Beams Road, Fitzgibbon Now Being Accepted

Expressions of interest are now being accepted for a new co-educational Catholic Secondary School being proposed for Beams Road in Fitzgibbon, planned to open in 2022.

Brisbane Catholic Education seeks to develop a Catholic High School, on the corner of 441 Beams Road and Carselgrove Avenue, catering to Grade 7-12 students. The 5.76-hectare land was the former site of the Big Easy Golf and Leisure Centre.

BCE is a community of parish and dioscesan Catholic schools operating 141 schools across the Archdiocese. The institution recently opened two Prep schools in Bli Bli and Coomera.

Between 2020 and 2025, Brisbane Catholic Education plans to open six new schools:

  • Primary school in Redbank Plains , to open with Prep – Year 3 in 2020
  • Three secondary schools: Plainland and Yarrabilba – to open in 2021, Fitzgibbon – to open in 2022 
  • Two Prep schools: Flagstone – to open in 2024; Narangba – to open in 2025.

The future high school in Fitzgibbon will feature two-storey classrooms, specialty classrooms, administration, PE/Hall with car park, Learning Centre, Music and Performance, cafe,  tennis court, sports field, campus piazza, and staff parking.

 co-educational Catholic Secondary School being proposed for Beams Road in Fitzgibbon
Photo credit: Amanda Cooper – Councilor  for Bracken Ridge Ward / amandacooper.com.au

Councilor Amanda Cooper, however, expressed concerns about the proposed development. The applicant, she said, is seeking Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID), which means Council will not be able to assess the plans and will remove the process of letting residents voice their concerns regarding the proposal.

“While I recognise the need, and support the provision for additional educational facilities, I hold serious concerns about the lack of community consultation this development will receive,” Councilor Amanda Cooper said.

“Fast tracking a development of this nature should not occur without adequately addressing the existing issues that are already impacting residents, specifically the Beams Road open level-crossing and the significant lack of commuter parking at Carseldine Train Station. 

“In seeking a MID for this site, it ultimately and unnecessarily removes the ability for Council to review, assess and provide guidance on the impacts that will be experienced by the community. Most importantly, it also removes the right for residents who will be at the forefront of any impact, the ability to express their concerns,” she said.

Parents wanting to express their interest in the new proposed Catholic Secondary School in Fitzgibbon may click on this link to access the form.



Perfect Outdoor Fun at the Bracken Ridge Skate Plaza in Fitzgibbon

Have you already been to the Bracken Ridge Skate Plaza in Fitzgibbon? If not, then you should check this place out; a perfect destination for a day out with the kids.

The Bracken Ridge Skate Plaza and the newly opened Bracken Ridge BMX Track facility sit right next to the Emily Seebohm Aquatic Centre. These new facilities are perfect for skaters, scooters, and BMX enthusiasts of any age and ability.

The Bracken Ridge Skate Plaza, designed by skatepark designer and builder Convic, boasts of competition standard facility with a range of unique features to cater to the advanced and those who want to develop their skills.

Photo credit: Jack “Ripper” Lewis/Facebook

Bracken Ridge Skate Plaza features:

  • skate obstacles including ledges, rails, banks, spines and gaps
  • transitions including various quarter pipes and roll-ins to enhance usability and flow
  • unique structures including a skateable planter box, pole jam and pyramid
  • lighting installation to facilitate night time use of the park
  • a shelter, seating and trees to provide shade.

Photo credit: Convic/convic.com

It’s great to know, as well, that these facilities are free to use and enjoy. Children of all ages will definitely have lots of fun here riding their three-wheeled scooters, bikes, or skates. With a covered area of 1,000 sqm, it provides plenty of room to move around plus the Emily Seebohm Aquatic Centre nearby to swim and cool down after a day of activities at the plaza.

Photo credit: Brooke Dixon/Facebook



Now, for those who want a levelled-up kind of fun, there’s the 640-metre Bracken Ridge BMX track to try and test your skills. The BMX facility features:

  • an asphalted track with freestyle jumps for recreational riding
  • a shade shelter
  • installing signage
  • landscaping
  • lighting
  • drinking fountain and rubbish bins
  • pedestrian pathway connections to Telegraph Road and the precinct car park

Photo credit: Convic/convic.com

The Bracken Ridge BMX Track is one of the biggest BMX tracks in Australia and it’s open to the public all-year-round. Both the Bracken Ridge Skate Plaza and the BMX Track are fully flood-lit during night time and there is also a large onsite free parking.

Check out the Bracken Ridge Skate Plaza and BMX Track, located at 523 Telegraph Road, Fitzgibbon.