Location and Facilities

The oldest original building at Villanova, Tolentine houses administration and teaching facilities. It was named after the Augustinian Saint, Nicholas of Tolentine. The ‘Tower’, which is approximately 50 metres tall, was the second tallest building in Brisbane when first constructed.

Good Counsel and Cascia originally held classrooms, a one-room library and a general purpose room when it opened in 1967. Today, the facility is dedicated solely to the Middle School. Good Counsel and Cascia block is named after the Mother of Good Counsel and the Augustinian Saint, Rita of Cascia.

Mendel Hall is named after the Augustinian geneticist, Gregor Mendel, and continues to carry on his passion for science. It opened in 1971 as a two-storey complex dedicated solely to the sciences, with a bottom floor reserved for the arts. A third storey was added in 1979. Today Mendel Hall’s top two levels are state-of-the-art science laboratories, while the bottom floor features classrooms and a catering centre.

The 60s and 70s saw a great expansion of College facilities with help from both parents and government. One such addition was a 25-metre swimming pool. The swimming pool has since helped develop the skills and harness the energy of students through dedicated training and healthy competition.

A myriad of demolition and building purchases paved the way for the construction of Goold Hall in 1986. Boasting an indoor sporting centre, a stage and numerous classrooms, it is a reflection of the legacy and ideals of Australia’s first Augustinian, James Goold. Up until the opening of the Augustine Centre in 2005, Goold Hall was also used for school assemblies and musical productions.

Villanova College welcomed even more classrooms and art facilities in 1994 with the opening of the O’Donnell Building. It was named after Fr Ben O’Donnell, the first Rector of Villanova, who was invited from Ireland to attend the opening. Today it accommodates the College’s Junior School precinct.

Planned for more than a decade, the Augustine Centre was easily the most anticipated development within the College. It opened in May, 2005, thanks to the assistance of the wider community in coordination with the ‘One Mind, One Heart’ campaign, which invited donations to help construct two new buildings: the Augustine and Cor Unum centres. The Augustine Centre features music and drama facilities along with staff offices. The Hanrahan Theatre, its main auditorium, seats over 500 people. The Playhouse is attached via an annex and houses a drama teaching area and office facilities. While the lower level of the Augustine Centre is dedicated to music tuition with 10 classrooms, multiple practice rooms and storage facilities.

Villanova’s newest buildings are dedicated to the Senior School. The Veritas Building and the Fr Michael Morahan Staff Centre were officially blessed and opened 22 May, 2012. The Fr Michael Morahan Staff Centre is in memoriam of Fr Michael Morahan, the last Augustinian Father to serve as Rector of the College, who passed away in 2011.

The College’s playing fields, known as ‘Villanova Park’, are situated on Manly Road, Tingalpa. Villanova Park has seven playing fields and a function centre named the ‘Cor Unum Centre’.