Emanuel School, Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Emanuel School
Emanuel School viewed from Centennial Park in 2017
Address
20 Stanley Street Randwick , New South Wales , 2031 Australia
Coordinates	33°54′24″S 151°14′37″E / 33.9068°S 151.2437°E / -33.9068; 151.2437
Information
Type	Independent co-educational early learning, primary and secondary day school
Motto	Mind, Spirit, Being
Denomination	Jewish
Established	1983; 42 years ago (1983)
Founder	Rabbi Brian Fox AM
Educational authority	New South Wales Education Standards Authority
President	David New
Principal	Linda Emms
Staff	106
Years	Early learning and K–12
Enrolment	912 (2022)
Colour(s)	Maroon and grey
Website
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Emanuel School; Aston Lodge; Loreto Sisters' School; Mount St. Joseph; Little Sisters of the Poor Novitiate; International Grammar School
Type	State heritage (complex / group)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	386
Type	School – Private
Category	Education

Emanuel School is a private Jewish school in Sydney, Australia. It welcomes both boys and girls from pre-school all the way to Year 12. The school is located in Randwick, a suburb in New South Wales.

The school started in 1983 in Woollahra before moving to its current Randwick location in 1985. In 1986, the Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, officially opened the school. Today, Emanuel School has about 920 students. Since 2025, Linda Emms has been the school's Principal.

The school campus is quite old and has a rich history. It is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. Before becoming a school, it was a monastery, a seminary, and even a private home. The main building, Aston Lodge, was designed by a famous architect named Edmund Blacket and built in 1864.

School History

How Emanuel School Began

The idea for Emanuel School came about in 1982. Rabbi Brian Fox, along with many people from the Jewish community in Sydney, helped make it happen. On February 2, 1983, the school opened its doors with 53 students from Kindergarten to Year 6. They started in rooms at Temple Emanuel. Later that year, some older students moved to a different school site in Watsons Bay.

Moving to Randwick

In 1984, with a lot of help from Mr. Aron Kleinlehrer and the community, Emanuel School bought its current site in Randwick. The school officially opened there in 1985 with 230 students. Prime Minister Bob Hawke attended the opening ceremony in 1986.

New Buildings and Improvements

Over the years, Emanuel School has added many new buildings and facilities.

• In 2011, the new Science "K" Block opened. It has four modern science labs and classrooms.
• To celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2013, the school raised money for the LINC Building. This new building opened in 2015. It includes classrooms for younger students, a theatre, a gym, and special art classrooms. The high school library is also located here.
• In 2016, the old high school art rooms were changed into Kindergarten classrooms.
• A new "innovation" building opened in 2018. It has classrooms for technology and English, a food technology lab, a design lab, and a special "Imaginarium" for creative projects.
• The newest building, the B'Yachad Y Block, opened in 2023. It has seven classrooms, breakout spaces, and an upgraded "Imaginarium." Years 5 and 6, along with Kindergarten, now have their classrooms in this building. The old Kindergarten rooms became the new Primary School Library.

School Leadership

Dr. Bruce Carter became the school Principal in 2001. Anne Hasting was principal until the end of 2017. Andrew Watt then served as principal until the end of 2024. Linda Emms became the principal in 2025.

Site History

Early Aboriginal History

Before Europeans arrived in the late 1700s, Aboriginal people lived in the Randwick area. They used the land for fishing and cultural activities. You can still find signs of their presence, like rock engravings and shell middens (piles of shells from their meals). The local Aboriginal people were the Cadigal, who spoke the Dharug language.

Colonial Settlement

The area where Randwick is today was first granted to European settlers in the early 1800s. The name "Randwick" comes from a town in England. Simeon Pearce, who was born in Randwick, England, suggested the name. He and his brother helped develop the area.

Early Randwick was quite isolated from Sydney. It was surrounded by swamps and sand hills, making travel difficult. Over time, the area grew, especially after the Randwick Racecourse was established. This led to better transport, like trams, connecting Randwick to Sydney.

Aston Lodge Estate: A Gentleman's Home

The land where Emanuel School now stands was first sold in 1862. John Watkins bought a large part of it and hired the famous architect Edmund Blacket to design a grand house called Aston Lodge. Watkins lived there from 1865 and was even the mayor of Randwick for several terms.

Schools and Religious Uses

• Private School (1891-1892): The first school at Aston Lodge was a private one run by Misses Anne A. Hales.
• Loreto Sisters' School (1892-1901): In 1892, the Loreto Sisters, a group of nuns, opened their first school in New South Wales at Aston Lodge. It was a boarding and day school for young ladies. They even built a timber dormitory. The school was very successful, focusing on developing good character and intellect in their students. The Loreto Sisters later moved their school to other locations, including Loreto Normanhurst and Loreto Kirribilli.
• Little Sisters of the Poor (1901-1984): In 1901, the Little Sisters of the Poor bought the Aston Lodge site. This religious order cares for the elderly poor. They used the site as a "novitiate," which is a place where young women train to become nuns. They built a chapel in 1921 and a large new novitiate building in 1936. By the 1970s, fewer young women were joining the order, so they decided to sell the property.

Emanuel School Takes Over (1984-Present)

Emanuel School, pictured in 2015.

In 1984, Emanuel School bought the Aston Lodge site. They worked to change the old buildings into a modern school. Aston Lodge became the main administration building, and the chapel was converted into classrooms and a library. Other buildings were also changed into classrooms and a synagogue. Since then, the school has continued to grow and add new facilities.

Laundry Block (Art Building) History

The Lynette Sandra Phillips Art Building was originally built in 1929 as a laundry for the Little Sisters of the Poor. It was designed by Scott, Green & Scott. Over time, it was changed and eventually became the art building for the school.

Facilities and Curriculum

Music and Sport

Emanuel School has a strong focus on music. All students from Year 3 to 6 take part in a compulsory Instrumental Programme. Students are encouraged to continue playing instruments through high school. Sport is also a very important part of school life.

Learning Support and Technology

The Emanuel School Learning Centre has special teachers who help students with their studies. They also have a "Gifted and Talented Programme" for students who need extra challenges. All high school students and primary Opportunity Classes use laptops as part of their learning.

Kornmehl Centre Pre-school

The Kornmehl Centre Emanuel Pre-school is located on the same campus. It provides early learning for about 60 children aged 3 to 5 years old.

Notable Alumni

• Luda Kroitor (graduated 2001) – a dancer who has won the world Salsa championship five times. She also won Dancing with the Stars series 8 with her partner Luke Jacobz.

Heritage Listing

Emanuel School is a very important historical site in Randwick. It includes the original Aston Lodge, built around 1864, which is still in excellent condition. It also has a beautiful chapel (1921) and novitiate (1936) built by the Little Sisters of the Poor.

The school is located on one of the highest points in North Randwick. Because of this, parts of the school, especially the 1936 novitiate building, can be seen from far away, including Queens Park, Centennial Park, and Bondi Junction. This makes it a well-known landmark in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

The site is important because of its history:

• It was the home of James Watkins, a merchant and local council member.
• It was used by the Loreto Sisters for private education in the late 1800s.
• It served as the novitiate for the Little Sisters of the Poor, who helped the elderly. This was the only such training center for the order in Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, and nearby islands).

The site also has other notable features, like its high walls (built in the late 1920s and 1930s), the gate lodge (1932), the laundry building (1929), and old paths and gardens.

Emanuel School was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.

See also

• List of non-government schools in New South Wales
• Judaism in Australia