Construction commenced in 2024 and the building has been operational since the start of Term 2. The occasion was officially marked with a celebratory event on Friday 22 May, drawing current and prospective families as well as Old Collegians.
Along with a recently renovated carpark, the building forms Stage 1 of the College’s Masterplan — its broader vision for the future, with later stages including a new Early Learning Centre and Sports Pavilion.
Investigator College Principal John Robinson said the building’s name reflected both its character and its promise for students.
“The building takes its inspiration from the Aurora Australis — the southern lights that occasionally illuminate the night sky above the Fleurieu Peninsula,” Mr Robinson said.
“The Aurora phenomenon defies our sense of what is possible and dares us to dream beyond the everyday. The lucky few who have seen it report feeling inspired.
“Like the Aurora, this building invites students to explore new frontiers, challenge their limits and seek the extraordinary. May it always be a place where students feel eager to learn, safe to fail and empowered to grow.”
At the event, Old Collegian and Federal Senator Charlotte Walker — a member of the class of 2022 — spoke and cut the ribbon alongside College Captain Jack Prosser and Little Investigators ELC student Ishka.
Ngarrindjeri artist Amanda Westley unveiled her work Caring for Country, and the building was blessed by Administrator of the Anglican Diocese of The Murray, The Venerable Simon Waters. A Welcome to Country was delivered by Year 8 student Sophia Conway-Jones.
Following the ceremony, guests explored the building and engaged in a range of interactive learning experiences including VEX robotics, green screen filmmaking, 3D printing, virtual reality, and a painting machine— while visiting the Year 6 Cardboard Arcade and helping stock the new library through subsidised book sales from South Seas Books.
The Aurora Building was designed by Walter Brooke Architects, constructed by Schiavello, and partly funded by the Australian Government under the Capital Grants Program.
