CLIENT: The Hutchins School
LOCATION: Sandy Bay, Tasmania
YEAR: 2026
CONTRACTOR: Fairbrother
The N J Edwards Hub is the newest major building at The Hutchins School in Sandy Bay, Hobart. Officially opened and brought into use in early 2026, it is the largest capital development undertaken by the school in its 180-year history and serves as a new focal point for education, sport, community events and student wellbeing.
The Hub was conceived as a place for the entire school to gather and to connect the senior, middle and junior campus. The Hub is named in honour of former student, philanthropist and benefactor Neale John Edwards. Construction commenced in 2023 following the school’s “Make Your Mark” fundraising campaign, which raised more than $22 million toward the project.
The building functions as multipurpose education, sport and community hub rather than a traditional school hall. Its brief combines:
- Whole-school assembly and ceremonial functions to cater for a capacity of 1400 people.
- Multipurpose FIBA level 1 Basketball courts/ National competition level Netball.
- Additionally, Volleyball, futsal, badminton and pickleball are provisioned.
- High performance weights and cardio gymnasium.
- Performing arts and events.
- Informal and formal teaching spaces.
- Community and alumni engagement.
- 70m under road tunnel and outdoor play areas including tiered external auditorium and indigenous yarning circle.
From an architectural planning perspective, it effectively consolidates several facility types into a single landmark building and provides safe accessible internal campus connections.
Heritage and archaeological context
One of the most significant aspects of the project was the discovery of human remains from the former Queenborough Cemetery during excavation works. The site investigation and exhumation program ultimately became one of the largest archaeological recovery projects undertaken in Australia, with approximately 2,000 individuals being respectfully reinterred at Cornelian Bay Cemetery.
For heritage professionals, this archaeological process is likely to become one of the defining aspects of the project’s legacy, alongside the building itself.
