It’s a well-known diocesan address – No.1 King Street, Newtown – but a hub of Moore College now stands empty in preparation for demolition and the construction of a $20 million teaching centre.

“It’s actually happening – this is the first step,” says college principal, the Rev Dr Mark Thompson. “The administrative staff are in new premises in the renovated White Horse building [a former pub the college has owned for some decades], and over the next weekend the library books are being taken to a building down the street.

“Our plan is to start knocking down the building the day after the academic year ends in November, to get all the noisy demolition work done over the long vacation. But you can’t move the staff in November because of student exams, so it’s all being done now.”

The new six-storey centre will include a two-floor library, faculty offices linked by a common room, student services, many more study and tutorial spaces as well as additional offices.

With donations, plus extra funds from the Diocese before the GFC struck, the college has raised $13.6 million so far – more than two-thirds of the money needed.

Dr Thompson says the college has been thrilled to see the “wonderful generosity” from people across the Diocese, and their enthusiasm for the vision of Moore’s future. However, he adds, “we can’t put the tenders out to building contractors until we reach 80 per cent [of the $20 million goal]... We want to let people know that now is the time to make a contribution to what really is the most significant building program in the college’s history since it moved to Newtown in 1888.

“I’m convinced this is what the Lord is leading us to do... and it’s not about creating a monument because buildings don’t last forever. This is going to enable us to do ministry more effectively for the next 50 years and hopefully beyond.”