The first stage of Stromlo Forest Anglican College (SFAC), a new school in the inner Canberra suburb of Molonglo, has reach completion and welcomed its first students.

The opening of the Early Education School (EES), which caters for children from pre-school age to Year 2, marks a significant milestone in the development of the College. To be completed in six stages, the campus will eventually cater for over 1,800 students from early learning to Year 12.

COX Architecture (COX) collaborated with the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn as the project’s master planners and architects.

“The vision for Stromlo Forest Anglican College began with the idea of school as village – a place with its own identity, its own rhythm, and a genuine relationship with the community around it,” says COX Associate Director, Gerard O’Connell.

“Sitting where a developing suburb meets forest and open landscape on Canberra’s western edge, the school was always intended to become a civic anchor for this emerging neighbourhood.”

Because the site has a long, steep fall – steeper than 1:20 for over 100 metres – the architects had to think carefully about accessibility and movement.

“You can’t solve a site like this with a single ramp or straightforward circulation spine,” says O’Connell. “Instead, we developed a strategy consisting of an interwoven network of concourses and walkways at different levels.”

Another challenge was designing a campus that supports both the school community and the broader Molonglo community.

“With facilities intended for shared use after hours, we needed to balance openness with safety. That required extensive consultation with local groups, from cyclists to equestrian users to sporting clubs, to ensure the campus integrates seamlessly with its surroundings,” says O’Connell.

This project continues COX’s long-standing partnership with the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn.

“We’ve delivered multiple schools together, from Burgmann Anglican School to St Peter’s Anglican College and Riverina Anglican College,” says O’Connell. “There’s a strong, iterative relationship where we refine our approach to learning environments with every stage.”

With Stage 1 complete, Stage 2 is already under construction for a 2027 opening. Future stages will deliver the Secondary School, Senior Secondary building, sport centre, oval and shared facilities, ultimately creating a vibrant hub for students and the wider Molonglo community.

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