The vision for a permanent school campsite began in 1968, when Board Chairman Bob Henderson set his sights on creating a place where students could learn beyond the classroom. Inspired by earlier traditions, when boarders travelled by train and boat to camp, fish, and surf along the Stradbroke Islands, the School initially pursued land on North Stradbroke Island near Jumpin Pin. 

However, despite a lease application in 1970, those island plans fell through, and by 1973 a new chapter began on at Lake Moogerah. Early designs imagined a village of stilted dormitories nestled among shared learning, dining and recreation spaces. The final build, however, delivered a more practical 34-bed dormitory with dining and kitchen facilities.

Over time, the campus and learning environment evolved from a simple extension of classroom studies into something far more distinctive. While the initial vision for Moogerah was to provide a place for practical studies and fieldwork in subjects such as biology, geology, geography and economics, this was to change. 

Under the guidance of long-serving Director Jim Johnson, it was redefined as an Outdoor Education Centre, shifting the focus from camping to immersive, hands-on learning and outdoor educational experiences that set it apart from the city campus and continues to shape its future today.

As part of our jubilee celebrations, we invited parents and community members to share their fondest memories. From student poems and schedules to daring gorge jumps, alongside reflections from staff preserving the site’s natural beauty, these stories are united by camaraderie and adventure. 

Below is a collection of some of the stories and photos that capture the experiences that have shaped the history of the program.