The College took its name from the famous early Australian explorer, John Oxley, and looks up to the hill named after him. His descendants gave permission for the family crest to be used as the basis of the College badge which incorporates their motto Patientia et Fortitudine—Patience and Fortitude and the College similarly adopted this as its motto.
Expansive grounds of great beauty provide a wonderful setting in which to educate young people. The centrepiece is a graceful colonial homestead ‘Elvo’, built in the 1880s. Now, this elegant building serves as the administrative centre of the College.
The grounds occupy seven hectares with established trees, many of which were planted when the property was first occupied. The grounds and the facilities developed within them are designed and maintained to provide an atmosphere conducive to learning. There is a sense of openness which encourages enlargement of the mind. Students are encouraged to be sensitive to the environment in which they learn, to respect it and appreciate its beauty.
From its initial enrolment of 24 students, the student population is now 848 P – 12. It is the policy of the College to maintain its commitment to modesty of scale, small enough for the education of students to be personal and humane, yet large enough to provide a wide range of academic options and activities.
Oxley College Annual Report 2023
The physical setting of the College provides students with space and beauty. A master plan has been developed to make the best use of the space available and to exploit the openness of the grounds.
Specialist facilities enhance opportunities for learning in Science, Visual Art, Design & Technology, Food Technology, Graphics Technology, and Computing. An extensive Physical Education Centre complements the playing fields. Oxley students use an integrated ICT network which runs throughout the College, linking classrooms with the David Wright Library, teaching and administrative staff. There is ready access to online resources and a speedy connection enables students to transport their work electronically between the home and the school.
The Hoskins Hall, named after the Founding Chairman of the College, is used extensively as a theatre space, both for teaching and productions. The David Wright Library, which bears the name of the founding Headmaster, is a modern facility housing the book and periodical collection, all visual and electronic resources and reader services. The Library is a focal point for learning, providing for class work as well as private study. This facility is open and supervised until 5.00pm from Monday to Thursday each week.
Specialist accommodation for Music includes purpose-designed teaching spaces, instrumental rooms and pods for personal lessons, practice and ensemble work. There is a senior workspace equipped for composition and study and the Orchestra Room, where large ensembles rehearse and small recitals are held, is in constant use.
All facilities are developed and upgraded, as funds permit, in accordance with the master plan.
The Sports grounds include two full-sized ovals, the Founders and Governors fields. There is a 400-metre running track, netball and tennis courts; and pitches for Hockey, Rugby Union and Cricket as well as the indoor facilities in the Peter Craig Centre. The Bray Fields, four hectares of land across the Wingecarribee River, has just been completed and includes a football and rugby field. In the future, there will also be an additional hockey pitch.
