To commemorate the 50th jubilee of the College in 2003, an ambitious project for a performing arts centre was instigated. The $2.5 million project was to be completed in stages with stage one being a new music complex; stage two, a redesigned chapel/auditorium and stage three comprising of major improvements to the gymnasium.

Mr Rob Hay came on board to drive the fund raising for this project and was able to report in the Chronicle of that year that fund raising had got off to a good start. As a result of incoming funds the first stage of the project could be undertaken and in August 2004 contributors were shown around the completed music suite with practice rooms, new P.E. faculty office and the Crasborn Family Gallery.

It was decided to complete the gymnasium phase of the project before undertaking the massive auditorium phase and this was completed in 2005. This included a new weights room, PE classroom and expansive gallery overlooking the Pakowhai field. At a special morning tea, the Rector, Mr Grant Lander, thanked the leading sponsors; Mr and Mrs S. Hill for the Stephen Hill Motors Gallery, Mr and Mrs Boyle for the Boyle Family PE Classroom, Tumu Timbers for the Tumu Timbers Weights Room and all the other sponsors who had made developments to this stage possible.

By 2006 another stage had been added to this project to allow for a full chapel refurbishment as stage three to be followed by the auditorium as stage four. For stage three a prominent New Zealand stained glass artist Mr Graham Stewart from Christchurch was commissioned to create five stained glass windows depicting the houses of the college and the school values as represented by “The Good Man”concept. The chapel was completed by June 2007 and now included a sound/lighting room, a small private chapel and the Chaplain’s rectory. The completed Performing Arts Centre was opened on 26th March 2009 with a gala opening concert.

The new complex consisted of an impressive 350 seat auditorium with all the necessary technical backup, an imposing entrance /atrium area and a dedicated drama classroom with storage and practice rooms. Prior to that, major sponsors such as Mr and Mrs Graeme Lowe, Mr Rodney Green and Old Boy Scott Green, Mr and Mrs Jeff Wallace, Mr and Mrs Mike Kettle and members of the D’Esposito family joined the College Council, boys and staff for a special dedication ceremony.

Later in the year, the Performing Arts Centre was the scene of the highly successful International Boys’ Schools’ Conference which saw delegates coming from all over the world for four days of inspirational presentations and workshops centred around the new auditorium complex. Lindisfarne received extremely positive national and international exposure over this event and it would have to be considered a high point in the College’s history.

For more photos click here https://www.sporty.co.nz/lindisfarne/gallery