A Modern Chapter for Ewan House – Knox Grammar School

Source: Knox Grammar School Archive

Ewan House has always been part of the story of this place; its character shaped by decades of use, with its original function being a house, until it was purchased by Knox Grammar School in 1928, when it was used as a boarding and a variety of school functions. But in 2025, it begins a new chapter as a Year 6 Centre and main reception. This refurbishment isn’t just about preservation. It’s about bringing the building into the present and preparing it for the future.

Ewan House begins a new chapter in 2025

The challenge was clear from the start: how do you add modern infrastructure, technology, and accessibility to a heritage building without taking away what makes it special?
The answer was a careful balance of respect and reinvention. Every decision was made with the building’s original features in mind, from the shape of its rooms to the details in its brickwork.

“Outstanding attention to detail and response time.”

Accessibility was another key focus. The upgrades mean the building can now be enjoyed by everyone, with thoughtful design ensuring ramps, lifts, and pathways blend naturally into the heritage fabric rather than feeling like afterthoughts.

As the doors reopen, Ewan House will continue to teach, not just through the classes held inside, but through the story its walls tell: that good architecture can honour history while embracing change.

Credit: Taylor Construction

Credit: Taylor Construction

Some of the work was hidden, yet essential; new services integrated behind walls and under floors, ensuring the building can now support the latest educational technology. Other changes were more visible, like removing certain load-bearing walls to create brighter, more open spaces that better suit today’s teaching methods. The goal was to make the building feel lighter, more connected, and more welcoming.