Search
Lake Macquarie Campus
The Lake Macquarie Campus is the original and largest of Avondale's campuses. It is a part of the Avondale Estate, a 325 hectare (800 acre) property in Cooranbong, a small town about 120 km north of Sydney in New South Wales on Australia's scenic Central Coast.The grounds are beautifully maintained and feature large, shady trees, bright bursts of flowers and meticulously manicured lawns. The Avondale Estate is nestled at the foot of the Watagan Mountain ranges which offer excellent opportunities for walking, camping, mountain biking, rock climbing and abseiling.
Two of the Lake Macquarie Campuses oldest buildings, Bethel Hall and College Hall have been carefully restored to their original condition and provide a focal point at the centre of the campus.
A few kilometres to the east is magnificent Lake Macquarie, Australia's largest salt water lake. Swimming, sailing, wake-boarding and water skiing are only minutes away from text books and assignments. And of course there are the world class beaches, providing the ultimate in uncrowded surfing and swimming conditions just 30 minutes drive from the campus.
The rainfall in this region is about 1250 mm (50 inches) per year. Midday summer temperatures are around 27 degrees centigrade although temperatures can exceed 40 degrees centigrade on occasion. In winter, frosts may occur overnight, particularly during the months of July or August.
Location
This campus is only ten minutes drive from Australia's largest coastal lake and twenty or thirty minutes from the wide sandy surf beaches of the Central Coast. Newcastle is the closest provincial city. It is just forty-five minutes away by car or train. Sydney is just ninety minutes by train or freeway. This means that students can enjoy study in a rural setting but enjoy easy access to the surf and the city with its cultural and sporting events and activities.
Facilities
The Lake Macquarie campus itself is equipped with excellent facilities to balance the demands of study with sport and recreational and cultural activities. Facilities include a heated swimming pool, fitness centre, squash courts, tennis courts and playing fields. The recently completed 4.5 million-dollar gymnasium includes basketball, netball and badminton courts. The Student Centre has a TV and games room, open until late most days.
It has its own campus Post Office, Commonwealth Bank Agency, bookshop and canteen. An ATM in the Student Centre is available for cash withdrawals. The music centre and spacious library contribute to cultural life. Worship facilities include the College Church, residence chapels, and several nearby off-campus churches.
IT Facilities
All students are issued an email address, and computers with internet and email access are available 24 hours per day in computer rooms in each residence hall. Five computer labs with internet access are provided for general student use across campus. Internet access is also available from computers in the library. There are several computer labs for specialised academic purposes. Altogether Avondale provides approximately one computer to every five students on campus. Students are encouraged to bring their own computer for personal use. Network connections are available in the men's residence and will be installed in the near future in ladies residences.
Residence Halls
Each bed/study room is provided with bed/s, bookshelf, desk/s, chairs/s and wardrobes. All rooms have blinds, but no drapes are provided. (Curtain rods are provided in the ladies' residences should students wish to supply their own curtains or drapes). Students need to provide their own bedding, towels, pillow and pillow slip, and these should all be clearly named. Linen hire is available for international residential students.
Married Student Accommodation
College View married student village comprises 36 non-furnished two-bedroom apartments. A local real estate agent handles the allocation and rental of these units. They are available for married students at a cost of between $500-$580 AUD per month. Rental accommodation is also available in the surrounding district
