By September 2010 Outward Bound had recieved just over $1.5 Million in donations for the facilities redevelopment of the Outward Bound National Training Centre at Tharwa.

Outward Bound would like to thank the following funding partners for their belief in Outward Bound and support for the project:

Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation $1M donated		John T Reid Foundation $100,000 donated	James N Kirby Foundation $50,000 donated

Background

The original home of Outward Bound in Australia was at Fisherman’s Point (1959 – 1971), on the Hawksbury River to the north of Sydney. After much deliberation OBA relocated to a temporary base at Lanyon in the ACT before occupying our current home and creating the National Base at Tharwa in 1978.

The National Base at Tharwa is a sub-division of the old “Cuppacumbalong” lease and Outward Bound inherited and made use of a number of the old cottages and sheds that came from the old rural lease. Since those early days OBA has employed recycled Sewerage Treatment Works offices as it’s main administrative building and dining all, and recycled accommodation from the Sydney Olympics to accommodate staff.

Over time the site has been added to in an adhoc and piecemeal fashion, without the resources for the implementation of a long-term master plan. Outward Bounders are typically good at making do, but there comes a point where an organisation, if it is to become the industry leading professional organisation that it aspires to be must simply create a master plan for the future and make a major investment in its physical assets and facilities.

Looking Forward

The New Outward Bound National Training Centre, on the existing site at Tharwa is such a project. It seeks to build on the strength of a unique place apart, on the banks of the Murrumbidgee, in the foothills of Namadgi and only 30 minutes from the National Capital, it is an ideal natural environment. It will recycle and re-use the majority of the old buildings with a major refurbishment program and we will build new Dining Hall and Kitchen facilities as well as a new Administrative Centre (when funding becomes available).

This is an exciting new chapter in Outward Bound’s history – seeking to transform the existing site into a modern and professional facility that will serve the needs of our staff, students and clients for many years. To date we have raised in excess of $1.5M towards the project and we will commence building early in 2011 with the refurbishment works and new Dining Hall first priority in Stage 1 of the project.

Get Involved

The total redevelopment project is in excess of $5M so we still have a way to go to raise the required funds. We are commencing the process of engaging with Government and seeking broader philanthropic support for this important project. Please contact our CEO, Darren Black if you are able to help with the National Centre Redevelopment Project.

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02 6235 5780

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