Woolshed goes bush

After 11 years of bush dances, concerts and weddings, the Darkes Forest Woolshed will become a quieter place when it is converted to a Christian high school next year.

The Illawarra Education Centre has bought the property on behalf of a private Christian organisation, the Brethren, from long-time owners Ludwig and Ute Roder for $1.5 million.

The Brethren will relocate the school’s 50 students from its Corrimal campus to the new property.

Trustee Mark Mackenzie said the opening date for the school was dependent on Wollongong City Council approving a “change of use” requirement for the site.

He said most students at the co-educational school came from the Heathcote, Engadine and Wollongong areas and Darkes Forest was an ideal mid-point.

“The Corrimal school was too small for our needs,” Mark said, adding that 50 students was probably the capacity for the new property.

Sales executive with PRD Nationwide Lyndy Munro negotiated the sale and said it was a difficult transaction as the former owners did not want too much publicity.

“They were trying to run a business and they didn’t want the fact that the property was on the market to affect their bookings,” she said.

“They weren’t in a hurry and we just had to find the right buyer for the property.”

The Roders have a cake and pie shop in Sutherland and have relocated to the shire following the sale.

“Now my wife won’t have to walk 8km to the nearest shop,” said Ludwig.