Vineyard 
Picture
Photo from Herald Sun Article
Holy Cross has a fully operational vineyard with approximately 350 vines that were planted in 2004. As part of their studies, students have learnt the vine to wine process of making wine from the planting of the grapes, fermentation process and bottling of the wine (label design). Students are also involved in the pruning, picking and netting processes which help the vines to grow and produce pinot grapes.

Olive Grove

In 2011, the Grade 5/6 curriculum focus was on how to best utilise the land adjacent to the vineyard. A proposal for an olive grove was made which was the basis for driving this project. Students studied the types of olives that would best be suited to our cool environment.  Various types of olive trees that suited our environment were then purchased and planted by all members of the school.  These varieties include Picual, Picholine, Kalamata and Manzanilla to name a few.  Approximately 113 trees were planted and we are now in the process of waiting for the olives to fruit so they can be processed into olive oil and table olives.

Animals  

  • ​Over the years, Holy Cross has housed many different types of animals which have become a feature of the Outdoor Education  Program. 
  • Chickens are fed using food scraps from student lunches and fruit time. The eggs are then sold back to the school. community.
  • In past years we were responsible for rearing a calf named Jet and we also looked after Jet's mother.
  • There are future plans for us to house 2 emus as well.

Camp Fire Circle

The Camp Fire Circle was constructed using recycled timber and an old tractor rim. The camp fire circle is situated in the outdoor education area between the vineyard and the olive grove. It is used for activities such as the Grade 2 sleepover, Religious Education activities and as a prayer space, vertical streaming activities and for general outdoor education use.