Across more than a century, Trinity Grammar School has seen much construction take place but to the best of our knowledge, 2026 has seen the very first ‘Topping Out’ ceremony as the Renewal Project hits a significant milestone. 

Traditionally, a Topping Out ceremony is a symbolic rite held when the highest structural beam is placed on a building’s framework – it’s not just significant because it’s the highest physical point of the building, but also because it marks a turning point where the end of construction is now in sight. 

Speaking at the Renewal Project’s Topping Out ceremony on Friday, 23 January 2026, Headmaster Mr Tim Bowden noted that since the School had never marked such a milestone before, the opportunities for such an occasion were myriad. 

“The elements of our Topping Out ceremony are pretty basic because we had no idea what such a thing was, or how to do it – so we’ve made something up!” 



Beginning by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land, Mr Bowden went on to acknowledge the various groups of attendees, including members of the School Council, members of the Renewal Project Steering Committee and members of the Community Consultation Committee. The School Captain and two Vice Captains, and the Captains of the Preparatory and Junior Schools were also there along with members of the School staff, the team from Taylor Constructions and the project managers from Bloompark.

The Headmaster then handed over to the Reverend Alan Lukabyo – School Council Member and Trinity Old Boy (School Captain, ‘86) – who recalled his first memories of Trinity back in 1981 and shared Psalm 127 with those gathered for the occasion. 

“I came to the School on a visit maybe a year before [officially starting in Year 7] … I remember walking through a lovely, open grassy space – there was a grass oval, mature, spreading trees, and some old buildings. 

“By the time I returned as a Year 7 student, all of that had been razed to become what we then called ‘New School’. That was 45 years ago. It’s a reminder that what we build here today is not permanent but it is important, and the source of its ultimate importance is signalled to us in this passage of Scripture.” 

“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” – Psalm 127:1

“Because of the scale of this project, it’s easy to think of it as an end in itself. We just think our great goal is just to get the wretched thing done,” Rev. Lukabyo said. “But the Scripture reminds us that this building exists to serve a greater purpose. When the psalmist says, ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain’, he’s not saying it won’t get built. He’s saying it will be built, but it will ultimately be futile unless it’s serving God’s purpose. 

“And so, the purpose for which we build this building is not in order that it be completed or even in order that we have a Topping Out ceremony. But in order, if I can put it this way, for the building that will only begin once this building is completed – that is the building of integrity in the lives of young men, the formation of mature and stable character, the cultivation of agile and curious intellectual capacities, the stimulation of creative and physical competencies, and highest of all, the facilitation of lifelong Christian faith in Jesus.”

After the Reverend Lukabyo prayed, Mr Richard Pegg (Chairman, School Council) noted that holding this ceremony in 2026 was particularly poignant, as it also marks 100 years of Trinity’s official occupation of the Summer Hill site. 

“We undertake projects such as this so that we can provide a good environment for our students,” he said, while acknowledging that the process can feel lengthy but that this ceremony celebrates a turning point where the end is now in sight, with a heartfelt thanks to Taylor Construction. “I remember at the beginning of last year, I attended a function expressing our fond wish that the project be done and dusted by the end of this year – so far, so good!” 

Mr Adam Vasallo, Project Director, confirmed that the Topping Out ceremony also marks the 50% completion point of the Renewal Project before thanking all those who have helped the project reach this stage. 

“The collaboration and strong working relationship has been particularly important, as the project’s position within the School has proved challenging from a logistics and operational impacts perspective. All works need meticulous planning and coordination to ensure staff, students, along with the wider community are not impacted and everything is kept advancing as planned.” 

After the addresses, attendees were led up to level four, decked out in PPE – it is still a live construction site after all – with an invitation to ask any questions on their way up before enjoying the view from the top and wielding a Sharpie to sign a piece of structural steel.

“If you’re here today and you would like to affix your signature to this piece of structural steel, which will form a part of the roof of this building, which will sit there unseen and unknown for decades to come,” Mr Bowden invited guests. 

“It may well be the case that long after we’re all gone and the time of this building has come to an end, that that piece of steel will be examined with some curiosity.” 

A fitting new tradition in Trinity’s structural history in a place where continuous curiosity is fostered.

Trinity Renewal Project Topping Out Ceremony - 23 January 2026 click here