Emmanuel College was officially opened on 30 January 1985. Initially, the College catered only for high school students in Years 8 and 9, with higher years added in subsequent years. In January 1989 a primary school opened with more than 150 students. In the early years, staff and students were housed in mobile structures, but a construction program in the following decade replaced all the temporary structures with permanent ones. Major projects included the completion of an administration building, the Graham Leo library, information technology centres and an aquatic centre featuring a 25-metre swimming pool and an enclosed, modern learn-to-swim pool facility. Later structures included a Performing Arts centre, a sports building featuring a gymnasium, a multi-purpose basketball and tennis court complex, an Early Years Centre with play area, and a Hospitality Centre. In 2007 a new science block, the John Spence Centre, was built comprising laboratories, offices and general classrooms. All the school's rooms are air-conditioned and most of the classrooms have either interactive whiteboards or Commboxes. In recent years, the Graham Leo Library has been extended, a Year 7 centre with a specialist music room has been built and the central courtyard of the College, Chapel Court, was developed. In 2012, The Emmanuel Theatre was opened. This tiered, 450-seat facility has an operable orchestra lift, a full fly tower and tuition rooms. The Junior School play areas developed in 2013 include a tunnel, a maze, elevated walkways, a citrus grove and other creative play spaces that are adjacent to 'The Shed', a covered outdoor learning area. A heated indoor learn-to-swim pool was opened in 2014 and a Junior School Design and Technology, Art and Administration building with new ablution facilities for Junior School students was opened on 7 February 2015. A student-led help and technical services facility within the Library, the Tech Bar, was opened in 2015 and the Colin Clark Centre for STEM and Social Innovation was established. B Block was re-named, the David Bewley Centre and a new Senior School building, the Neville Bonner Centre, was opened in June 2019. The building features eight learning spaces, a staff room and a multi-purpose room. Emmanuel College now serves almost 1600 students and they compete internally in various inter-house activities as members of one of the four houses, namely, Wycliffe, Wesley, Luther and Taylor.
Chapel
The Emmanuel College Chapel was built in 1939-1940. It was the last building approved in Surfers Paradise before the outbreak of World War II. It was the Clifford Street Uniting Church until the building was moved to the Emmanuel College campus and dedicated as the Emmanuel College Chapel on 7 July 1991. The Chapel features a series of stained glass windows.
Academic achievement
According to NAPLAN, in 2019 Emmanuel College students' achievements were categorised as 'well above the Australian students results' in numeracy, grammar,reading and writing. 'Above all Australian students' results were achieved in reading, writing and spelling.
Extracurricular activities
Academic extracurricular activities include the gifted and talented programs, participation in Mathematics, English, Science, Writing, Computing and Spelling competitions, Olympiads, 'Day of Excellence', Writers Cup, one-on-one tuition and academic support programs. Drama, Dance and Music students enjoy excursions, incursions, festivals, competitions, clubs, extension activities, eisteddfods, examinations, concerts, workshops and other performance opportunities. Visual Art students visit exhibitions, have access to artist-in-residence programs, and exhibit their own works. Emmanuel College is a member of the APS group of schools. APS Sporting competition includes swimming, athletics, cross-country, rugby union, netball, volleyball, soccer, hockey, softball, cricket, AFL and touch football. In 2019, seventy five Emmanuel College students represented South Coast, Queensland or Australia in both school or club sports with more than one half of these students participating at state or national level. Five students were individual Australian Champions in Triathlon, Freestyle Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Ironwomen and Race Walking. Two students were Australian representatives in Artistic Roller Skating and Baseball.
Queensland and international connections
The service and connections programs of Emmanuel College see students visiting Effective Aid International programs in Thailand annually and the College actively supports Mission Educate in Mozambique. The service program also offers student community service trips to a number of southern Queensland towns including St George, Chinchilla, Thallon, Bollon, Dirranbandi, Nindigully and Goondiwindi.
