Long Bay College proudly celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2025, marking five decades of growth, achievements, and community spirit. Since opening in 1975 with just 258 students, 13 dedicated teachers, and a vision for the future, our college has come a long way. What began as a small school in a rural setting, with relocatable classrooms and few resources, has transformed into a thriving educational institution with nearly 2,000 students and state-of-the-art facilities.

Our Beginnings

Founded in 1975 under the leadership of our first principal, Ian Sage, Long Bay College welcomed only Third Form students in its inaugural year. The early years were marked by perseverance, as teachers worked with limited equipment and parents played a crucial role in fundraising to establish the school. The college grounds were stark, without trees or shade, and the elements were unforgiving. Despite these challenges, the collective spirit of staff, students, and the community laid the foundation for the outstanding school we have today.

How Far We’ve Come

Today, Long Bay College is a dynamic learning environment with modern classrooms, exceptional sports facilities, and a vibrant arts and culture scene. Our students benefit from an outstanding education, preparing them for a future of success. As we reflect on our journey, we take pride in how much the school has grown and the impact it has had on thousands of students over the past five decades.

50th Anniversary Celebrations

To honour this milestone, we will be celebrating throughout 2025 with a series of exciting events:

📅 Friday 13 June – Alumni “Beat the Teachers” Quiz Night
Get a team together and take on your former teachers in a night of fun, trivia, and friendly rivalry. Ticket go on sale soon!

⚽ Saturday 14 June – Home Turf Challenge @ LBC
Enjoy a day of spirited sports fixtures all held at LBC where students battle it out against local rival colleges in Rugby, Football, Netball and Basketball. Spectators welcome.

🏉 Thursday 18 & Friday 19 September – Alumni Sports Day
A College favourite — past students return to take on current premier teams in competitive and spirited matches. Register here: www.longbaycollege.com/alumni_sports

🎭 Friday 24 October – Alumni Performing Arts Production
Join us for a special evening showcasing the incredible talents of our alumni in a one-off 50th anniversary stage performance.

🎓 Saturday 25 October – 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner
7:00 PM, North Shore Golf Club
Reconnect with classmates and staff at this formal evening of celebration, reflection, and reconnection.
🎟️ Tickets available at: www.longbaycollege.com/tickets

☕ Sunday 26 October – Morning After Brunch
Long Bay Surf Club
Ease into Sunday with a relaxed brunch by the beach. A chance to debrief from the Gala Dinner, share a few final laughs, and say farewell to those who’ve travelled from near and far for the 50th.

🎉 Saturday 22 November – Long Bay Live
12pm-4pm, Long Bay College Sports Field
Celebrate with the entire community at our biggest public event of the year!
Live music, food trucks, market stalls, entertainment and more — a family-friendly day not to be missed.

Join the Celebration!

We invite all alumni, past and present staff, and the wider community to be part of our 50th Anniversary celebrations. Whether you want to attend an event, reconnect with old friends, or share your memories, this is a time to reflect on our school’s incredible journey and look ahead to the future.

Let’s come together to celebrate 50 years of Long Bay College – a legacy built by our students, staff, and community!

Capturing History: LBC50 Formation Photo Unites the College Community

To mark a milestone 50 years in the making, Long Bay College recently brought together its entire student and staff community for a truly unforgettable moment — forming a giant “LBC 50” on the school field.

This powerful image symbolises more than just a celebration of the College’s golden anniversary. It represents unity, pride, and a shared history that connects generations of students and teachers. With nearly 2,000 people involved, careful coordination was key — and special thanks go to a group of talented maths students who calculated the precise measurements needed to bring the formation to life. The result was a once-in-a-lifetime memory for our current students and an iconic photo that will become part of Long Bay College history.

As we honour five decades of education, connection, and community spirit, we’re excited to invite alumni, past staff, and the wider LBC whānau to join us at a series of events throughout 2025 celebrating this extraordinary milestone.

WIN a Ford Mustang GT Weekend Experience!

As part of Long Bay College’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, you have the chance to win the use of a Ford Mustang GT for the weekend, generously sponsored by North Harbour Ford!

🎟️ Tickets just $5 each or 5 for $20
All proceeds go directly towards enhancing sporting opportunities, resources, and experiences for Long Bay College student athletes.

🗓️ The draw will take place during the Gala Dinner on Saturday, 25th October 2025 at the North Shore Golf Club, Albany. The winner will be drawn at random in front of guests at approximately 9.30pm. You do not need to be present to win — all entries will be included, and the winner will be contacted directly.

🏆 Prize valued at approx. $1,500
Each ticket has a unique reference number and must include your full name and mobile number. 500 tickets available for sale.

Terms and Conditions:

Driver must hold a Full New Zealand Driver’s Licence
Driver must be 25 years of age or older
Vehicle use is limited to NZ public roads only (no off-road or racetrack use)
Winner must sign a test drive agreement provided by North Harbour Ford (for insurance purposes)

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity — support a great cause and be in to win a Mustang weekend adventure!

👉 Buy your tickets at one of the events 50th Anniversary events listed on this page or on select days at LBC sports office. Dates TBC.

The LBC 50th Anniversary Art Challenge – Entries have now CLOSED winner announced below!

Long Bay College is turning 50! To celebrate this milestone, we invited all students to take part in our exciting 50th Anniversary Art Competition. This was students chance to showcase thier creativity and capture the essence of our school, its values, and its vibrant community.

The Challenge

Create an original artwork that reflects:
✅ The core values of Long Bay College – Care, Respect, Creativity, and Community
✅ The location of our school and its beautiful surroundings or
✅ The spirit of school life and what LBC means to you

Artwork could be in any medium – painting, digital art, photography, or any other form of visual creativity!

🏆The Winning Artwork

Georgina O’Connell
Winner of the 50^th Anniversary LBC Art Competition

As part of Long Bay College’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, students were invited to reflect on the school’s journey through art. Year 10 student Georgina O’Connell was selected as the overall winner of the competition for her thoughtful and visually striking work. Her winning piece, presented in three variations, captures the spirit of community, growth, and tradition that has defined Long Bay College over the past five decades. Below, Georgina shares the inspiration behind her design.

“This concept was designed to showcase the school’s development and growth over the past 50 years. Recently there has been positive focus in the development of house competition and team spirit, leading me to focus on the house birds and the role that they play in our community.

Birds are born as flightless creatures that are solely dependent on their parent for survival, however as the grow and change they learn to soar above the clouds and lead their own adventures, reflecting the experiences and development of students in our community focused school.

I created these custom illustrations of our house birds in an ‘origami like’ style to signify how we are folding together all generations of Long Bay College students and faculty to create an everlasting community, celebrating 50 years and a bright future.”

 Georgina O’Connell