The main building in the college, Braemar House, dates from the late nineteenth century and is believed to be the largest plywood structure in the Southern Hemisphere.

Braemar House is a substantial two-storey timber mansion on brick and stone foundations with high pitched roofs, intricate gables and asymmetric features, which was constructed in 1889–90 to a design by Italian-born architect Louis Boldini.

The location of Braemar House in the Mount Macedon area which was noted for its bracing mountain air made it attractive to those who believed that city life was not conducive to good health and that regular vacations in a healthy environment would restore well being.

Access to rail transport and proximity to recreational activities such as walking and climbing in picturesque locations such as nearby Hanging Rock made Woodend a suitable place for such a venture.

The statewide Ash Wednesday Bushfires raged across Victoria – scorching 295 km2 of bushland, taking 7 lives and destroying 628 buildings in the Macedon Ranges area alone.

Despite the valiant efforts of local firefighters and volunteers, the school did lose its historic stables and grandstand – now the site of a gymnasium and theatre building.