It caters to students completing their final two years of secondary education, and offers a wide range of curriculum choices.

[1] Construction of Hawker College, which was undertaken at a cost of $3.3 million by Jennings Industries Ltd, began in January 1973 and was completed in December 1975.

[2] The college was formed shortly after the ACT Government developed its own education system—the new system meant that public high schools would only teach from grade 7 to 10, and that grades 11 and 12 would be completed at a separate college.

Hawker was established and enrolled its first students in 1976 and the school's first Year 12 Certificates were presented in December 1977.

The campus is in close proximity to public ovals and local shops Faculties of the college include: library, visual and performing arts studio, professional theatre, media facilities, information technology facilities, gymnasium, fully equipped training restaurant and kitchen, training coffee shop, sports oval, tennis courts, modern laboratories and science facilities, design drawing facilities, fully equipped wood area for furniture and construction and cafeteria.