Marcus Oldham College welcomed Hon Adam Giles, CEO of Hancock Agriculture, on 19 October 2025 to officially open Nicholas Hancock House on behalf of Mrs Gina Rinehart AO, Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting.
In the quadrangle, with the new 45-bed student accommodation as his backdrop, Mr Giles told more than 300 guests that he was proud to represent Mrs Rinehart, who was unable to attend. In her stead, he unveiled the plaque naming the building Nicholas Hancock House, in honour of her family’s proud agricultural heritage.
The celebration capped an ambitious College Foundation program, launched in August 2023, toraise $11.3 million and deliver the building in time for the 2025 academic year. This achievement was made possible by extraordinary donor support from industry, philanthropy, alumni and the wider Marcus community, with major donor Mrs Rinehart contributing $2 million.
Donors who supported the capital campaign joined the College community to celebrate what their generosity has delivered for students.
Mr Giles told guests that Mrs Rinehart is proud to support the agricultural industry.
“It personally brings both Mrs Rinehart and me great joy visiting the stations we run and meeting young people we employ, passionate about farming, with many having taken a punt by travelling across the country to work on one of our stations.
“All of this is because our Chair has never forgotten where she’s come from. Growing up on Mulga, then Hamersley, she has a deep connection to the pastoral industry and farming and wants to see the sector thrive into the future,” Mr Giles said.
Nicholas Hancock House is named in honour of both sides of Mrs Rinehart’s family—Nicholas, from her mother’s side, and Hancock, from her father’s side—both pioneering agricultural families.
College Council Chairman Rob McGavin thanked Mrs Rinehart for her generous support, and every donor who contributed to Nicholas Hancock House.
“For more than a decade, the College could not accommodate every student on campus and completing this project changes that.
“We are so grateful to everyone who contributed to this student building, that restores the full live and learn together experience that is so important at Marcus,” he said.
We invite you to watch the highlights and memorable moments from the opening of Nicholas Hancock House in the video below.