Of course, in a rapidly growing centre such as Bathurst, there are also large numbers who come to Stannies without previous associations with the school. The most famous and impressive of Edward Gell's buildings in Bathurst is St Stanislaus' College. Edward Gell, a Yorkshireman, was a pupil of the celebrated Pugin and his creation is best described as French Gothic Revival. In 1872 the foundation stone for the present building was laid and in 1873 construction of the central block was begun to Gell's design. The three storeyed building, French Gothic Revival in style, is of red brick trimmed with a diamond pattern of black bricks on the walls and above the windows.
Corrugated iron covers the roof trimmed with scalloped barge boards.
The three towers of the main building are prominent landmarks across the city. The position of the main tower, together with the Chapel extensions made in 1954, differ from the original Gell drawings, but the effect is to better integrate the building with its fine site. More recent additions have respected the style of the earlier block although differing in detail, and the facade gives a unified impression. St Stanislaus' is of great importance as a landscape feature on the city's southern skyline and is part of the National Estate. Water was pumped from a well to tanks in the towers and then reticulated.