This centre started out as the old Selborne Primary school hall. When in the early seventies Selborne Primary moved to its present location, the old building including the hall was taken over by the Cape Province and used as an Administration block. After a long battle with the Province, Selborne College acquired the old Selborne Primary buildings for their own use. On the 12th of April 1986 the new Selborne College Gymnasium, thanks to the generosity of Old Selbornian Allan Gray, was officially opened by Old Selbornian, Ian Scheckter. The architect and contractor were Old Selbornians, Bruce Webber and Brian Page respectively. In the mid 1990's gymnastics was done away with as a school subject and the hall lost its usefulness.
It was at this time that the Old Selbornian Association was looking for a venue to house the school museum. It was suggested that this hall be turned into an all purpose centre with the museum on the first floor. For a number of years donations from reunions, amongst others, were put into a trust until sufficient funds were raised to build the centre. When Neil Emslie died in 2004 an Old Selbornian donated a substantial amount towards the completion of the centre with the provider that it be named after Neil Emslie.
