Victorian School Building Authority

Last updated

Victorian School Building Authority
Company type Government agency
FoundedAugust 2016
Headquarters33 St Andrews Place,
Melbourne
,
Australia
Key people
Tom Kirkland (CEO) [1]
Parent Department of Education (Victoria)
Website www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au

The Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) is a division of the Victorian Department of Education which is responsible for the construction of new government schools and infrastructure improvements of existing schools. [2] It was established by the Andrews Government as part of the 2016 Victorian Budget. [3]

Contents

Between 2017 and 2025, the Authority opened 102 new schools in the state and plans to open an additional 19 by 2026. [2]

A number of the VSBA's new schools are so-called "vertical schools" on inner-city sites, a new concept in Victoria. [4]

History

During the 2014 Victorian state election, the Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews promised $1.3 billion for new schools and school upgrades. [5] The School Building Authority was established as part of the 2016 state budget with $1.1 billion allocated for school infrastructure. [6] This included $42 million to build and reopen Richmond High School, a school that was controversially closed 22 years earlier by the government of Jeff Kennett. [6] [7] The huge projects for school construction came as a result and recommendation of an analysis published by the Grattan Institute. They found that due to the state's rapid population growth, Victorian schools would need to absorb an extra 190,000 students between 2016 and 2026, requiring 7,200 new teachers and 140 to 220 new schools to be built. [8] In 2017, Education Minister James Merlino said the state needed to absorb an additional 90,000 students over the next five years. [9]

The removal of trees for the construction of Beaumaris Secondary College caused controversy in 2016. [10]

In the lead-up to the 2018 state election, Andrews announced the Authority would build 100 new schools over the next eight years in order to meet Melbourne's population growth, with 45 schools to be built over the next term of government. [11] [12] The schools would mainly be built in the city's growing outer suburbs at an additional cost of $850 million. [11]

In July 2022, the state government released tenders for eleven new schools. [13] In October 2022 during the 2022 state election, Andrews announced funding for a further 25 new state schools that would be built in Victoria by 2026, with 90 schools upgraded or expanded, at a cost of $1.6 billion. [14] This was to meet the government's commitment to build 100 new schools by 2026. [14]

Architecture

The new South Melbourne Primary School, Victoria's first "vertical" primary school, 2018. South Melbourne Primary School (26870006508).jpg
The new South Melbourne Primary School, Victoria's first "vertical" primary school, 2018.
Detail of South Melbourne Primary School, 2018. South Melbourne Primary School Corner detail (40030969714).jpg
Detail of South Melbourne Primary School, 2018.

The scale of the school infrastructure program led the VSBA in 2017 to seek architects for its new schools, and for new permanent, modular classrooms for existing schools. [15] [16] A number of these classrooms were to replace existing buildings that contained asbestos. [16] The Authority was tasked with replacing 100 of these buildings with prefabricated classrooms. [16]

At certain inner-city locations, space was constrained, and the authority embarked on building "vertical school" campuses, a first for Melbourne. [9] Richmond High School became the state's first vertical high school while South Melbourne Primary School was heralded as the state's first vertical primary school. [9] Designed by Hayball, the 525 student South Melbourne Primary opened in 2018, serving the nearby rapidly growing inner-city areas of Southbank and Fisherman's Bend. [17] The six-story campus sits on a half-acre site on Ferrars Street, adjacent to a new park built on land purchased by the state government and the City of Port Phillip in 2017. [18] The primary school would have no formal classrooms and instead would feature a combination of indoor and outdoor spaces and a central staircase for circulation, with the architect saying it represented a new approach to density for Melbourne. [19] The project was named Future Project of the Year at the 2016 World Architecture Festival in Berlin. [20]

Other inner-city schools like Prahran High School, which opened in 2019, were built as vertical schools. [21] The 650-student school is four storeys tall and is designed by Gray Puksand. [21] [22] COX Architecture and McGregor Coxall designed the three-story campus for Docklands Primary School in the CBD-adjacent Docklands precinct. [23]

Childcare centres

In 2022, the Andrews Government announced that the VSBA would build 50 childcare centres across Victoria. [24] [25] Part of a major $9 billion expansion of state provision of childcare, the first four centres were planned to open by 2025 and are being colocated with existing primary or secondary schools. [26] [27]

List of new VSBA schools

School [28] Suburb or townYearsStatusOpened
Aintree North Primary School (interim name)AintreeP–6Planning2027 (planned)
Aintree Primary SchoolAintreeP–6Finished2021
Aitken Hill Primary SchoolCraigieburnP–6Finished2019
Armstrong Creek SchoolArmstrong CreekP–12Finished2018
Ashley Park Primary SchoolDoreenP–6Finished2019
Balambalam Primary SchoolClyde NorthP–6Under construction2026 (planned)
Bannockburn P–12 CollegeBannockburnP–12Finished2018
Banum Warrik Primary SchoolKalkalloP–6Finished2024
Barayip Primary SchoolTarneitP–6Finished2025
Barrawang Primary SchoolWollert WestP–6Finished2023
Barton Primary SchoolCranbourne WestP–6Finished2017
Bass Coast College – San Remo CampusSan Remo7–9Finished2022
Beaumaris Secondary CollegeBeaumaris7–12Finished2018
Bemin Secondary CollegeTruganina7–12Finished2024
Beveridge Primary School – New CampusBeveridgeP–6Finished2020
Binap Primary SchoolBrookfieldP–6Finished2024
Birranga CollegeClyde North7–12Under construction2026 (planned)
Biyala Primary SchoolArmstrong CreekP–6Under construction2026 (planned)
Botanic Ridge Primary SchoolBotanic RidgeP–6Finished2020
Bridgewood Primary SchoolOfficerP–6Finished2018
Brinbeal Secondary CollegeTarneit7–12Finished2024
Burnside Primary SchoolBurnsideP–6Finished2019
Casey Fields Primary SchoolCranbourne EastP–6Finished2020
Clyde Creek Primary SchoolClydeP–6Finished2022
Clyde Secondary CollegeClyde7–12Finished2022
Cranbourne West Secondary CollegeCranbourne West7–12Finished2021
Davis Creek Primary SchoolTarneitP–6Finished2020
Deanside Primary SchoolDeansideP–6Finished2022
Dharra SchoolAintreeFinished2024
Docklands Primary SchoolDocklandsP–6Finished2021
Dohertys Creek P–9 CollegeTruganinaP–9Finished2019
Donnybrook Primary SchoolDonnybrookP–6Finished2023
Edenbrook Secondary CollegePakenham7–12Finished2021
Edgars Creek Primary SchoolWollertP–6Finished2021
Edgars Creek Secondary CollegeWollert7–12Finished2018
Elevation Secondary CollegeCraigieburn7–12Finished2020
Endeavour Hills Specialist SchoolEndeavour HillsFinished2022
Eynesbury Primary SchoolEynesburyP–6Finished2021
Featherbrook P–9 CollegePoint CookP–9Finished2017
Footscray High School – New Junior CampusFootscray7–9Finished2021
Gaayip–Yagila Primary SchoolMicklehamP–6Finished2021
Gamadji Primary SchoolCraigieburnP–6Under construction2026 (planned)
Garrang Wilam Primary SchoolTruganinaP–6Finished2021
Gilgai Plains Primary SchoolKalkalloP–6Finished2022
Grayling Primary SchoolClyde NorthP–6Finished2020
Greater Shepperton Secondary CollegeShepperton7–12Finished2022
Greenvale Secondary CollegeGreenvale7–12Finished2022
Hamlyn Views SchoolHamlyn HeightsFinished2018
Harvest Home Primary SchoolEppingP–6Finished2017
Homestead Senior Secondary CollegePoint Cook10–12Finished2020
John Henry Primary SchoolPakenhamP–6Finished2017
Kala Primary SchoolCranbourne NorthP–6Under construction2026 (planned)
Karwan Primary SchoolTarneitP–6Finished2023
Keelonith Primary SchoolGreenvaleP–6Finished2021
Kerribana Primary SchoolLenevaP–6Under construction2026 (planned)
Keysborough Gardens Primary SchoolKeysboroughP–6Finished2020
Kolere CollegeCobblebank7–12Under construction2026 (planned)
Kulap Primary SchoolClydeP–6Under construction2026 (planned)
Kurmile Primary SchoolOfficerP–6Finished2024
Kurrun Primary SchoolOfficerP–6Finished2023
Kuyim Primary SchoolPakenhamP–6Finished2025
Laa Yulta Primary SchoolMambourinP–6Finished2024
Lollypop Creek Primary SchoolWerribeeP–6Finished2023
Lucas Primary SchoolLucasP–6Finished2020
Marra SchoolKalkalloUnder construction2026 (planned)
McKinnon Secondary College – East CampusMcKinnon7–12Finished2022
Mernda Central P–12 CollegeMerndaP–12Finished2017
Mernda Park Primary SchoolMerndaP–6Finished2017
Mickleham Secondary CollegeMickleham7–12Finished2023
Mindalk Primary SchoolTruganinaP–6Under construction2026 (planned)
Mirniyan Primary SchoolClyde NorthP–6Finished2025
Mirripoa Primary SchoolDuneedP–6Finished2020
Monash Children's Hospital SchoolClaytonFinished2017
Morwell Central Primary SchoolMorwellP–6Finished2018
Murrum Primary SchoolWeir ViewsP–6Under construction2026 (planned)
Muyan Primary SchoolWallanP–6Under construction2026 (planned)
Narrarrang Primary SchoolPort MelbourneP–6Under construction2026 (planned)
Nearnung Primary SchoolTarneitP–6Finished2023
Newbury Primary SchoolCraigieburnP–6Finished2017
Nganboo Borron SchoolWerribeeFinished2024
Ngarri Primary SchoolManor LakesP–6Finished2023
Ngayuk CollegeKalkallo7–12Under construction2026 (planned)
Ngurraga SchoolPoint CookUnder construction2026 (planned)
North Melbourne Primary School – New CampusNorth MelbourneP–6Finished2023
Officer Brunt Road Specialist School (interim name)OfficerPlanning2027 (planned)
Orchard Park Primary SchoolOfficerP–6Finished2021
Oberon High SchoolArmstong Creek7–12Finished2021
Pakenham Primary SchoolPakenhamP–6Finished2019
Port Melbourne Secondary CollegePort Melbourne7–12Finished2022
Prahran High SchoolWindsor7–12Finished2019
Preston High SchoolPreston7–12Finished2019
Quarters Primary SchoolCranbourne WestP–6Finished2023
Ramlegh Park Primary SchoolClyde NorthP–6Finished2021
Richmond High SchoolRichmond7–12Finished2018
Riverbend Primary SchoolWyndham ValeP–6Finished2021
Riverwalk Primary SchoolWerribeeP–6Finished2020
Saltwater P–9 CollegePoint CookP–9Finished2019
South Melbourne Park Primary SchoolSouth Albert ParkP–6Finished2019
South Melbourne Primary SchoolSouthbankP–6Finished2018
Springside West Secondary CollegeFraser Rise7–12Finished2018
Strathtulloh Primary SchoolStrathtullohP–6Finished2022
Tarneit Rise Primary SchoolTarneitP–6Finished2018
Tarneit Senior CollegeTarneit10–12Finished2018
Thornhill Park Primary SchoolThornhill ParkP–6Finished2023
Topirum Primary SchoolClyde NorthP–6Finished2024
Torquay Coast Primary SchoolTorquayP–6Finished2018
Tulliallan Primary SchoolCranbourne NorthP–6Finished2017
Turrun Primary SchoolClyde NorthP–6Finished2025
Umarkoo Primary SchoolWollertP–6Under construction2026 (planned)
Walcom Ngarrwa Secondary CollegeWerribee7–12Finished2024
Wangaratta District Specialist School – New Benalla CampusClyde NorthFinished2024
Warreen Primary SchoolTruganinaP–6Finished2024
Wayi SchoolCraigieburnFinished2023
Wilandra Rise Primary SchoolClyde NorthP–6Finished2017
Willowbank Primary SchoolGisborneP–6Finished2022
Wimba Primary SchoolTarneitP–6Finished2024
Wirrigirri Primary SchoolWollertP–6Finished2025
Wiyal Primary SchoolFraser RiseP–6Under construction2026 (planned)
Wollert Primary SchoolWollertP–6Finished2022
Wollert Secondary CollegeWollert East7–12Finished2023
Wulerrp Secondary CollegeClyde North7–12Finished2025
Yarrabing Secondary SchoolAintree7–12Finished2024
Yirrama Primary SchoolCharlemontP–6Under construction2026 (planned)
Yubup Primary SchoolMicklehamP–6Finished2024
Yurran P–9 CollegePoint CookP–9Under construction2026 (planned)

References

  1. ↑ "Victorian Government Directory".
  2. 1 2 "About us". Victorian School Building Authority. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  3. ↑ Anderson, Stephanie (8 August 2016). "Sod turned on Melbourne's first 'vertical' public school". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  4. ↑ Cook, Henrietta (3 March 2017). "Going high on High Street, Prahran with $25m vertical school to hit the heights". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  5. ↑ Alcorn, Gay (26 October 2014). "Victorian election: Labor promises $1.3bn in education funding". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  6. 1 2 Willingham, Richard (26 April 2016). "Victorian state budget 2016: Labor pledges $1.1 billion education spending blitz". The Age. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  7. ↑ Cook, Jewel Topsfield and Henrietta (4 August 2014). "Labor promises new high school for Richmond". The Age. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  8. ↑ Cook, Henrietta (17 January 2016). "Schools shortage crisis hits Victoria". The Age. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 Cook, Henrietta (21 February 2017). "Richmond's $43m, really high school gets off the ground, aims to be open by 2018". The Age. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  10. ↑ Spooner, Rania (22 October 2016). "Fight to save hundreds of trees at future Beaumaris Secondary College site". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  11. 1 2 Cook, Adam Carey, Henrietta (7 November 2018). "Labor promises 100 new schools in $850m election pledge". The Age. Retrieved 23 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ Johnston, Matthew (7 November 2018). "Labor pledges 100 new schools for Victoria". Herald Sun.
  13. ↑ Nicholson, Ralph (21 July 2022). "Next Step Taken in $1.8bn Schools Infrastructure Plan". The Urban Developer. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  14. 1 2 Carey, Adam (24 October 2022). "Labor makes $1.6b pledge to build and upgrade schools across the state". The Age. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  15. ↑ ArchitectureAU, Editorial (30 March 2017). "Victorian government to court architects for school building boom". Architecture Australia.
  16. 1 2 3 Editorial, ArchitectureAU (1 May 2018). "Architects invited to join Victoria's prefab schools blitz". Architecture Australia.
  17. ↑ Hunn, Patrick (6 March 2018). "Victoria's first vertical school rings in the academic year". Architecture Australia.
  18. ↑ Bend, Fishermans (10 August 2018). "Work begins on new park for Fishermans Bend". Fishermans Bend. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  19. ↑ "South Melbourne Primary School will feature no formal classrooms says architect Ann Lau". Dezeen. 22 December 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  20. ↑ ArchitectureAU, Editorial (22 November 2016). "Australian project tops the world at WAF". Architecture Australia.
  21. 1 2 Cheng, Linda (7 March 2017). "New Melbourne vertical school unveiled". Architecture Australia.
  22. ↑ "Prahran High School | Victorian School Building Authority". www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  23. ↑ Sier, Kirsty (22 November 2017). ""Nourishing, balanced and sustainable": Masterplan revealed for Docklands Primary School". Architecture & Design. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  24. ↑ Smethurst, Annika (15 June 2022). "Kindergarten to get a $9b overhaul, with more places and longer hours". The Age. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  25. ↑ Lucas, Freya (20 November 2022). "Vic Government to build 50 low-cost ECEC services if re-elected: locations announced". The Sector. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  26. ↑ "50 childcare centres for Victoria | Victorian School Building Authority". www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  27. ↑ "We'll open 50 new childcare centres". Dan Andrews. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  28. ↑ "New schools". www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
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