- Minister for Education
Inner city families are a step closer to having an exciting new local school, with designs for the new Fishermans Bend Secondary School released today by the Andrews Labor Government.
Member for Albert Park Martin Foley released designs for the school and announced early site works are getting underway at the school site on Graham Street, Port Melbourne.
The school will cater for up to 1,100 students and will open in 2022. The Labor Government invested $3.8 million in the Victorian Budget 2018/19 for planning works, with funding for construction in this year’s Budget.
Fishermans Bend Secondary School, currently known by an interim name, is one of a growing number of vertical government schools being rolled out in Victoria. The four-storey school’s design references the Spirit of Tasmania ferry, with layers of classrooms that resemble the levels of a ship.
The school’s architecture and materials honour the area’s unique identity – including its proximity to the ocean, local maritime and industrial history – through references to shipping container yards and sand formations present in the area prior to European settlement.
The school will have a strong focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM). Once completed, it will include a high-tech robotics workshop, digital technology and fabrication lab, which will expose students to career pathways that align with Fishermans Bend’s proposed design, engineering and manufacturing precinct.
The building’s sustainable design initiatives will double as learning tools for students. Early site works to prepare for construction are getting underway this month and include geotechnical investigations, demolition, site clearing, environmental testing and remediation works.
This school is one of seven vertical schools to be rolled out by the Labor Government since 2017. Others include South Melbourne Primary School, Richmond High School, Prahran High School, Docklands Primary School, and new campuses for McKinnon Secondary College and on the Fitzroy Gasworks site.
Under the Labor Government’s school building boom, 100 new schools will open by 2026, ensuring every child can access a great local school and get a great start in life.
The Labor Government has invested $5.6 billion to deliver new schools, more than 1,400 school upgrades, and support over 5,000 construction jobs for Victorians.
As stated by Minister for Education James Merlino
“The design of this school pays homage to the area’s maritime history. It will have world class facilities to set students up for their future lives and jobs.”
As stated by Member for Albert Park Martin Foley
“We are getting on with our election commitment to deliver a great new secondary school for families in Fishermans Bend. This school is one of seven vertical schools to be rolled out by the Andrews Labor Government.”
