2 days Ago By Alex Crowe
Melbourne students’ learning is increasingly going sky-high, but experts say the key to making vertical schools work is finding a way for them to still connect with nature. Thousands of Victorian students are now enrolled across the nine high-rise public schools the Victorian government has built in the past six years. South Melbourne Primary School principal Noel Creece and students (from left) Shanaya, Josh, Vivian and George.
Credit: Arsineh Houspian Labor’s bid to densify Melbourne means more modern schools are planned for the city, starting in Fishermans Bend , which will open its version in 2026. Infrastructure Victoria projects up to 104 new schools will be required by 2036 to match the state’s population growth . It has recommended the government fund and buy land for 35 to 60 new schools by 2030.
From the outside, South Melbourne Primary School, one of Melbourne’s vertical schools, looks more like a modern apartment block than the sprawling campus dotted with timber and portable classrooms most of us are familiar with. “Every kid in Victoria loves a big, open, wide field to go kick the ball,” principal Noel Creece said. “But it’s not our reality.
” South Melbourne Primary School was Victoria’s first vertical state school. “It doesn’t make sense to build schools where they’re not connected to public transport and not where young families are moving and want to live ..
. which is in the city.” South Melbourne was the first multi-level public primary school to open in Victoria six years ago.
Residents campaigned for years to fill a gap left by the closure of nearby schools during the Kennett government’s austerity program ..
