Walcom Ngarrwa Secondary College is a new learning facility in Melbourne’s south-west, and formed part of the VSBA New Schools 2024 bundle, delivering five schools across three sites.

The school has been purposefully designed to adapt and flex to meet the evolving needs of contemporary learners, teachers and pedagogies.

Four key education principles guided the design decisions at all planning levels: collaboration, building connections, authentic learning experiences, and adaptability. The Learning Neighbourhood building is complemented by the Design, Arts and Technology building providing structured learning spaces for practical activities and theory and a range of collaborative spaces that enable cross-disciplinary connections and display of student work. The school Community Hub building has additional resource-intensive learning spaces for media studies and performing arts, together with a generous gallery foyer and sports hall suitable for large gatherings and performances.

Using biophilic design, the school is intrinsically connected to nature, with the landscape a vital element of the education experience. Outdoor areas facilitate indoor-outdoor teaching and learning practices, play, and social interaction whilst providing green views from indoors. Flora and fauna selections that acknowledge associations with First Nations peoples are entwined in the design.

Walcom Ngarrwa Secondary College is also co-located with Specialist School, Nganboo Borron School. Whilst two separate schools, each has been developed to share a common entry distinguished with a landscaped forecourt that unites each school’s individual Administration Resource Centre. This provides a sense of unity within the local community for the two schools, sharing a beautiful landscape setting.

Collaboration credits – DesignInc
Photography credits – Dianna Snape