Two years after its Donnybrook campus opened, the sod has been turned for Hume Anglican Grammar’s new major expansion, increasing its teaching capacity from 370 primary age students to 500.
The expansion, expected to be completed in early 2022, will go towards an upper primary learning hub for years five and six, adding six new modern classrooms, a primary resource centre, staff spaces, as well as a carpark extension, a synthetic soccer field, playgrounds and surrounding landscaping.
The rattling of excavators on the eight-acre site was the backdrop to the ceremony, with students, teachers, board chairman Richard St John, and Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green gathering to break ground.
“This expansion is part of the school building boom that is happening right across Victoria,” Ms Green said.
“Upgrading Hume Anglican Grammar, Donnybrook campus will give local students access to great classrooms and facilities, while keeping local tradies in work.
”The $5 million for the works come from the State Government’s Non-Government Schools Capital Fund, part of the government’s investment of more than $9 billion in more than 1600 school upgrades over the past five years.
The funding is aimed to help independent schools in growth areas meet increasing enrolment demand. It was fast-tracked in October 2020 to support Victoria’s economic recovery after COVID-19 restrictions were eased.
A total of 56 independent schools received funding last year, helping create close to 800 construction jobs.
Mr St John said it would be ‘the most significant development’ to the campus since 2019.
“We see this grant as an endorsement of what we are doing at Hume Anglican Grammar,” he said.“With this vote of confidence I assure that the grant will be put to good use.”
