North Melbourne Primary School’s new Molesworth St campus opens 

North Melbourne Primary School has celebrated the grand opening of its much-anticipated new Molesworth St campus and kindergarten facility, in what marks a big win for the community.

The five-storey Prep-Grade 2 campus boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, spaces for art and food technology, breakout rooms, and large indoor and outdoor play spaces.

The $36.12 million state government-funded campus also includes 18 general purpose classrooms, two mini libraries plus one full-size library, reading areas, specialist teaching spaces, a canteen, and staff workspace. 

A separate fifth level is dedicated to kindergarten students and consists of custom-built, age-appropriate areas, as well as a sandpit and a cubby.  

Netball courts and a basketball court including spectator seating are also keys aspects of the campus, while a performance and gathering space is set to inspire the next generation of musicians and thespians.

In celebrating the opening, Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins joined the Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt, as well as the wider school community for a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the occasion, after the new campus officially opened its doors on May 25.

The school’s principal, Sarah Nightingale, expressed her excitement for the new campus, which she said would accommodate the growing community of families in the area. 

“We are now focused on getting to know our new environment and further developing our routines before we look at ways we can integrate our two campuses, so all of our North Melbourne Primary School students can enjoy everything we have to offer at our two campuses,” she said.

“The Grade 3 to 6 students at the Errol St campus are enjoying the extra space they now have for break times, and as a school, we will be drawing on the students’ ideas as to how we can best utilise the extra spaces for additional learning opportunities.”

It’s been a long time coming and we are excited to see the many opportunities this campus will bring to North Melbourne Primary School.

Ms Hutchins said the new campus “further supports the community’s needs, ensuring local students now and in the future have access to a high-quality education, close to home”.

The City of Melbourne’s education and innovation portfolio lead, Cr Davydd Griffiths, congratulated the school on the new campus, saying it was an “exciting development for North Melbourne and one that council very much welcomes”.

“We know that education is one of the big reasons that people move to Melbourne and so every new institution like this is something that we welcome,” he said. “As more and more and people move into the inner city, we needed new facilities and it’s fantastic that the state government is investing so locals can have access to such high-quality education.”

The Victorian School Building Authority worked with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation on the campus design, which includes artwork by Ash Firebrace. 

Funding for the on-site kindergarten was provided as part of the $283 million investment in the Victorian 2019-20 Budget for kindergarten infrastructure.

Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece said, “This a wonderful new asset, which will serve the children and families of North Melbourne well for decades to come.” •