Fitzroy High School

Fitzroy High School is a school catering for Years 7 to 12 as of 2007, located in Falconer Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia. The school was first opened in 1915, but closed in 1992. After a long community campaign, it re-opened in 2004.

The Falconer Street School, as it was first known, opened for the 1915 school year, admitting students from Grades 5 to 8. During the 1920s, it was renamed the Fitzroy Central School. In 1957, it received its current name, and was allowed to take students up to Year 12. In 1988, it merged with Exhibition High School, but retained its original site.

After coming to power in 1992, then-Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett embarked on an array of budget cuts in an attempt to restore the state's flagging finances. As a result, the decision was made to close a significant number of schools across the state. Fitzroy High was one of the first to be earmarked for closure, and it shut down at the end of the 1992 school year.

After its closure, the local community feared that the site, which had been public land ever since 1876, would be sold for development. Community groups decided to occupy the site, in an attempt to prevent its sale, and in a widely publicised campaign, maintained a 24-hour vigil for fourteen months. People manned the site in four-hour shifts, or slept overnight in the principal's office or administration wing.

In 1993, the state government finally struck a deal with the local community, and the Kangan Batman TAFE was allowed to use the site. They operated a campus at the site until 1998, when budgetary requirements forced it to close. The following year, they handed the site back to the Education Department. Around the same time, Jeff Kennett lost power, and was replaced by Steve Bracks, who was more supportive of their cause.

The site lay dormant for two years, until then-Education Minister Mary Delahunty approved plans to re-open the school for Years 7 to 10 in 2001. The site was significantly renovated, involving the construction of a new science and technology wing, a library and a food technology division.

During 2002, the school was used as a central filming location for the children's series "Short Cuts".

On January 28, 2004, the school re-opened, with 135 students in Years 7 and 8. It expanded to Years 9 and 10 in the 2005 school year, and plans were announced in December 2005 to begin classes for Years 11 and 12 in 2007 in conjunction with another Melbourne school, Collingwood College. A building program, comprising a [http://www.architectureaustralia.com/aa/aaissue.php?issueid=200709&article=15&typeon=3 unique design] to facilitate the school's learning philosophy, has commenced in late 2007 to increase accommodation up to 600 students in years 7-12.

Notable alumni include: Film-maker Nadia Tass. Architect/Developer Nonda Katsalidis. Actor George Spartels. Author Tom Patsinos, prominent businessman the late Frank Rudolph and Underworld figure Mario Condello. Writer Helen Garner, former member of parliament Caroline Hogg, current Lord Mayor of Melbourne John So, Painter John Brack and past director of the National Gallery of Australia James Mollison previously taught at the school.

External links

* [http://www.fitzroyhs.vic.edu.au Fitzroy High School]
* [http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/bc348d5912436a9cca256cfc0082d800/1a5d14c286d67428ca256e2a0079a998!OpenDocument Education Minister's media release]
* [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/28/1075088091383.html?from=storyrhs The Age: report of opening]