Together with Development Victoria, Creative Victoria, and Working Heritage, Fieldwork is redeveloping the Old Kyneton Primary School into a mixed-use creative and community precinct.

Built on the lands of the Taungurung, the original bluestone school building was erected in 1855 and functioned as a school until 2017 and is currently vacant. Expanding on the work of Winwood McKenzie, who developed the strategic masterplan for the site, the initial stage of the project will focus on creating a vibrant creative and community precinct for the region by ensuring the buildings can be safely occupied. The existing buildings will be transformed to a gallery, along with other multi-purpose spaces that may be used for meeting and studio areas, offices, hospitality or event spaces.

Alongside the creation of a community precinct for creative industries, the development will focus on the heritage and environmental rehabilitation of the site. The Taungurung Land and Waters Council as Traditional Owner’s are an important part of this process. The development focuses on minimal interventions that provide maximum benefit for the community. In line with being sustainable and adaptable, the project’s commercial success will be underpinned by it being multifunctional. 

COLLABORATORS:

Traditional Owners: Taungurung Clans

Clients: Development Victoria, Creative Victoria, and Working Heritage

Photography: Tom Ross