PLACE:
Don Valley Campus
Don Valley, Shire of Yarra Ranges.
Where:
Don Valley Campus is located at Don Valley, in the Yarra Valley Ranges.
Latitude: -37.76184437788757 | Longitude: 145.58677789753253
Elevation: 137 m
Geography:
Yarra Valley Ranges
The school is situated in the small community of Don Valley, positioned in the beautiful Yarra Valley.
The surrounding Yarra Ranges National Park provides a unique environment perfect for exploring the Yarra River, hiking and mountain biking in the surrounding Dandenong and Cathedral Ranges, or riding the Lilydale-Warburton rail trail. The School for Student Leadership campus is right in the heart of Don Valley.
The site of the Don Valley Campus is located on what was once known as Haining Farm. Next door to Don Valley Primary School, this site offers commanding views up to Mt Donna Buang and Warburton, and back to the Dandenong Ranges.
History &
Cultural Heritage:
Haining Farm
The site of the Don Valley Campus is located on what was once known as Haining Farm in the Yarra Valley. Next door to Don Valley Primary School, this site offers commanding views up to Mt Donna Buang and Warburton, and back to the Dandenong Ranges.
Building Design:
2021 VICTORIAN SCHOOL DESIGN AWARDS:
Ministers Award Winner
Award Winning Purpose Built Education & Residential Facility
Don Valley Campus is a new, purpose designed and built residential facility uniquely designed for year 9 students.
Designed by Peter Madison Architects*, the buildings that form the Don Valley Campus include many sustainable design features including a retractable roof over the central courtyard so it can be used all year round.
The design makes extensive use of oversized commercial skylights, sensor lighting, solar hot water and rainwater collection.
Apart from the flexible teaching and communal spaces, the campus facility provides student and staff accommodation, a commercial kitchen, and considerable storage for outdoor equipment. The site was land previously owned by Parks Victoria, so the architects have considered the environmental impact of every element.
There are two separated accommodation and ablution facilities. There are 11 rooms in each of the two accommodation wings catering for up to 45 students and in most cases two students are allocated to each room. Student rooms have been designed with window seats and areas to work and relax.
*Peter Madison, Director of Maddison Architects is also known for his role as host of Grand Designs Australia
Unique
to Campus:
Yarra Ranges National Park is part of an Aboriginal cultural landscape in the traditional Country of the Wurundjeri People.
Unique Campus Offerings
& Onsite Educational Experiences:
Don Valley Campus – School for Student Leadership
Students will access the beautiful and dramatic Yarra Ranges National Park for outdoor and environmental learning and for expeditions.
Students will utilise the Yarra Valley and the surrounding ranges; from the Yarra River, to the hills of Warramate, to the jawbone of the Cathedral Range state park, to the Murrundindi cascades, to the Redwood Forest.
The natural environment is used for both classes and overnight expeditions. Our emerging leaders use their theoretical classes to help maximise their expeditions ensuring collaboration, connectedness and self-belief is drawn upon.
With our neighbouring Don Valley Primary school, we share both a physical border, but also a close educational relationship where our emerging leaders learn from their neighbours and help build respectful relationships.
