A former prison and art studio in Central Victoria will be transformed into a independent secondary school amid growing demand for alternative education in the region.
The Old Castlemaine Gaol was sold to Gisborne-based Global Village Learning yesterday.
The heritage-listed building was closed to the public for years after being trialled as a creative centre by artist David Bromley.
“I think most traditional schools are like jails, so we’re just joining the party,” Global Village Learning director Peter Hutton joked.
Children at the school’s New Gisborne campus in the Macedon Ranges. (Supplied: Global Village Learning)
He said the school tailored its approach to children individually.
Children do not wear uniforms and are not categorised into year levels.
Mr Hutton told the ABC he was not deterred by the history of the building, which operated as a jail until 1990.
“We want to embrace the best of the past — we don’t want to tear it down,” he said.
“I do love what the Bromleys have done with it, in terms of reclaiming something that had such a dark past and turning it into something that’s so joyous and hope-filled.”
Castlemaine has a thriving arts and music scene. (ABC Central Victoria: Josie Taylor)
‘Humane’ approach
Mr Hutton said there was a desperate need for different education models throughout the country.
“We only need to look at the number of kids who are currently homeschooled,” he said.
“They’ve fallen outside the system post-COVID.“
“We want to educate young people in a more humane way that doesn’t involve sitting down for the majority of the day.”
Peter Hutton says scores of children are likely to attend the school in the next year and a half. (Supplied: Peter Hutton)
Fees for the Global Learning Village school in operation now are about $7,800 per year.
The jail has been for sale since last year, when it was listed with a $10-million asking price.
That figure was reduced to between $2.6 and $2.8m, including sculptures and art work.
The final price paid has not been disclosed.
Mr Hutton estimated about 70 young people could attend the school over the next 18 months.
“As an interim step, until we get our official registration for that campus, we will be operating a bus service … and rail service from the New Gisborne campus,” he said.
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