The principal of Hobart City High School says the newly completed redevelopment the school has transformed its New Town campus, creating what she described as “the heart of the school”.
Standing inside the new central hub, Principal Brittany Roestenberg said the same area had been “outside on concrete” just 12 to 18 months ago.
The $23.1 million upgrade has delivered modern learning spaces, new learning commons and studios, upgraded science and art areas, improved outdoor spaces and better bathrooms.
A new “heat and eat” common room has also been built, giving students a space to warm up food, socialise and charge their laptops.
Education Minister Jo Palmer said the redevelopment would help improve student learning and wellbeing.
“We know high-quality, well-designed learning spaces make a real difference to how students connect, collaborate and thrive at school,” Palmer said.
“By investing in state-of-the-art educational facilities like this, we are building caring communities and a stronger Tasmania.”
Roestenberg said the new spaces were already helping with student engagement and wellbeing through better acoustics, natural colour palettes, heating and flexible seating.
The school had been under enrolment management during the construction and merge process but will now be able to take more students, Roestenberg said.
Year 12 student Harry Earl-Johnson said the heat and eat area had become his favourite spot.
“I came in on the first day this year, and I looked around and I was just like, ‘Is this really my school?'” he said.
Fellow student Lucy Bett said the new central staircase had stunned everyone when it opened at the start of term.
“It’s a really connecting piece of our school and like it makes it so much easier to go between classrooms,” Bett said.
The project began with $1.6 million in early works to support co-educational learning across the New Town and Ogilvie campuses, followed by the $21.5 million main redevelopment delivered by Tasmanian firm Vos Construction and Joinery.
Palmer said the project was part of a $188 million school building blitz that would see upgrades to 15 high-priority schools across Tasmania over the next four years, through the 2026-27 budget.
The education portfolio’s total capital works commitment sits at $314 million.
