In 2018, the VSBA and Bass Coast Shire Council collaborated to establish Bass Coast College Wonthaggi, an innovative educational precinct in the South Gippsland region, previously known as Wonthaggi Secondary College.

With a capacity of 675 Year 10-12 students, the campus supports adolescent and adult learning whilst promoting strong connections to the local community. We built a range of facilities to support the new school, including:

• A Learning Hub building housing administration, specialist and informal learning spaces
• A Games Hall building, Bass Coast Community Stadium, which boasts three competition grade indoor courts shared with local sporting groups along with areas for performing arts, food technology and a canteen
• A sports oval and outdoor game court
• A bus drop-off zone, car parking and landscaping

The two-storey Learning Hub building hosts many functions, including specialised classrooms for visual communications, art, engineering, and science, and general amenities. It features communal spaces for collaboration, study areas, and seating arrangements catering to group and individual learning activities. The double-height perforated metal void was a key design factor, letting in the natural light whilst lending volume to the structure.

With assistance from the State Government’s Shared Facilities Fund, the VSBA, College and Council elevated what was initially a single court facility for the school into ‘Bass Coast Community Stadium’. This three-court sports hall is now a co-use space and home to the Wonthaggi Amateur Basketball Association. The stadium boasts electronic scoreboards, glass backboards and a sprung floor to cater for all levels of competition, with administration spaces, change areas, meeting rooms, a first aid room and canteen.

We finished our program with various softscaping, a wetland environment, sports field and playing court, creating a setting conducive to health, well-being, and inclusivity for students, staff, and the community.