Opened in 1915 Fitzroy High School initially served students from Grades 5 to 8. It wasn’t always known by its current name. The school was originally called Fitzroy Central School. In 1957 it officially became Fitzroy High School. It was allowed to enroll students up to Year 12. This continued until 1992. That year brought significant changes. Then-Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett implemented budget cuts. Fitzroy High School was one of many schools targeted for closure. It shut its doors at the end of the 1992 school year.
The closure sparked a powerful reaction from the local community. The community feared that the school site a public land since 1871 would be sold for development. They occupied the site for fourteen months staging a 24-hour vigil. They did this to prevent the sale. People took four-hour shifts or slept overnight in the principal’s office or the administration wing. This remarkable show of community spirit was widely publicized.
After a long campaign in 1993 the state government reached an agreement with the community. Kangan Batman TAFE was allowed to use the school site. They operated there until 1998. Budgetary constraints forced the TAFE to close. They returned the site to the Education Department the following year. The timing of this was significant. Jeff Kennett had lost power. Steve Bracks his successor was more supportive of the community’s goal.
The site remained dormant until 2001. Then-Education Minister Mary Delahunty approved plans to reopen Fitzroy High School. It would focus on Years 7 to 10. Significant renovations took place. A new science and technology wing a library and a food technology division were constructed. In 2002 the school served as a filming location for the children’s series Short Cuts. On January 28 2004 Fitzroy High School reopened its doors. 135 students enrolled in Years 7 and 8. The school expanded to include Years 9 and 10 in 2005.
Plans were announced in 2005 to add Years 11 and 12 in 2007. This involved a partnership with Collingwood College. A building program followed. The design was unique supporting the school’s learning philosophy. The renovations were finished in 2009. The building accommodated up to 600 students from Years 7 to 12. The new building received multiple design awards. These included the Dulux Colour Award and the Australian Institute of Architecture Victorian Chapter annual award for Public Alterations and Additions in 2010. The school was also shortlisted for the 2010 Premier Design Awards in Victoria.
Today Fitzroy High School continues to thrive. In 2022 a new campus the Wurun Senior Campus opened. It’s shared with Collingwood College. The original campus remains the main campus hosting Years 7-10 students. The history of Fitzroy High School is a testament to community resilience and the power of perseverance. It’s a story of closure rebirth and the enduring value of education.