Innovative nature playground proposed for Westminster School at Marion as part of $25m upgrade
Daily lunchtimes playing in water at a mini forest? An Adelaide private school is proposing a surreal playground in a $25m upgrade – amid a huge student increase.
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A private school in Adelaide’s south would boast an epic, forest-like playground on par with the state’s most innovative play areas, as more details emerge of a proposed $25m upgrade for its junior primary students.
Westminster School has submitted a planning application to Marion Council for its new junior primary school building announced in May, revealing more details about the expansion, with two buildings to be demolished for a nature-based play area.
The application also said the Marion school sought to expand its capacity for junior students to 656 – an increase from its present capacity of 505 – which would be supported by a dozen extra full-time staff members.
To make way for an innovative nature play area and outdoor gathering spaces, the school would remove nine trees and demolish its OSHC building and “Highmoor”, a building formerly used as a principal’s residence.
The school would plant 103 new trees, with many to surround the nature play area, creating the effect of a mini-forest interspersed with play equipment.
In its design, ASPECT Studios referenced a similar, award-winning nature play space at Glenthorne National Park at O’Hallaran Hill, and another at Pelzer Park in Adelaide’s CBD.
Its proposed features include a creek bridge crossing, “water play”, a net tunnel, wildlife-themed seats, a balancing log, boulder mounding and a tee-pee.
Three of the trees proposed to be cut down for the development are classified as “significant” – a red river gum, a lemon-scented gum and jacaranda.
Principal Simon Shepherd told The Advertiser the playground was “still at a conceptual stage with no confirmed timeline for development”, adding that adventurous learning was “at the heart of our philosophy”.
The new two-storey building will be divided into four learning neighbourhood areas for each year level it will house, from reception to year three.
It will include dedicated “maker spaces”, laboratories, breakout areas, and literacy and numeracy rooms.
Mr Shepherd said the submission of plans marked “an exciting new chapter in the school’s commitment to educational excellence and adventurous learning”.
Construction is planned to begin at the end of this year for an opening in early 2027.
The school recently lodged plans to expand the Thomas Pavilion, a two-storey multipurpose sports centre.
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Originally published as Innovative nature playground proposed for Westminster School at Marion as part of $25m upgrade
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