Elite private school gets Council approval ahead of Years 5, 6 expansion

One of the state’s top private schools has been given the green light to build a new junior school campus, but not everyone is happy about the proposal. SEE THE DESIGNS

Brisbane Girls Grammar’s new ‘vertical village’. Picture: Supplied.

Christmas has come early for one of the state’s top schools, with council giving them the green light to build a new junior school campus, described as “a vertical village”.

The approval came this week after five months of back-and-forth regarding the designs of the building, which is part of the school’s grand plan to include Years 5 and 6 by 2026.

Brisbane Girls Grammar School will refurbish the building it already owns at 87-95 Gregory Terrace in Spring Hill in the heart of Brisbane, directly opposite its senior campus.

The new five-storey “miniature vertical village”, as described in planning documents, will include classrooms, a library, as well as speciality music, art and science spaces.

The location of the new junior school building. Picture: Supplied.

The basement will incorporate staff parking and a play space. The ground floor will house a reception, health centre, tuckshop, and lunch space.

Levels 1 and 2 will contain three classrooms, amenities, as well as a breakout space and withdrawal room.

Level 3 will consist of two more classrooms, amenities, a science and art wet room, and further withdrawal and breakout areas.

Level 4 will have the library, music rooms and music store, further amenities, as well as space for an assembly area for 200 students.

The proposed new junior school at Brisbane Girls Grammar. Picture: Supplied.

The development application received one anonymous submission in October, with the author raising concerns about traffic congestion and the lack of a playground.

“This proposal to create a primary school in a building with no playground area for more than 200 children in a converted multi-level boarding house is not suitable … to properly provide for young children there should be a playground area,” the submission read.

“The school would introduce 200 pick-up and drop-off vehicle movements at a part of Gregory Terrace already at peak congestion given the BGGS senior school use of the public council funded loading zone in front of the existing BGGS school.

Concerns have been raised at the impact on traffic if the development goes ahead. Picture: Supplied.

“The building design is an ugly mishmash of building styles, and the use would bring traffic to the area they have made no plans to manage.

“All in all, a terrible proposal for the area, and a building which cannot provide a good educational environment for the young children.”

The school hopes the new building will house Years 5 and 6 students from 2026. Picture: Supplied.

Brisbane Girls Grammar School – considered one of the country’s leading girls’ schools – will expand to include Years 5 and 6 in 2026. It currently offers only Years 7-12.

The announcement was made in July, with the school confirming it would take 100 students in each year group.

Parents who had already applied for their child to enter Year 7 in 2028 will be given first priority for the new Year 5 group. Those wishing to make an earlier switch will be able to change their applications to indicate their child would prefer to start in Year 5 or 6.

If unsuccessful, their Year 7 application will remain valid.

Inside the proposed junior school building. Picture: Supplied.