Sunshine College hall destroyed in ‘suspicious’ fire

A high school hall in Melbourne’s west was destroyed by fire overnight in what police believe was a suspected arson incident.

Fire Rescue Victoria crews attend the scene of a fire in Melbourne’s west. Picture: Liam Beatty

Police are investigating after a school in Melbourne’s west was extensively damaged by fire overnight in a “suspicious” blaze.

Emergency services were called to the Sunshine College Ardeer Campus on Glengala Rd just before 3am on December 31 after a 000 caller reported seeing flames on the roof of the school hall.

A Fire Rescue Victoria spokesman said more than 20 firefighters were able to contain the fire to the hall within 35 minutes.

“Crews attacked the fire externally, utilising specialist aerial appliances, to bring the fire under control,” he said.

“There were no occupants present at the time of the incident.”

He said the cause of the fire was deemed to be suspicious, and an investigation into the incident had been turned over to Victoria Police.

Sunshine College Ardeer Campus. Picture: Google maps

A police spokeswoman said the circumstances of the fire had yet to be determined and the investigation was ongoing.

“Anyone who witnessed the incident or with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers,” she said.

The Ardeer campus of Sunshine College was vacated in 2020 after the education facilities at two other Sunshine College campuses were upgraded.

Previously the site of the Ardeer High School from 1979, it was rebranded Sunshine College as part of an amalgamation of six schools in 1991.

An Education Department spokesman said earlier this year that the site was being retained for future education provisions in line with expected population growth in Sunshine.