Key details
Location 7-15 Baynton Street, Kyneton
Project partnersCreative Victoria
Overview
Work on phase one of the transformation of the Old Kyneton Primary School is now complete. This $12 million Victorian Government project has included:
- restoring the school’s heritage bluestone building, creating space for creativity and community
- creating a new contemporary central building that provides a welcoming entry for visitors
- transforming the former library for a range of creative and community uses
- revitalising the school’s grounds with landscaping, including 3000 new plants.
Some works are now being completed on the 1980s building to prevent further degradation and make the building stable and secure. Once this work is complete, the school grounds will be reopened for public use.
Expression of Interest for a site operator/head tenant has closed
The Victorian Government has undertaken an Expressions of Interest process to find a head tenant/operator for the Old Kyneton Primary School. Applications have now closed. For future updates visit Creative Victoria.
Strategic site master
Working Heritage has worked with local architects, Winwood Mackenzie and Fieldwork, to develop a strategic site master plan that will guide the long-term vision for the site beyond the initial phase of works being delivered across 2023.
We have completed the following works:
- Bell tower restoration (slates, gutters/flashings and finial)
- Slate roof restoration to bluestone building
- Metal roof replacement
- Internal foundation works to bluestone building
- Internal carpentry and flooring to bluestone building
- New fire tank, water pump and bin storage concrete slabs to Simpson Street carpark
- New slab and foundations for the Link Building between the bluestone building and the 1980s building.
- Demolition of existing foundations between bluestone building and the 1980s building
- Structural internal steel reinforcement to bluestone building
- Plumbing and electrical services works inside the bluestone building
- Underground hydraulic works
- Removal of scaffolding surrounding the bluestone building
- Civil works preparing for soft landscaping surrounding the site
- Structural steel installation for new connection between bluestone building and the 1980s building.
Timeline
- Consultation on strategic site master plan
- Development Victoria and Creative Victoria will lodge the Planning Report to DELWP.
- Planning approval received
- Early works begin on site
- Stage 1 major construction works begin
- Project complete
Creative Victoria seeks operator
Location
Gallery
Latest news
View allBackground
The former Kyneton Primary School in Baynton Street, Kyneton, was closed in March 2018.
Later that year, the then Victorian Government’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) undertook consultation with the community on what it valued about the site and its potential future. The consultation found that the community wanted to site kept for community use.
In the 2020-21 Victorian Government Budget, $12 million was allocated to deliver a gallery space within the 1800s heritage bluestone building on site and a range of safety and accessibility improvements.
In 2022 Development Victoria appointed construction firm, McCorkell – specialists in complex cultural heritage sites to deliver the first phase of works.
- Phase one works are now complete – these have included:
restoring the school’s heritage bluestone building, creating space for creativity and community - creating a new contemporary central building that provides a welcoming and accessible entry for visitors
- transforming the former library for a range of creative and community uses
- revitalising the school’s grounds with landscaping, including 3000 new plants.
A Strategic Master Plan was commissioned by Working Heritage. This set out the broad vision and aspiration for the site as a creative industries and community precinct and was released for public feedback in 2022.
The plan informed the recently completed project and will help to guide any future phases. Further funding or partnerships will need to be secured before future stages of works at the site can be delivered.
Site Updates
- Old Kyneton Primary School Site Update - December 2023 PDF, 200.3 kb
- Old Kyneton Primary School Site Update – November 2023 PDF, 176.0 kb
- Old Kyneton Primary School Site Update – October 2023 PDF, 169.8 kb
- Old Kyneton Primary School Site Update – September 2023 PDF, 141.1 kb
- Old Kyneton Primary School Site Update – July 2023 PDF, 166.8 kb
- Old Kyneton Primary School Site Update – April 2023 PDF, 165.7 kb
- Old Kyneton Primary School Site Update – November 2022 PDF, 56.0 kb
Updated on 24 October 2025