Shut for more than a full school year, master plans have now been released for the full rebuild of Willyama High School on the outskirts of Broken Hill.

The school was closed in January 2024 due to a severe mould outbreak, and is now being demolished and rebuilt, with students relocated to a temporary campus for the past year and a half, Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said.

“I want to thank the teachers, families and students from Willyama for their patience and resilience in the face of what has been challenging circumstances,” Ms Car said.

“I also want to thank the Broken Hill High School community, who continue to share their facilities with the Willyama community,” she concluded.

According to the plans, the fully-rebuilt Willyama High School will include 30 general and specialist classrooms (including four science classrooms), four support classrooms, two modern science labs, learning commons, multi-purpose spaces, a library, staff facilities, administration facilities, a school hall, a covered outdoor learning area (COLA), and a courtyard.

As part of the rebuild, specialised facilities including industry-standard wood and metal workshops, a visual arts workshop, a performance workshop space, a PE workshop, a new construction workshop, a food technology kitchen, and a commercial kitchen for hospitality will also be delivered.

The school’s existing covered basketball court, agricultural plot, and a construction workshop will be retained, Member for Barwon Roy Butler said.

“The new Willyama High School must provide contemporary facilities for students in Broken Hill for years to come, and it will be good to see progress being made on the rebuild.

“Willyama is an important school for the Broken Hill community, and it is vital that we continue to work constructively with the community to see it delivered for local families and to see that they get the school that they need,” he added.

The new Willyama High School buildings will surround a large central oval, games court, and open spaces, creating an inviting hub for learning and social interaction for the school community.

Willyama High School currently has 570 students, however the new Willyama High School will cater for 730 students, as well as being master-planned for future expansion if required.

The contractor for the rebuild is anticipated to be onboard in mid-2025, with construction starting by 2026.