Established in 1881, Caulfield Grammar School is a pre-eminent independent co-educational school in Melbourne, with a rich and proud history. Wheelers Hill, home to Caulfield’s early learning, junior and middle school campuses, enjoys beautiful views across the Dandenong Ranges, providing its pupils with a spacious, natural surrounding environment. When the school decided to redevelop its outdoor landscapes and gardens, one of its top priorities was to mirror the natural beauty of the ranges while promoting sustainable principles.
For the garden’s lead design team, Urban Discovery, every aspect of the project needed to be underpinned by sustainable practices. Selecting suppliers with a similar commitment to the environment was key, and the design team chose RMS Traders based not only on the quality of its stone products, but because of its credentials as a family business committed to sustainability.
Despite challenging weather conditions, a tight timeline and budget – as well as the fact that the project needed to be completed within a fully operating school – Urban Discovery and RMS Traders worked together to deliver a stunning outdoor space, designed collaboratively by and for Caulfield’s pupils.
Featuring decks, seating and bush huts made from plantation spotted gum and treated pine, as well as logs sources from a local timer mill, the team paid close consideration to materials used throughout the project.
RMS Traders supplied materials to create a stunning yarning circle centre piece within the school grounds, using cement-stabilized rammed earth; a mixture composed of two-thirds 20mm quarry waste and only 6% cement. The landscape also featured RMS Traders’ ROS bluestone and crazy pavers, specifically designed to minimise waste. Furthermore, a creative approach material re-use and repurposing resulted in a mere six cubic metres of waste for the entire project. Old bricks were donated to one of the school community members, crushed rock was repurposed in footings and bases, soil was repurposed into garden beds and timber off-cuts were repurposed and incorporated into ‘loose parts’ play items.
The finished landscape is a tribute to the beautiful Dandenong Valley Parklands, with an 300% increase in newly planted trees – creating an additional 2,000m2 of natural shade – as well as an impressive array of indigenous and native shrubs, trees and grasses. The new environment provides pupils with a constantly evolving and flourishing space in which to play, learn and become closer to nature.
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