Combining its historic heritage with an updated modern look and increased learning capacity, a contemporary refurbishment of East Newcastle Public School is ensuring it’s ready to take on many more years of educating a growing number of school children in the area.
Recorded in Australia’s history books as the country’s oldest school, East Newcastle Public dates back to 1816 when Henry Wrensford (a convict on conditional pardon) began teaching 17 convict children. Originally starting its life as a slab hut, the long-running school has evolved over the years, with the latest cutting-edge upgrade an exciting new milestone in its legendary history and development.
The good-looking and modern new school building is clad in authentic Vitrapanel façade panels manufactured by Vitragroup, and coated with ultra-durable, Australian-made Vitreflon fluoropolymer from A&I Coatings. Selected for its excellent UV and weathering resistance as well as unparalleled aesthetic appearance, Vitreflon incorporates state-of-the art coatings’ technology which lowers the lifetime maintenance cost across a variety of environments – making it a practical, long-wear finish for buildings such as schools.
Like Vitreflon, Vitrapanel is also Australian-made to the highest quality standards. In this and other projects, A&I Coatings is delighted to align its products and work with Vitragroup’s reputable products, innovation and expertise.
Expertly specified by EJE Architecture and School Infrastructure NSW, the school’s building project includes four new flexible, permanent learning spaces, a new covered outdoor learning area and communal gathering space, refurbishment of the staff administration area and the replacement of the roof on the heritage building.
