Independent school founded and designed by ClarkeHopkinsClarke Partner Les Clarke

Eltham College was founded in 1973 by Les Clarke, a founding Partner of ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects. It was the first major independent non-church based school in Victoria. For close to half a century, the College has maintained a unique character and family spirit. It is firmly anchored in the bushland setting of Eltham and exhibits a strong commonality of architectural design, materiality and space.

ClarkeHopkinsClarke created the initial Eltham College masterplan, and have continued as the only architect to work with the College, designing award-winning facilities that have continually pushed the boundaries of education planning in Victoria.

The first building developed on the site was a Prep to Year 7 multipurpose building completed in 1974 and was the pioneering open planned Primary School building in Victoria. The following years saw the implementation of the master plan, with a key focus on developing a strong sense of community and providing engaging learning spaces that support students in their educational journey through the College.

The Eltham College campus continues to evolve in line with the original master plan, supporting the College’s community-minded and family orientated approach, attracting steady enrollments, and shaping the development of generations of students.

Photography by Rachael Dere and Will Belcher.