South Geelong Primary School (Grades Prep-6)
A School with History and Heart
South Geelong Primary School first opened its doors on August 1, 1879. Over nearly 150 years it has blended rich heritage with modern learning spaces, creating a school that honours tradition while looking firmly to the future. Today, with 324 students, it is known as a warm, inclusive community where kindness, respect and integrity guide daily life.
A Unique Place in the City
Located in the heart of Geelong, the school sits just a short walk from the waterfront, Eastern Beach, the Art Gallery and GMHBA Stadium—the home of the Geelong Cats AFL Team. Its setting on Wadawurrung Country also places it close to many natural landmarks like the Barwon River and Geelong Botanical Gardens allowing for regular opportunities for students to connect to nature and local biodiversity. These landscapes inspire the school’s identity and its commitment to caring for Country.
PROGRESS PHOTOS
Building a Culture of Sustainability
Sustainability is embedded in everyday life at South Geelong. Recycling is sorted into paper, cardboard, plastics and cans, with even hard-to-recycle items like toothbrushes and toothpaste collected. Every classroom has its own compost bin, reducing waste and feeding the soil for the school’s vegetable garden. Students are encouraged to bring waste-free “Nude Food” lunches and participate in creative upcycling projects in STEM and Visual Arts to turn recyclable materials into something new.
The school’s student-led STEM GALS group recently tackled fast fashion by repurposing old t-shirts into blankets for animals at GAWS shelters. Students also take on green leadership roles such as the Student Voice & Agency Leaders, who made up sustainable practice including by making posters, and the “Classroom Eco-Warriors” and “Rubbish Rangers,” who take responsibility for recycling, composting, and keeping the school grounds clean.
Key milestones include installing solar panels—which was made possible by the student and parent “Green Team” through fundraising. The school has also rolled out a consistent waste-sorting system across all classrooms and maintains a community garden. What began as small steps has grown into a whole-school culture of environmental responsibility.
The Mural
South Geelong’s entry to the Paint Australia Beautiful campaign reflects its deep ties to place, sustainability and community pride. After Maichi’s mural design was shortlisted in 2023, she was eager to submit another entry and returned with a renewed vision, this time supported by Year 6 Art Leader Aleahya, Art Teacher Mrs Walsh, and volunteer Caz. Students from Years 3–6 contributed patterns and details, while all Year 6 students and staff left handprints, making the project a shared legacy.
The mural centres on a Wedge-tailed Eagle, a tribute to Bunjil the Creator Spirit, surrounded by imagery that celebrates local landmarks and values. The local You Yangs Regional Park rises in the distance, Eastern Beach and the Botanical Gardens appear through coastal and plant imagery, and a V/Line train connects Geelong to Melbourne as a symbol of sustainable transport. Trees with guards emphasise the need for ongoing planting and care. The handprints of staff and students embody the people who make up the school community and their shared commitment to the environment.
“Our mural is about celebrating the beauty of Geelong on Wadawurrung Country and our responsibility to protect it.”
– Lauren Walsh, Visual Arts Teacher
Pride and Legacy
Becoming a state finalist has been a source of excitement and pride for South Geelong. Families and community members have followed the mural’s progress with enthusiasm, while students have been inspired to think more deeply about sustainability, culture, and their connection to the land.
For the Year 6 students, the project holds special meaning. Before leaving their handprints, they took time to reflect on the sustainable habits they had developed over their years at the school which have become second nature which they will carry with them into the future.
The school hopes the mural will act as a lasting legacy: a reminder of the beauty of Geelong, the knowledge of the Wadawurrung People, and the shared responsibility to care for Country so that future generations can thrive.
ECO VISION
Maichi’s mural design honours the deep connection between our school community and the land of the Wadawurrung People. Inspired by the sacred Bunjil, a Wedged-tailed Eagle revered by First Nations cultures as the creator of the land, flora, and fauna in our region, her artwork reflects the many natural and man-made wonders of this place.
The design features the tail feathers of Bunjil being formed by the fingerprints of this year’s Year 6 students, symbolising their unique imprint on the legacy of our school. This mural will not only serve as a lasting tribute to the Year 6 class, but also as a visual affirmation of our collective acknowledgment of the Wadawurrung People as the original custodians of the land on which our school stands.
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