A new independent school catering to the influx of inner-city families has been given a ‘generous’ offer to build on a property site owned by Stamoulis Property Group.

The Fishermans Bend site held by the Stamoulis Property Group is already divided to become a triple-storey town house development, but the property also contains a heritage art deco building at the old Symex soap factory that is being looked at to house the school.

Private developer Harry Stamoulis hopes the school will help the pricey real estate on his site and cater to nearby residents by making the area more community friendly.

The business behind the Sandridge School signed an agreement with the property group on “very generous terms” to occupy part of the space at Fishermans
Bend, but needs to find $2 million to get itself up and running by its 2016 start date.

The school is marketed as ‘secular’, teaching students about citizenship and entrepreneurship, and will use not-for-profits to run programs in the curriculum.

The Stamoulis Property Group has said it will refurbish the school site, keeping it in tune with the surrounding development but staying true to its heritage.

If the school is successful with its crowd-funding campaign, it will use the money to fit out the renovated building.

It hopes to welcome 200 year seven and eight students next year, becoming one the first secondary schools to cater to families living in the CBD.

Fishermans Bend is expected to house 80,000 people over the next 40 years, while surrounding areas have seen a steady influx of residents.

More information on the crowd funding campaign can be found on the Sandridge School website and at www.pozible.com/project/188874

Source: The Age