WesleyCollegeBoathouse

Wesley College is one of Australia’s leading coeducational schools. It has a proud history in Associated Public Schools Rowing, with many students competing at national and international levels, including the Olympics. The boathouse has stood on the banks of the Yarra River for more than a century.

To keep pace with the school’s sporting needs, Hutchies was engaged to deliver a major upgrade to its boat shed along the Yarra River in Melbourne. The project involved refurbishing the existing two-storey facility and constructing an extension that almost doubled its size, creating a modern sports and recreation hub for students and staff, new carparking and access to the relocated Yarra River dock completed the project. Korowa Anglican Girls’ School contributed funding and secured dedicated space within the redeveloped facility, ensuring shared use between the two schools.

The project was delivered under two contracts across two stages. Stage 1 involved the renovation and extension of the existing building, starting in November 2018 and originally scheduled to finish in April 2019. Due to council and client negotiations, completion was extended through to April 2020. This stage transformed the lower ground and ground floors, adding five storage bays, multipurpose spaces, a gymnasium and weights room, meeting and office areas, amenities, and a DDA-compliant bathroom. The extension added more storage bays, change rooms, a kitchen, and flexible spaces.

In February 2024, Hutchies returned to the site to complete external works for Stage 2 of the project. Works included reshaping the land facing the Yarra River, new carparking and landscaping, and removal of contaminated soil. The existing boat ramp was removed and replaced with a new pontoon dock, allowing safe boat launching into the Yarra regardless of tide levels. This replaced the previous launch point new Herring Island and improved access for both Wesley College and Korowa Anglican Girls’ School.

The completed facility provides enhanced functionality, improved accessibility, and increased capacity for sporting and recreational activities. By integrating modern amenities and creating spaces for collaboration, Hutchies has delivered a high-quality outcome that supports Wesley College and Korowa Anglican Girls’ School in fostering active, inclusive, and connected learning environments.