Eltham College of Education was founded in 1973 by Les Clarke, Partner of ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects, and became the first major independent non-church based school in Victoria. Currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, the College has maintained a unique character and family spirit, firmly anchored in the bushland setting of Eltham and exhibiting 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 the masterplan, 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.

Forty years on, 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.