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Last weekend, we officially opened Nyit Gabbiljee, our new Ecology Precinct—a vibrant outdoor classroom designed for curious minds and muddy shoes. Families joined us to explore the space, take part in hands-on activities and celebrate this exciting milestone for our community. 

The event began with a moving Welcome to Country from Aunty Freda, followed by special guest Dr Jags Krishnan MLA, who helped mark the occasion. Together, our community planted two new trees, adding to the ecosystem already flourishing within the precinct. Earlier this year, our community planting day brought together students, staff and families who rolled up their sleeves to help establish this new ecosystem. 

The Ecology Precinct was once an underutilised patch of land on the eastern side of the oval and has now been transformed into a thriving wetlands precinct, teeming with life and learning opportunities. This transformation didn’t happen overnight—it’s part of the College’s broader vision for sustainability, education, and community engagement. 

The idea stemmed from our campus development plan, which placed a strong emphasis on outdoor learning spaces, nature play, and environmental responsibility. With the Bush School already a much-loved part of ASC for our youngest learners, the opportunity to further develop the area into a rich ecological learning space was too good to pass up. 

Planning began in 2022, with careful thought given to how the wetlands could be both an educational hub and an environmentally responsible addition to the College. 

“It’s rewarding to see a once-unused space come to life like this,” said Philip Gale, Facilities Manager. “It’s a place where students can learn about ecology in a hands-on way and it’s a real example of how our strategic vision for the campus is becoming a tangible part of everyday College life.” 

The precinct features winding walkways, timber bridges crossing a creek and quiet decks where students can observe the ebb and flow of the wetlands. A central shelter provides a gathering space, surrounded by layers of native planting designed to attract birds, insects and other wildlife. 

This abundance of flora and fauna creates the perfect learning environment for many areas across the College including Science, Humanities and Outdoor Learning. 

A special thank you to all those who helped bring this project to life. Nyit Gabbiljee is a special place on campus that will support outdoor learning, science exploration and an appreciation for the interconnectedness of our natural world.