The old Berwick Primary School

Berwick is an outer suburb, 45km from the Melbourne CBD. When the Berwick Primary School relocated in 2003, the building dating back to 1869 was slated for demolition and the surrounding area zoned for shops and car parking. Fortunately the local residents and the National Trust fought to keep the building and the lovely Pioneers Park was constructed next to it. Parts of the original building of the school have been restored and are heritage listed. Presently the building houses the rather nice Primary@Pioneers Park Cafe. There is also a small gift shop situated in one of the original classrooms and is run by the National Trust Society.

Sketched and painted this on a gorgeous warm sunny day while seated on the hard ground beneath a shady tree. (The comfortable park bench close by was being used by children and their doting grandmothers). I'm looking forward to taking my grandkids there when they come to visit.

Here is the front of the school.

#LamyPen, watercolour, #Stillman&Birn Beta Sketchbook, 5.5x8.5ins.