Koornong, A most Remarkable School
Koornong School was established by Clive (1908-1977) and Janet (1911-1992) Nield in 1939, no doubt influenced by the natural and artistic climate of Warrandyte. Despite uncertainty due to the war in Europe, the Nields planned a modern self-governing school set amongst the eucalypt bushland beside the Yarra River in Warrandyte North.
Clive Nield came from an orthodox teaching background, but he and his wife were keen to develop the educational techniques and philosophies they had seen in Europe. They founded Koornong on a progressive educational system where pupils voted for their own laws and suffered no compulsion and little restraint. The school was considered well ahead of its time with a curriculum based around self-awareness and integrated learning of subjects. ‘Children make their own rules at this school’ declared a headline in ‘The Argus’ in 1940 reporting on a talk where Mr Nield explained his educational philosophy.
The school was located on about 15 acres of land obtained from the local Frencham family, though it was said Mr Frencham had no liking for the new school buildings, calling them ‘chooksheds’. The Nields wanted their free-thought school to have buildings in character with the belief that learning environments are integral to the development of a child. They considered contemporary architecture the most appropriate for a new educational concept and the Modernist architectural firm Best Overend was chosen to design it (European architect Fritz Janeba worked for the firm at the time). The plans produced were for light vernacular buildings, with flat or skillion roofs, external studwork, and stone chimneys, located randomly in the bush surrounds by the river.
The students actively participated in constructing an art studio, swimming pool and dining room. Teacher, sculptor and painter Danila Vassilieff built many of the stone fireplaces though Fritz Janeba astonished everyone by pulling one down which he considered badly built. Not many local children enrolled at the school; most of the students were boarders from elsewhere. On the whole the school was accepted by locals though the freedom the pupils enjoyed was often subjected to criticism. Photos of the school show students enjoying a variety of activities and subjects, both classroom -based and in the open air. Physical activity and art were actively encouraged. A school ’parliament’ was held weekly that set the rules to be followed.
The pressures resulting from war restrictions combined with poor financial management led to the school closing in 1947. A chronic lack of finance at the end of the Second World War brought closure and the end of the experiment. Many of the buildings were destroyed by bushfires in 1962.
However artistic inspiration continued through the work of teacher, painter and sculptor, Danila Vassilieff, influencing later artists such as Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd, and John Perceval. Architect Kevin Borland’s design for Preshil School in Kew, Australia’s longest surviving progressive school, echoes Koornong with its light timber construction, elevation and random placement around the site. Despite its short duration the Koornong school, which commenced with such high ideals but was thwarted by world events, has been acknowledged as a forerunner and model, providing a reference for both architectural and educational aspects of later alternative schools such as Preshil and ERA in Donvale (which started in 1971 in The White House, Warrandyte).
©2023 Text by Valerie Polley. Photos: Warrandyte Historical Society