After a fire destroyed the historic building at Kapunda High School last year, the school has turned its devastation into a learning opportunity for students.

This semester, 30 students have been gaining new skills in Heritage Trades as part of an on-site program where they have been immersed in a heritage building project as work takes place around them.

Two programs have been run this semester, for Year 10 and Year 11 students, with places fully funded by the Construction Industry Training Board.

Students have undertaken both theoretical and practical lessons, including White Card training, which is a construction induction card required to work in the industry.

This week, the Year 11 students have been working on the Kidman Coach House, an old stable building on the school grounds, undertaking restoration on the exterior wall stonework.

Designs for the restoration and rebuild work is expected to be finalised by the end of the year, with work to commence in April 2024. It is expected to cost about $20m.

The new building replacing the learning areas should be completed by the end of next year, with the restoration of ‘Eringa’ to be completed in September 2025.

It is hoped that the restoration of ‘Eringa’ will provide the students at Kapunda High School a unique opportunity to work alongside the builder and gain practical experience and skills in working in the construction industry.

The school has encouraged creativity and innovation among students, with the establishment of the ‘Principal’s Award’, to be awarded each term to a student who has created work around the theme of ‘Eringa’ or an element of the school rebuild.

‘Eringa’ was originally constructed in 1876 and was donated by SA pastoralist Sir Sidney Kidman to the Department for Education in 1921.

Kapunda High School Principal David Morino said that once the program is more established they would like to open it up to other schools and become a centre for excellence in Heritage and Construction Trades.

“We’ve identified at least a decade worth of heritage work on our school campus which will keep students engaged in meaningful learning for a long time to come.”

The 147-year-old building was extensively damaged in the blaze that broke out on 29 March 2022.