Nearnung Primary School

Artist - Mitch Mahoney

Site Research - Uncle Barry Gilson

Architect - ARM Architecture

Builder - Hutchies

Founding Principal - Chris Simmons

The artwork process began by commissioning Uncle Barry Gilson to research the siting of six new primary schools being designed by ARM Architecture. The school sites are located east and west of the Werribee River system which marks a boundary for Wadawurrung and Boon Wurrung land. Uncle Barry Gilson, a Wadawurrung poet, singer and cultural researcher, framed the site research to fit either a specific Wadawurrung perspective or a wider Kulin nations point of view.

For the Nearnung Primary School location, Uncle Barry drew our attention to a Songline and the story of Looern that maps geological formations, specifically granite outcrops, running from South Australia to Wamoom/Wilsons Promontory. The story illustrates a shared cultural inheritance between neighbouring Wadawurrung and Boon Wurrung.

This research was matched to Boon Wurrung artist Mitch Mahoney, who connected with Barry’s narrative through his own experiences, cultural knowledge and art practices.

Working at Spacecraft Studio in Footscray, Mitch created a portfolio of artworks which were passed back to the ARM Architecture team to position First Nations research, knowledge and creativity at the core of this school’s design process.

Nearnung Primary School opened in January 2023, helping the growing local population get great education close to home.

Our school was previously known by its interim name, Tarneit Missen House Primary School, during the planning phase.  Consultation with the community on the school's name occurred from 20 June 2022 to 8 July 2022. Nearnung (pronounced nee-a-noong) is a Bunurong word meaning black cockatoo.

Our stunning school logo is an illustrative study of black cockatoo feathers and is textured and rich. It is a celebration of looking closer and noticing the small, and sometimes hidden details of the world around us. The feathers also speak of flight and the remarkable heights we can reach when we do and try our best.

The logo is made up of four feathers – one for each school value:

• Connection
• Inclusion
• Endeavour
• Care

Warringa Park School specialist campus is located alongside Nearnung Primary School. It has places for primary-aged students with intellectual disabilities.

Bembit Bag-rook Community Centre is next door. The centre provides kindergarten, maternal and child health care and other family services.