Avalon Public School’s community gathered to see a well-loved natural play space return to daily use after a major upgrade, marking a new chapter for an area shaped by students, families and local supporters for nearly three decades.
History And Community Roots
The school welcomed families, staff, students and local community members back into Nura Djaroba during its reopening events held in mid November 2025. Planning and fundraising efforts for the renewal began several years earlier, supported by a NSW Government Community Building Partnership grant matched by school community contributions.
Nura Djaroba began in the early 1990s when parents, teachers and local designers worked together to build a natural space that reflected bushland surroundings and Aboriginal knowledge. The space opened in 1996 and supported generations of children who played, learned and explored outdoors.
Student-Led Redesign
Over time the area needed repairs and updates to meet modern standards, prompting the school community to begin renewal work around 2020. Longtime contributors, including members of the original design team, attended the 2025 reopening to see the refreshed area return to use.
The renewal placed students at the centre of planning. School leaders explained that students shaped ideas for features, accessibility and layout. Their input guided choices such as a wider stage, clearer pathways, new natural play elements and full accessibility through the site. The school emphasised that the space forms part of its identity, and student participation ensured the design continued to reflect the children who use it.
Cultural And Environmental Elements
The reopening featured cultural acknowledgement, including a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by local First Nations representatives. A new sculpture named Kip the Koala was introduced as a symbol of respect for local heritage, created by Richard Stutchbury, one of the original designers involved in the 1996 project.
Native plants were added throughout the play area, with each student planting one, continuing a tradition from the original opening. A waratah was planted as a further link between past and present.
A Space For Learning And Play
School staff described the area as a place that encourages creativity, social connection and outdoor learning. Children use the space for play that grows from their imagination, supported by the natural setting and upgraded features.
The project brought together families, students, educators and local residents who share a long connection to the site. The reopening reinforced the importance of community involvement in shaping school environments that support both learning and belonging.
Published 26-November-2025
