Schooled in construction

The Landscape Association highlights a new playground area which celebrates the outdoors and encourages play at Illawong Public School.

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An upgrade of an existing school landscape, this project by Outdoor Retreats Landscaping Australia, has won praise from students, parents and the landscaping community.

With a goal of creating more play areas and better seating options, Outdoor Retreats Landscaping upgraded and reworked three sites within the school grounds. The three areas included the Retreat, the Peace Garden, and the covered outdoor-learning garden area. Each of the three areas reworked as part of the project had a separate design and plan.

During the upgrade, new play equipment was constructed or assembled on site, a new handball court was installed, and the existing Peace Garden was rejuvenated. The result is a thoughtful, child-centred outdoor space that encourages exploration and play, and complements its surroundings.

The new work won the Gold and Best in Category awards in Commercial & Civil Construction Up to $500,000 at the 2024 Landscape Excellence Awards, with the judges saying it was a beautifully presented project, commending the timber work and attention to detail.

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