Warrandyte High School

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Warrandyte High School is a public high school in Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia. It opened in 1978 with 43 students and has grown to about 400 students. The campus sits on a hillside by the Yarra River and includes two main buildings plus many portable classrooms.

The school is known for its art and music programs and has a long tradition of musical theatre. A dedicated theatre was built in 1987, and annual musical productions have been a feature since the early years.

From the early 2000s, the school underwent several upgrades. A library extension and study area were completed in 2004. The Michael J. Blake Sports Complex was built, the canteen was renovated, and new gardens and shade sails were added. A new school sign and landscaped areas were created, including indigenous garden spaces.

Warrandyte High School was used as a filming location for Holly’s Heroes in 2004, with plans for more filming in 2013 and a reboot announced in 2020, though production was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The school does not have a year-level camp; it runs a Year 7 camp, annual music camps, and a Year 11 Kakadu trip. The Year 9 Taking the Challenge program visits Melbourne landmarks and ends with two nights in the city.

The school has a sister school, Hazu High School in Japan. It supports several orchestras and ensembles and has a strong history in music and theatre. Students compete in four houses: Newman (yellow or purple), Stiggant (blue), Anderson (green), and Michel (red).

Facilities include two outdoor basketball courts, four tennis courts, and a football/cricket oval. There is a separate art and design building with two darkrooms, two art studios, and design spaces for wood, metal, plastic and more.

Warrandyte is located about 27 km east-north-east of Melbourne’s central business district, in outer north-eastern Melbourne. The school draws students from a wide catchment area, including Christmas Hills, Panton Hill, Alexandria, Healesville, and Hurstbridge. Public transport to the school is provided by several bus services. The school has a long-running tradition of yearly musical productions featuring students and staff.