| Brinsley Road Community School | |
| Established: | 1973 |
| Grades: | 7–12 |
Brinsley Road Community School was a state-run high school (years 7–12) in the suburb of Camberwell, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The school was established in February 1973 under the umbrella of Camberwell High School with the support of Camberwell High School's progressive principal Margaret Essex. The school was formally referred to by the Education Department as the "Camberwell High Annex".
The concept for the school was developed by Roy Irvine, its initial coordinator, who convinced Mr Schrum, then Director of Secondary Schools in Victoria, of the need for the alternative form of education that the school would offer.
The school started with 100 students from forms 1 to 6 (years 7 to 12), many of whom with talents and aspirations that had little chance of being developed in conventional more structured state high schools of the time. The school occupied a rambling old mansion that was previously used as a children's hostel by the Salvation Army.[1] The mansion was originally owned by the Baillieu family. The school buildings have now been demolished. The site and grounds now form the Brinsley Nature Reserve.
The school, also referred to as an "open school", aimed to provide opportunities for students to become both experience-oriented and knowledge-oriented.[2]
After several relocations, the original school concept is still operating as the Caulfield Park Community School.
The school was located at:
The school was well known for art, mathematics, science, media and practical subjects such as welding and woodwork.Many of its 'Graduates' have found a great deal of personal and professional success and attribute some of this to the extremely supportive nature of the schools community .
(Irvine, Smith, Schapper and Tasker were titled 'School Co-ordinators')