A school in Western Sydney left in an abandoned state after it was damaged in a fire is closing in on a delivery partner for a new housing development.
The building at Macquarie Boys’ Technology High School near Parramatta had been damaged by fires over the past decade, with the school previously vacant after it was shut in 2009.
A cloud of uncertainty has hung over the site in the years since.
The Minns Labor Government announced plans at the end of 2024 to transform the 19.4-hectare Rydalmere site into a residential and commercial precinct set to deliver an estimated 2,300 homes from 2028, contingent on planning and regulatory approvals.
A government spokesperson has since announced there could be movement on the project soon.
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The school became a magnet for vandals after being left largely abandoned.
There was a fire at site of the former Macquarie Boy's High School. Picture: Steve Tyson
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A spokesman for the Minister for Lands and Property has revealed to News Corp that it is currently in the final stages of a competitive tender, with a delivery partner anticipated to be locked in by the end of the year.
“The site has been sitting vacant and unused for over eight years,” a spokesman for Minister for Lands and Property said.
“Identified through the NSW Government’s nation-leading land audit, this site will now be transformed into much needed housing.
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Some of the remaining buildings at Macquarie Boys Technology High School.
One of the vandalised buildings. Picture: Angelo Velardo
“Not only will the site unlock much needed housing for families, it will unlock green open space and important commercial and retail infrastructure to support a vibrant new community.
“The site is currently in the final stages of a competitive tender, with a delivery partner anticipated to be locked in by the end of the year.”
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There was a fire at the abandoned school in previous years. Picture: Channel 9
“This is an important site for Parramatta’s growing community and any future development must balance housing with adequate infrastructure, including schools, open space, community facilities and transport connections,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter said.
“Since the school’s closure, the site has remained under-utilised, and there is strong local interest in seeing it transformed to deliver community benefits.”
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The site, pictured in 2016, has been proposed for housing development. Picture: Streetview.
The school was shut in 2009. Picture: Streetview.
Macquarie Boys Technology High School pictured in 2016. Picture: Streetview.
The site is located close to Parramatta’s CBD, Western Sydney University’s Rydalmere campus and Parramatta Light Rail.
The NSW Government plans to rezone the site on the corners of Victoria Rd, James Ruse Dr and Kissing Point Rd at Rydalmere, as part of the $6.6bn Building Homes for NSW program to deliver 30,000 homes across the state.Local residents and former students have lamented the demise of the school for years.
“This is such a sad story to everyone who attended that school. It’s almost like it was cursed from the beginning,” Lynden Cole said on Facebook.
“So very sad. Drove past last week, it’s unrecognisable,” said Janene Branc.
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