Oxley Primary School Playground

Safe Play Australia delivered two new play structures for Oxley Primary School, near Wangaratta, Victoria, working alongside Southern Cross developers after the school secured grant funding. A custom wheelchair-accessible sand fort sits alongside a multiage play unit with slides, rope bridges, roman rings and an abseil challenge – equipment shaped by feedback from the school community.

The Brief

Oxley Primary School secured grant funding, working with Southern Cross developers, for two new play spaces the whole school could use together. The sand fort structure needed DDA compliant wheelchair accessibility and to fit under the school’s existing low shade sail. Alongside it, the school wanted a multi-age unit with enough variety to suit the full range of students.

Design Response

We custom-built the sand fort as a timber unit, with activity panels and a pulley-and-bucket system that let kids fill the bucket and build directly on the fort. The surrounding space is beautifully and thoughtfully landscaped, with the sandpit finished off with backhoes, always a reliable favourite. For the multi-age play unit, we specified slides, easy-access stairs, rope bridges, roman rings and an abseil challenge, inviting feedback from the school community through the design stage to get the equipment mix right.

Outcome

Between the two structures, Oxley Primary School now has play spaces that work for every student. The sand fort has accessibility built in, and the activity panels and a pulley-and-bucket system are positioned so every child can reach and play. It’s not a standard sandpit with access added as an afterthought. Set in thoughtfully landscaped surrounds, with natural materials and native planting, the end product is as beautiful as it is practical. The result reflects what the kids themselves asked for, rather than a standard catalogue layout.

Design & Spec Notes

Location: Oxley Primary School, Oxley, Victoria