Former principal David Crelley (left), Premier Chris Minns and Member for Murray Helen Dalton turn the sods for the new hall with the Griffith High captains. Photo: Supplied.
Griffith’s only two public high schools will each have a new multipurpose hall built in them, NSW Premier Chris Minns said in a visit to the town on Friday (4 April).
It was also confirmed that the two schools will be renamed or have their previous names reinstated by mid-May.
In 2018, Griffith High and Wade High were combined into a so-called ‘’super school’’, Murrumbidgee Regional High School, a concept championed by former National Party education minister Adrian Piccoli.
However, persistent problems and falling enrolment numbers saw the schools separated by the NSW Labor Government in 2024.
In February 2025, the NSW Department of Education launched an online survey to give people the chance to vote on new names for each of the schools.
People were offered the option of giving the former Griffith High its old name again or changing it to Griffith City High, Griffith Secondary School, or a fourth choice, in which the survey respondents wrote in their own idea.
Options for the former Wade High were to regain its historical name, or instead be called Murrumbidgee High, Burley Griffin High [after the man who designed the city] or a fourth choice, offered by the survey respondent.
“[Former principal] David Crelley has led the consultation process with staff, students and community members around the proposed names,” Department of Education official Jayne Gill said.
“There are committees from both schools who came up with the preferred names and two others. They’ve been put to the Geographical Names Board and that goes through on 6 May. After that, I will put up a briefing to the Minister for Education, who will make the decision … probably by mid-May.”
Region asked Ms Gill whether the online survey results would be made public.
“Not at this stage … let’s just say on both sites there was an overwhelming majority … but it wasn’t clear cut, there were people that did want to rename both sites, so at least everyone has had their say,” she said.
Premier Minns credited local MP, Member for Murray Helen Dalton, with both the school demerger and the decision to have new halls built at each campus.
“Helen insisted that the change needed to occur, [so] the Minister for Education Prue Car made what I regard as a common-sense decision, listened to the community [to] have the separate schools,” Mr Minns said.
“[She] also insisted these school halls be built … construction will begin soon, we don’t believe it will take too long.”
The new halls at the Griffith and Wade schools will provide venues for community plays, sports events, fitness training and gatherings.
Each facility will include air-conditioned performance spaces, kitchenettes, a full-sized basketball court, storage rooms, accessible toilets, showers, change rooms and undercover areas.
At present, Wade High does not have a hall, while the Griffith High hall is rundown and not fit for purpose.
“Throughout the demerger process, listening to the community has been key for me and I’ve fought hard to ensure these new multipurpose halls are truly fit for purpose,” Mrs Dalton said.
Zauner Construction will build the multipurpose halls at both schools, including stages and retractable seating for audiences. The Griffith site’s library will also be refurbished.
Consultation on new school uniforms and crests is expected later this year.
