# Melba College

Melba Secondary College is a public secondary school located in Croydon, Victoria, a suburb in the eastern part of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Established in 2012, Melba College serves students in Years 7 to 12 and has an enrollment of approximately 680 students. The school’s main campus is located on Brentnall Road in Croydon.

## History

In 2009, a proposal was made to merge Maroondah and Croydon Secondary Colleges to create a new educational facility aimed at improving secondary education within the region. The plan was part of the Maroondah Education Coalition's efforts, though it faced considerable community opposition. Despite this, the decision to combine the schools was finalized, and Maroondah and Croydon Secondary Colleges officially ceased operations as independent entities at the end of 2011.
In 2012, the merged school was temporarily named **Croydon Maroondah Secondary College** and continued to operate across the two campuses. This name remained until 2013, when the school was officially rebranded as **Melba Secondary College** in honor of the celebrated Australian opera singer, Nellie Melba. The community had been consulted for potential name suggestions, with the name "Melba" chosen in recognition of Melba's cultural significance.
The merger also saw the closure of the nearby Parkwood Secondary College, with some of its students enrolling at the newly formed Melba College. The school’s founding principal was Terry Bennett, who had previously led Maroondah Secondary College.
Between 2013 and 2017, the school operated across two campuses, with the former Croydon Secondary College campus serving as the Junior Campus, and the former Maroondah Secondary College campus on Brentnall Road as the Senior Campus. In 2018, after substantial redevelopment of the Brentnall Road campus, Melba College became a single-campus school.

## Building Works

The Maroondah and Croydon Secondary Colleges were part of the Maroondah Education Coalition, which was promised $100 million for the redevelopment of school buildings by the Victorian government before the 2010 state election. However, when the government changed, the funding was not provided, and the two schools operated without major upgrades until after their merger.
In the lead-up to the 2014 state election, both major political parties pledged $10 million in funding for school upgrades. Subsequently, Melba College was included in the 2015/2016 state budget as part of a $217 million project for statewide school infrastructure improvements. In addition, the school received $500,000 in planning funds for a $18.4 million upgrade, as part of the Maroondah Education Plan.
Stage 1 of the redevelopment commenced in July 2015 and was completed by May 2018, with the new facilities winning the **Best School Project Above $5 Million** award at the 2018 Victorian School Design Awards. With this stage complete, the Junior Campus at the former Croydon Secondary College site was closed, and all students began studying at the upgraded Brentnall Road campus. Stage 2 of the redevelopment is funded by the 2018/2019 state budget and was expected to be completed by mid-2020.

## Programs

The school is affiliated with School Sport Victoria (SSV) and provides various sports opportunities including basketball, football, netball, and swimming. It also offers programs in performing arts, music, and visual arts, with student participation in local and state competitions.
Furthermore, Melba College offers a strong academic focus, providing a wide array of subjects to its students in both junior and senior years. These programs include STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), humanities, and languages, with a special focus on career pathways to higher education and vocational training.

## Notable Alumni

* Nellie Melba (1890–1964) – internationally renowned opera singer, namesake of the school