Kapunda High School Reinstatement & Restoration Project
Project: Kapunda High School Reinstatement & Restoration Project
Practice: Grieve Gillett Architects
Location: Kapunda, SA
Planex products: xLocker2 System with angled top
Lock technology: Hasp Lock
Planex’s xLocker2 system was specified by Grieve Gillett Architects for the Kapunda High School reinstatement and restoration project, forming part of a new learning building within the broader restoration of the 1876 State Heritage-listed Eringa House precinct. The project follows the loss of nearby heritage classrooms to fire in 2022 and represents a sensitive response to both heritage and contemporary educational requirements.
Planex has supported Kapunda High School across multiple stages of redevelopment and growth, delivering a consistent locker solution that adapts to evolving teaching models and agile learning environments. The xLocker2 system was selected for its flexibility, durability and ability to respond to varied spatial and functional needs within the school context.
In this stage of the project, lockers are located within circulation corridors and finished in a Pale Eucalypt powder coat, allowing them to integrate seamlessly with the architectural palette of the learning spaces. The colour references the surrounding landscape and the sandstone tones of Eringa House, while the inclusion of First Nations Buunhu perforation adds cultural significance and visual texture to the joinery elements.
The new learning building replaces the facility lost in the fire and provides contemporary classrooms, an art room and staff spaces. A generous outdoor deck supports informal and outdoor learning, strengthening visual and physical connections to the heritage lawns and the iconic Moreton Bay Fig tree.
This restoration project honours the legacy of Sir Sidney and Isabel Kidman’s 1920s donation of the homestead to the Education Department, ensuring Eringa House continues to serve the Kapunda community. The result is a thoughtfully integrated educational environment that balances heritage conservation with accessible, high-quality facilities for current and future students.
Photography by Daniel Trimboli