OBPS survey supports community hub
Published on 07 October 2025
A survey to help inform the Old Beaufort Primary School Master Plan has shown strong support for the site to become a community hub.
The survey asking for potential community hub inclusions received 250 responses. More than half of those who filled in the survey lived in Beaufort (53%), with 21% within 10 kilometres of Beaufort, 12% in the rest of Pyrenees Shire and 14% outside the municipality.
The survey was carried out by consultant Public Realm Lab in conjunction with Pyrenees Shire Council which is overseeing the master plan process.
Potential community hub features that were ranked “very important” or “nice to have” included:
• Flexible spaces and quality facilities (91% of respondents)
• A variety of programs, workshops and activities (91%)
• Affordable hire costs and ease of booking (91%)
• Access to technology (90%)
• A warm and welcoming entrance space (87%)
• Coffee making facilities and comfortable gathering spaces (83%)
• Recognition of Beaufort’s unique culture and history (81%)
• Reception staff (70%)
Facilities ranked “very important” or “nice to have” include:
• Community gathering spaces (86% of respondents)
• Event spaces (86%)
• Education spaces - youths and adults (82%)
• A dedicated youth space (80%)
• Creative spaces (80%)
• Social support services, for example a food pantry (79%)
• A commercial kitchen (79%)
• Meeting rooms (78%)
• Pyrenees Community House (73%)
• Rehearsal spaces (73%)
• Secure storage for community groups (73%)
• Commercial spaces for hire (73%)
• Business centre (73%)
• Food and beverage offerings (71%)
• Local museums (68%)
• Fitness centre (67%)
• Community co-working (64%)
• An additional school campus facility (63%)
• Beaufort Municipal Band home (58%)
• Library/resource centre (54%)
Pyrenees Shire Council Mayor Tanya Kehoe said the survey highlighted a strong desire to turn the site into a community hub.
“It’s clear from this survey that the former school site, now unused and vandalized, is regarded as having a great deal of potential as a valuable community asset,” Cr Kehoe said.
“It’s wonderful to see the terrific response from the community to this survey, as well as the wide range of uses that have been put forward for the former school site.
“All of this information will now be used to inform the next stages of the project to further refine the master plan.”