The original school building, which dates back to 1876, has had new terracotta roof tiles laid over the summer break.

Principal Peter Auchettl said scaffolding was erected just prior to Christmas and works were expected to be completed this week. 

“They’re replacing the roof so it’s a pretty big job and there’s some internal repairs as well,” he said. 

Mr Auchettl said terracotta tiles laid in the late ‘60s or ‘70s, which replaced the original slate roof, had perished over time. 

“We’ve managed to get some funding to get it replaced and it looks really smart. It’s just a beautiful building,” he said.

Included in the works is the restoration of the bell tower, pending an engineer’s report, which he said was exciting. 

“We’ll have to try and fit that in. It will either be before we go back or in the first-term holidays,” he said. 

“If you look at the old pictures of the school it didn’t have that cone bit, that came from the old Warrnambool agriculture college, which is on our site now and is our infant building. It was moved across in about 1911.”

He said the holidays enabled the work to be completed. 

“From a safety aspect it has to be done now and then we’ve also got painters and plasterers inside repairing water damage. By the time the students come back it should be spic and span,” he said.