The ACT National Trust has released a media statement outlining its concerns about the Flynn Primary School building. This is a copy of that statement.

The ACT National Trust is becoming increasingly concerned about the future of the former Flynn school building.

Flynn School was among the group of schools, which included the heritage listed Tharwa and Hall primary schools, closed by the ACT government in 2006. Since then the Flynn school has remained vacant.

Designed by prominent architect, Enrico Taglietti, the school was built in 1971–1973 in the shape of an aeroplane to commemorate the Reverend John Flynn (1880-1951). John Flynn was the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Australian Inland Mission; two institutions which are historically significant to Australia’s history.

The ACT National Trust supported a heritage nomination for the school by the John Flynn Community Group in December 2007. The heritage nomination outlined the historical and architectural significance of the building and its associations with the work of Enrico Taglietti. The school was also the first foray into open plan design schools in the ACT.

The Trust is concerned that the building complex is at high risk of neglect and is prone to wilful vandalism. Our concerns are heighted by the snail-pace process of heritage nominations by the ACT Government which leaves this historically important building without heritage protection – making it vulnerable to future inappropriate use.

Statement courtesy of the ACT National Trust at: http://www.nationaltrust.org.au