School where INXS formed more than 40 years ago long overdue for upgrade

Fires continue to burn out of control in Victoria

A school hall and the birthplace of one of Australia’s most iconic rock bands hasn’t been upgraded in decades, leaving parents to petition for renovations.

Davidson High School in Frenchs Forest, in Sydney’s north, is cramped and crumbling, with students forced to watch school events and assemblies in rounds as there is not enough space to accommodate them.

The Farris brothers met Michael Hutchence at the school more than 40 years ago, later forming Aussie rock band INXS in the school’s music room.

A school hall and the birthplace of one of Australia’s most iconic rock bands hasn’t been upgraded in decades, leaving parents to petition for renovations.

Davidson High School in Frenchs Forest, in Sydney’s north, is cramped and crumbling, with students forced to watch school events and assemblies in rounds.

“We have school events broken up into sections of year groups because not everybody fits in the hall,” Parents and Citizens Association President Anahita Olsen said.

“We’re also a performing arts school that has nowhere to perform.”

Documents obtained by 9News through freedom of information laws show that the school’s enrollment is expected to soar to 1073 students by 2036.

It currently has 656 students enrolled.

The school currently hires a local theatre for performances, at $18,000 each time, which is passed onto the parents through ticket sales.

Documents obtained by 9News through freedom of information laws show that the school’s enrollment is expected to soar to 1073 students by 2036.

The school currently hires a local theatre for performances, at $18,000 each time, which is passed onto the parents through ticket sales.

More than 800 parents have signed the petition for upgrades to the school, with one commenting on the online petition, saying: “The toilet door in the female bathrooms is so small that people can see you when you sit on the toilet!”

The education minister’s office says while it was left with a “backlog” of school and public infrastructure upgrades, the school was next in line.

“Davidson High School is next on the list and that’s why I’m calling on the minister to fund this upgrade in the budget,” Davidson MP Matt Cross said.