Learning doesn’t always happen within four walls. Now in its third year, Calvary’s Year 10 students ventured into the city over 2 days, becoming their classroom as they explored Brisbane’s history, infrastructure, and future. The “Year 10 in the City” program gave students the chance to connect theory from the classroom with real-world experiences — making lessons on sustainability, urbanisation, and the upcoming Olympics come alive.

What It’s About

This unit is centred on sustainability and urban renewal, with a special focus on how Brisbane is preparing for the 2032 Olympic Games. By stepping outside the classroom, students were able to see firsthand how urban infrastructure is designed, how the city evolves over time, and how global concepts like transportation and trade link back to their own community.

The program also aimed to deepen students’ appreciation for Brisbane’s past. From early settlement and penal colony history through to modern stadiums and shipping ports, students engaged with stories and sites that highlighted the city’s growth and transformation.

What They Did

The week was filled with immersive activities across Brisbane’s key sites:

• New Farm Park & Powerhouse: Students explored historical sites on a walking tour, then enjoyed a visit to the Powerhouse, connecting heritage with the arts.
• Maritime Museum: A guided history tour and a chance to step aboard a ship brought lessons on Brisbane’s maritime past to life.
• Suncorp Stadium: With exclusive access to the entire stadium, students discovered its layered history — from penal colony to cemetery to circus grounds, complete with a quirky story about an elephant buried on site.
• Port of Brisbane: The program wrapped up with insights into globalisation, shipping, and transport at the Port, linking local experiences to broader global systems.

What Students Took Away

Students not only learned surprising historical facts — like the hidden past beneath Suncorp Stadium — but also gained a stronger grasp of how infrastructure, history, and globalisation shape the city around them. More importantly, walking through the sites themselves gave them a tactile, memorable experience that solidified classroom theory and sparked genuine interest in the subjects they are studying.

Christo E - Year 10 Student

I learned a lot during Classroom in the City. On Day 1, we explored the history of several significant sites across Brisbane and how they have been transformed into places people can use today – like the Brisbane Powerhouse, which has been turned into a thriving arts hub. We also visited the Maritime Museum, where we toured a ship that was originally built for WWII and later converted into a research vessel.

On Day 2, we toured Suncorp Stadium and learned about its rich history, as well as the history of the grounds on which the stadium stands. After Suncorp, we had the opportunity to visit the Port of Brisbane and discover its history, its economic influence, and how the port operates.

Overall, I learned so much during those two days and hope that the next group of Year 10 students will enjoy it just as much as we did.

Jessical L - Year 10 Student

Our Classroom in the City trip was an awesome experience – a real eye-opener!
On a personal note, I didn’t have high expectations, but I actually ended up really enjoying it. This excursion gave me the chance to connect with my classmates and offered a valuable learning experience outside the usual classroom setting.

On the first day, we walked through New Farm Park, which had some of the most breathtaking scenery I’ve ever seen. After that, we visited the art museum, which was one of my favourite destinations (partially because of the food options). We admired the beautiful artworks, shared which pieces we liked most, and before I knew it, the day was over. Thankfully, the trip was spread over two days!

On the second day, we toured Suncorp Stadium and gained exclusive insights into the management of the Port of Brisbane. Both days were not only fun but also helped us learn more about Brisbane’s history.

For me, the best part was that this experience made learning outside the college grounds enjoyable and engaging. If I had the chance to do it again, I definitely wouldn’t want to miss it!

Ella M - Year 10 Student

I think that Classroom in the city is a great experience for students, as they get to explore and learn more about the Brisbane history. My favourite part was probably the Maritime Museum as we got to explore a ship that had actually been used in a war by the navy. It was also amazing the amount of freedom students had so that we could go and explore by ourselves. It gave us an opportunity to go places that we wouldn't necessarily go by ourselves and gave us a view of different parts of the city. I truly hope that the future Year 10s have as much fun as we did!