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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Treasurer and Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and Member for McConnel Grace Grace have revealed the new high school opening in Brisbane’s inner north in 2020 will be formally known as Fortitude Valley State Secondary College.

The Premier said the new school, which will welcome its foundation Year 7 class in January, would be a game changer for Brisbane city.

“I’m proud that my government stopped the LNP’s planned sell off of the former Fortitude Valley State School and that the site can now be re-purposed as the new Fortitude Valley State Secondary College,” The Premier said.

“The college will be the first high school to be built in Brisbane’s inner city in more than 50 years and I’m excited to be able to join with Grace to give the school an identity as it prepares for it’s opening on day one of the 2020 school year.”

Ms Grace said she had recently met with prospective students and parents at a community BBQ at the Holy Trinity Church Hall in Fortitude Valley, and the name was a popular choice.

She said the construction of Fortitude Valley State Secondary College would support an estimated 325 jobs across its two-stage construction phase.

“Hutchinson Builders are doing a fantastic job with the build, which includes a vertical junior learning block that will reach seven storeys when complete,” she said.

The college’s Brookes Street precinct will accommodate the foundation Year 7 students and will be ready for the first day of the 2020 school year.

The St Pauls Terrace precinct will be delivered during 2020, welcoming students in Semester 2.

Foundation Principal Sharon Barker said she was passionate about developing a new school that will deliver high quality education for Brisbane’s inner city north community.

“Fortitude Valley is in this wonderful position at the moment where it’s right on the edge of something very exciting,” Ms Barker said.

“Acknowledging Fortitude Valley in the name of our school is a testament to both our location and the important role that we’d like our local community to play in developing the culture of our school.

“As a very proud state school principal, I look forward to welcoming students from every background and capability – this will bring great diversity which will be a strength of our new college.”