Students returned to Beechworth Secondary College this week to find some buildings missing and fences around others.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But it's good news, because their school's long-awaited upgrade has begun.
A community push for funding, that began with a Facebook page started by students in 2014, culminated in the Victorian government announcing $9.4 million to build a new science and resource centre in July, 2018.
It's the first stage in a masterplan formed in 2010.
Principal Patricia Broom said with designs in the bag, the school had set about a tender process after the budget money came through.
"We finally finished the tender process at the end of term three," she said.
"There was a bit of a delay as they could only knock down over the break because of the asbestos removal.
"We should be moving into our new building in December, if all goes to plan.
"Early on we'll be doing brand new tennis and basketball courts - they're in a sorry state."
Some structures date back to the 1950s.
All asbestos has been cleared but history has presented other challenges, like a large boiler that supplied gas heating for the entire school needing to go.
And a metal sculpture of an elephant - linked to a story of a circus in town during the Gold Rush - will be moved.
Ms Broom said work had been done on portables through a separate state-funded maintenance program.
"Even though there's quite a bit being demolished, there's only a couple classrooms that we were using," she said.
"It will be awkward for a year, but it will be worth it."
A final stage of a drama, music, and technology building still needs money.
"I'm hoping for the next build in the next budget; we have another building to go," she said.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"It's probably not as much [in cost] because it's not science labs - it's classrooms and a drama room."
A community celebration of the project's beginning was rescheduled to February, in consideration of fires.
"It's getting a really good response from the community; we've got improved numbers for year 7s this year," Ms Broom said.
"It's going to be really great, we'll be able to open rooms up for community use."