De La Salle College Malvern is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievement of Year 10 students Jack M and Finley Clarke, who were recently named Joint Winners of the Melbourne University Retrofit Student Competition. Selected from submissions by more than 30 schools across Victoria, this remarkable accomplishment highlights both the creativity and the ingenuity of our young leaders.
Reimagining Melbourne in 2050
The Retrofit Student Competition, hosted by The Retrofit Lab at the University of Melbourne, challenged students in Years 7–10 to reimagine a Melbourne location as it might appear in the year 2050. With a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and social benefit, participants were encouraged to explore innovative ways of retrofitting and adapting urban spaces for the future.
Jack and Finley’s entries stood out for their visionary designs that combined bold creativity with the ethical use of artificial intelligence to produce compelling visual representations. Their projects not only demonstrated a sophisticated grasp of sustainability but also reflected a forward-thinking approach to solving real-world challenges.
Recognised Among Victoria’s Brightest Young Thinkers
The students’ work is currently on display as part of the Retrofit Exhibition at the University of Melbourne, which runs from July through to September 2025. This exhibition showcases leading concepts in climate-ready design and adaptive reuse, placing Jack and Finley’s projects alongside the very best ideas in the field.
A Testament to Innovation and Resilience
Beyond their technical skill, what made Jack and Finley’s contributions especially inspiring was their ability to demonstrate persistence and innovative problem-solving. Their achievement reflects not only their personal commitment but also De La Salle College’s dedication to fostering creativity, ethical innovation, and environmental stewardship among students.
As a College, we are immensely proud of Jack and Finley. Their success reinforces our mission to empower students to be forward-looking leaders who combine knowledge with character to make a positive impact on society.
