Council staff wrote to the minister requesting an interim heritage overlay on one of the buildings after the school and Education Department refused a request to withdraw the planning application.

The building was slated for demolition as part of the project designed to modernise the school’s classrooms and facilities, but if the school is forced to retain the building it would have to come at the expense of some of the new classrooms.

Council staff say the building, which was constructed in 1881, has been identified as “locally significant” and should be protected.

The city’s planning and development manager Prue Mansfield has asked Mr Wynne to block the Education Department’s planned demolition of the building on an interim basis so a permanent heritage overlay can be publicly exhibited.

Councillors will vote on whether to endorse Ms Mansfield’s request at Wednesday night’s council meeting, but have previously voted to endorse stage two of the White Hills and East Bendigo Heritage Study which first identified the building as historically significant.

In her report to council, amendments and heritage co-ordinator Emma Bryant argues the new school designs don’t include any new construction on the site of the historic building, but Whipstick ward councillor Peter Cox said retaining the building would reduce the total teaching space allocated to the school, impacting the design.

“The problem is when you have a new build of a school there’s pressure put on the school and the amount of square metres that that building takes up will not  be included in the new build,” he said.

But Cr Cox said that situation could be avoided if the building was instead set aside as a community space or even moved, citing the relocation of the Wes Vine hall from the site of Eaglehawk Secondary College.

“We were able to negotiate to save that by shifting it to the Truscott Reserve, and that’s a very large building and it’s put to good use these days with community functions and particularly the Eaglehawk Soccer Club,” he said.

Cr Cox committed to continued consultation with the school and wider Epsom community even if councillors voted to back the request for an interim heritage overlay. “Of course the consultation is just so important with the Epsom and school community, so we’ll work that through over the coming months,” he said.

Fellow Whipstick ward councillor James Williams said he believed the building was of historical significance, but also committed to further consultation. “What we’re looking for is just an interim overlay that will just give us the opportunity to discuss that with all [parties] and explore the options in regard to a meeting place in the area and whether that building could be suitable.”

An Education Department spokesman the community was consulted about the new school design and there were no objections or concerns raised about the demolition of the old administration building.

“A thorough investigation of the school's heritage was also conducted, which found the building does not have heritage listing, is poorly positioned, out of place with the new school's design and would be expensive for the school to maintain,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Mr Wynne confirmed he had received Ms Mansfield’s request but said “the planning department has responded to say their request cannot be considered until more information has been provided”.