For the past six months, students, teachers, parents, carers and community groups have spent a lot of time and energy in creating Wupilliko Kauma - a place to gather together.

Instigated by the school's Aboriginal Education team, the space is more than garden, it is an educational tool, classroom and play area that is centred on Aboriginal culture, especially the importance of meeting places.

It features a mural, yarning circle (circular seating) and frog pond.

Year 3 teacher Gemma Hadden, who is a member of the Aboriginal Education team, said the garden had taken more than a year to create, from inception to completion.

It cost $16,000, with $10,000 coming from Hunter Water, which the school won at the inaugural Water Catchers competition.

Mrs Hadden said the dollar figure was not the garden's true value as it had been built through 1500 hours of donated and volunteered time.

Teachers, parents, students and groups, such as Redhead Men's Shed and Landcare, as well as businesses such as Bunnings Belmont had contributed.

Mrs Hadden said she watched the collaborative effort turn obstacles into opportunities.

A 70-metre eucalyptus that came down in the April superstorm was turned into a retainer wall that would be used for seating and stepping stones for pathways through the garden.

"It is a place to go, relax, have a yarn and do stuff," said Tingira Heights artist and school community member Nolan Simon, who helped with the garden.

Mr Simon said each feature and artwork were linked to this philosophy.

He worked with students to create the mural. He painted the meeting place symbol then students painted feet to illustrate people going to the meeting and then signed the mural in the traditional Aboriginal way - with their handprint.

Under his guidance, students embedded the ochre cement pathway with symbols for people sitting and the meeting place, again signed with handprints.

As the frog pond was being built, Mr Simon told the story of Tiddalick the frog and the lesson of sharing.

When the garden was officially opened today, Wednesday, a time capsule with items representing "the time, creativity and soul put into the garden" was buried in honour of the community 's collaborative effort.