Protests over Indigenous school demolition

A small but passionate group of protesters has temporarily halted demolition of Melbourne's only all-Aboriginal school in the city's north.

The group has been trying to save the building and a sacred tree since 2009 and claims the education department has refused to negotiate.

The Victorian Education Department says it has listened to the community concerns and made provisions to accomodate the 18 students elsewhere.

But the community says it simply wants to retain the humble but culturally important building and retain the tree.

The protestors plan to take court action to halt the development.