Aramac State School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aramac State School |
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Aramac State School (Stanley teaching building), 2014
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| Location | 69 Porter Street, Aramac, Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Built | 1880, 1919, 1928, 1935 |
| Architect | Francis Drummond Greville Stanley |
| Official name: Aramac State School | |
| Type | state heritage |
| Designated | 10 October 2014 |
| Reference no. | 602842 |
| Type | Education, research, scientific facility: School-state |
| Theme | Educating Queenslanders: Providing primary schooling |
| Builders | McMahon and Cowper |
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Aramac State School is a historic school located at 69 Porter Street in Aramac, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley and built in 1880 by McMahon and Cowper. The school is important because it shows how education and school buildings have changed in Queensland over time. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 10 October 2014.
Contents
A Look Back: How Aramac School Started
Aramac State School first opened its doors in 1878 as Aramac Provisional School. A "provisional school" was a temporary school. It is located in the rural town of Aramac in central western Queensland. The school complex includes several important buildings from before World War II. These include a teaching building from 1880, a teacher's house from 1919, a "Sectional School" building from 1928, and a domestic science building from 1935.
Why Were Schools So Important?
Providing education was very important to the early governments in Australia. In Queensland, the government started to make education more standard in 1860. The State Education Act of 1875 made primary education free, compulsory, and non-religious. This helped most Queensland children learn to read and write by 1900.
Schools were a key part of new communities. Local people often helped build schools by donating land or their time. Schools became important places for social events and a source of pride for the town. Many community events, like fetes and sports days, were held at schools.
How Were Early Queensland Schools Built?
From the 1860s to the 1960s, most Queensland school buildings were made of timber. This was because timber was easy to find and many builders knew how to use it. This made building schools in remote areas easier and cheaper. Schools across the state often looked similar. They usually had teaching buildings, a school yard, a sports oval, a head teacher's house, and play areas.
The first Aramac State School had a timber school room and a separate house for the teacher. These were built using a standard design by Queensland Colonial Architect Francis Drummond Greville (FDG) Stanley. Stanley was the first to create standard designs for schools. Many later school buildings in Queensland used his "type" designs.
Stanley's designs improved on older schools by adding outer and inner wall linings. This helped protect the buildings from the weather. His designs also had specific window sizes and locations. They also featured central stairs leading to a verandah. While many Stanley schools were built, only a few are still standing today.
What Happened to the Aramac School Building?
The original 1880 school building and teacher's house were timber buildings on stumps. They had gable roofs and verandahs at the front and back. The school room was quite large and had a high, curved ceiling.
Over time, the Department of Public Works took over school building designs. They made school buildings more advanced. After 1900, architects focused on making classrooms brighter and airier. They added larger windows and improved ventilation. This made school buildings much better for learning.
Aramac faced tough times in the 1890s due to droughts and low prices for wool. The town's population went down. However, Aramac got better transport with a railway line in 1886. It also got a reliable water supply from artesian bores.
Even with fewer people, the school grew. In 1900, the original Stanley teaching building was made longer. A toilet and hat room were added. More windows were put in, and a roof ventilator was added. In 1916, the inside walls were lined, and fly screens were put on the verandahs.
Where Did Teachers Live?
Queensland was the only state in Australia that offered free housing to male teachers. This helped make up for low wages and encouraged teachers to work in country areas. It also meant someone was always on site to look after the school.
At first, teacher's houses were sometimes attached to the school building. But from the 1880s, they were built as separate houses. These houses looked like typical Queensland homes. They were usually better built than most private houses of the same size. They were located within the school grounds but often had their own fenced yard.
In 1919, a new teacher's house was built at Aramac. It was a high-set timber house with four main rooms. It had wide verandahs on three sides. The kitchen and bathroom were on the back verandah.
How Did Classrooms Improve?
During the 1920s and 1930s, many older school buildings were updated. In 1921, Aramac State School's windows were changed to let in more light and air. New windows with multiple panes replaced the old ones. The school building was also raised on stumps in 1922. This created a shaded play area underneath. Part of this area was later enclosed in 1923 to make a domestic science room.
Aramac started to grow again after a big drought ended in 1903. The town's population increased. A tramway was built in 1913, connecting Aramac to the main railway line. This helped the town and the area.
In 1920, the "Sectional School" design was created. This was a new high-set timber building design. It included all the best ideas for an ideal learning environment. It was practical and economical. It also allowed schools to easily add more classrooms as they grew. These buildings were designed so that the blank end wall could be removed to add more sections. This led to long, narrow school buildings, which are common in Queensland.
In 1928, a Sectional School building was added to Aramac State School. It had two rooms and a verandah facing north. It could hold 80 more students. A teachers' room was also added to the original Stanley building.
Learning Practical Skills: Domestic Science
The Queensland Government wanted to teach students practical skills to help local industries. After World War I, this included subjects like domestic sciences (home economics), agriculture, and metalwork. These subjects often needed special rooms.
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Aramac State School got its domestic science classroom building in 1935. This was a high-set timber building with a corrugated iron roof. It had a room for cooking and dressmaking. It also had a fitting room and a laundry. As part of these changes, the back verandah of the teacher's house was also enclosed.
Modern Changes and Today
From the 1960s to the 1980s, education in Queensland changed a lot. The Education Act of 1964 brought new ideas. School buildings started to look different. Timber was no longer the main building material, and buildings were not always high-set.
Aramac grew after World War II, with its population peaking in 1961. A high school section opened at Aramac State School in 1964. New classrooms were built for the secondary students. The domestic science building also got a new fit-out.
Other changes included replacing windows in the Stanley teaching building with louvres in 1963. The domestic science building's eastern end was enclosed to create a library. The Sectional School building was also extended to make a new staff room.
The school continued to expand in the 1970s. A two-storey brick building was added in 1973. The original Stanley school building was turned into an activity centre in 1976.
Aramac State School has always been a central part of the local community. It celebrated its 100th birthday in 1978. While the town's population has gone down, the school still operates today. The primary and secondary school uses the Stanley teaching building as an activity centre, the Sectional School building as classrooms, and the domestic science building for home economics. The teacher's residence is still used for teachers.
The school has been open since 1880 and has taught many generations of Aramac students. It remains an important place for the community.
What Does Aramac State School Look Like?
Aramac State School is located on Porter Street, on the south side of town. The school has several important early buildings, as well as newer secondary school facilities. It also has an oval and a cricket pitch.
The three oldest school buildings are connected by verandahs, forming a U-shape. The original 1880 Stanley teaching building is at the front. Behind it, and at right angles, are the 1928 Sectional School building to the south and the 1935 domestic science building to the north. The 1919 teacher's residence is separate and located a short distance north of the school.
The Stanley Teaching Building
The Stanley teaching building is made of timber and sits high on concrete stumps. It has a metal roof with gables and verandahs on the west and east sides. A teacher's room, added in 1928, is attached to the western verandah. The eastern verandah connects to the other school buildings. The area under the building is mostly open, except for a workshop at the southern end.
Inside, the walls are lined with timber boards. The ceiling is curved and has a lattice vent. Some original windows have been changed, and new doors have been added.
The Sectional School Building
The Sectional School is also a timber building, high on concrete stumps, with a corrugated metal gable roof. It has a verandah facing north and large windows on the north and south walls. The area underneath is open.
The building has two rooms connected by a large opening. The walls and curved ceiling are lined with timber boards. There are lattice ceiling vents in the middle of each room.
The Domestic Science Building
The domestic science building is a timber building with a corrugated metal roof, high on concrete stumps. Its south-facing verandah is partly enclosed to create a library. The main entrance has French doors with a fanlight above.
The inside is lined with timber boards, and the ceiling is curved with a metal tie rod. It has original cupboards and a kitchen area that was updated around the 1960s. There are also rooms for sewing and laundry on either side.
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The Teacher's Residence
The teacher's residence is a high-set house on concrete stumps. The area underneath is enclosed with timber battens. It has a hipped roof and a verandah supported by timber posts. The outside walls are clad in weatherboards.
Inside, the house has three bedrooms, a living room, and a hall in the main part. There are verandahs on the west and north sides. The dining area, bathroom, and kitchen are on the eastern verandah. Most of the internal walls are lined with timber boards.
Other buildings on the school site are not considered part of its historical significance.
Heritage Listing: Why Aramac School is Special
Aramac State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 10 October 2014. This means it is important to Queensland's history and culture.
Showing Queensland's History
Aramac State School, which opened in 1880, shows how state education and school buildings have changed in Queensland. The school has great examples of standard government designs. These designs show how architects responded to new ideas about education.
- The Stanley teaching building is an early standard design.
- The teacher's residence was built to help with a shortage of teachers after World War I.
- The Sectional School building shows how school designs improved to meet both educational and climate needs.
- The domestic science building shows how the government focused on teaching practical skills.
A Rare Example
The Stanley teaching building at Aramac State School is rare. It is one of only six known examples of this type of building still existing.
Key Features of a Queensland State School
Aramac State School shows the main features of an early Queensland state school complex. It includes:
- A Stanley teaching building (1880) with an extension (1900).
- A Sectional School building (1928).
- A teacher's residence (1919).
- A domestic science building (1935).
These buildings were built to standard designs by the Queensland Government. They are placed to allow for natural airflow and light inside. All these buildings are high-set, made of timber, and have timber-lined interiors.
Specific features include:
- The Stanley teaching building with its gable roof, front and back verandahs, and curved ceiling.
- The Sectional School building with its gable roof, northern verandah, and large south-facing windows.
- The domestic science building, which is a well-preserved vocational building with a large classroom and separate sewing and laundry rooms.
- The teacher's residence with its four main rooms and verandahs.
Changes made to these buildings, like added teacher's rooms and larger windows, show how ideas about primary education changed over time.
Important to the Community
Queensland schools have always been important to their communities. They are places for social events, volunteer work, and a source of pride. They connect past students, parents, and teachers. Aramac State School has a strong and lasting connection with the Aramac community. It was started by local efforts and has educated many generations of children. It is a key gathering place for social events in Aramac.
See Also
- List of heritage-listed places in Barcaldine Region
Images for kids
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Aramac State School (Stanley teaching building), 2014
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Original teacher's residence (subsequently replaced), Aramac State School, circa 1914
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Domestic science building, 2014
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Aramac State School, 1955
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Teacher's residence, 2014
