Ascot State School facts for kids

Ascot State School is a special school with a long history, located on Pringle Street in Ascot, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by the Department of Public Works (Queensland) and built between 1919 and 1939. Because of its importance, it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on April 7, 2017.

School History

Ascot State School opened its doors in 1920. It's located in Ascot, a suburb of Brisbane, about 6 kilometers (about 3.7 miles) northeast of the city center. This school is special because it shows how education and school buildings have changed over time in Queensland. It still has three original brick school buildings (called Block A, B, and C) that were built between 1920 and 1939. Block B even has rare educational murals painted on its walls! The school is set in beautiful grounds with a playing field, sports areas, and old trees. It has always been a very important part of the Ascot community.

Early Days and Growth

The land where Ascot is now was traditionally home to the Turrbal and Jagera Aboriginal people. In the late 1800s, land in Ascot was sold and divided into smaller blocks. This area grew more popular after the Doomben railway line opened in 1882 and electric trams started running to the racecourse in 1899.

Building schools was a key step in helping new communities grow and succeed. Schools often became the heart of the community, with local people helping to maintain and develop them. They were a sign of progress and a source of pride.

Around 1909, big changes started happening in Queensland's education system. High schools were introduced, technical education grew, and the University of Queensland was started. The government also made it easier to build new schools by removing the rule that local communities had to pay part of the construction costs. School attendance became more strictly enforced, leading to more students across Queensland.

People in Ascot started asking for a state school in 1914. The land for the school, located between Pringle, Anthony, and Massey Streets, was bought in May 1914. A committee was formed in 1915 to organize the school, but World War I caused delays due to lack of money.

Finally, approval for the school was given on June 13, 1919. Brick school buildings were not as common as wooden ones. They were usually built in richer city areas with many people. Each brick school building was designed uniquely but often had similar classroom sizes and window layouts to let in natural light and fresh air. These brick schools looked grander and stood out more than other school buildings.

Opening and Early Improvements

Ascot State School officially opened on May 24, 1920, with 124 students. The first brick building, now called Block A, was described as "attractive." It had three classrooms, a verandah (a covered porch), and a teachers' room. Each classroom had many windows for light and a special ceiling with a vent. The building was designed for 120 students.

School grounds were also very important in Queensland. Schools encouraged outdoor play and sports like ovals and tennis courts. Gardens were also encouraged, as people believed gardening taught hard work and improved discipline. From the very beginning, Ascot State School focused on creating a beautiful environment. The school's gardens were admired by many. Instead of just having an "Arbor Day" (tree-planting day), students had practical lessons on planting and growing plants every Thursday.

In its first year, the school committee made huge improvements to the grounds. They created gardens, installed water lines, added playground equipment, built a tennis court, and even a swimming pool. The school also had a tree-planting plan, focusing on colorful flowering trees like poinciana and jacaranda around the edges of the grounds. However, the school's small oval (playing field) was rough and sometimes muddy, taking years to improve.

Growing Pains and New Buildings

Soon after opening, Ascot State School had too many students for its size. By April 1921, less than a year after opening, there were 310 students! The government provided money for an extra wing in October 1922. This new northern wing, now called Block C, was finished and opened on October 20, 1923. It was connected to the first building by a verandah and had three new classrooms and a teachers' room. The space underneath was used for play and a gymnasium.

As more families moved to Ascot, student numbers kept growing. By 1927, there were 568 students, and some classes had to be taught in the undercroft (the open space under the building). To help with this, the Department of Public Works planned a new southern block, Block B, which would create a U-shaped school complex.

Block B opened on August 25, 1928. It was made of brick and added four classrooms upstairs and one downstairs, each about 20 by 20 feet (about 6 by 6 meters). This added space for 200 more students. The upstairs classrooms had folding walls that could be opened to create one large assembly room.

The Great Depression and World War II

The Great Depression, which started in 1929, slowed down new building projects for a few years. The government then started a large building program to create jobs and build useful, long-lasting buildings for the state. This included schools.

An extension to Block C was approved and started in September 1932. It added two classrooms and hat rooms, plus toilets underneath, providing space for 80 more students. The design matched the existing buildings. Toilets were also built under Block B, and a dressing shed was added to the swimming pool.

Even after these additions, more classrooms were needed. By June 1933, the school had 707 students but only 13 classrooms for 520 students. Plans for a major extension to Block B were approved in December 1933. This addition was three stories high and included a large classroom designed like a "one-teacher school" with a gallery for trainee teachers. The top floor had two more classrooms. Folding walls allowed these rooms to combine with existing classrooms to form a large assembly hall.

In 1935, the head teacher asked for even more space. Work on another addition to Block C didn't start until May 1939, by which time the school had 822 students. These additions completed the symmetrical layout of the school buildings. They added four classrooms, a teachers' room, and more. Each classroom had folding walls to create larger spaces.

During this time, the grounds also changed. New concrete paths and steps were added. A new tennis court was built because the old one was in the way of the new building.

Children digging air raid trenches for protection during World War II in 1942.

When World War II started in the Pacific in 1942, it affected schools. Many coastal schools in Queensland closed temporarily due to fears of a Japanese invasion. When they reopened, attending school was optional. Students at Queensland state schools, including Ascot, dug slit trenches to protect themselves from air raids. Schools also helped with the war effort by growing vegetables and flowers for hospitals and raising money for soldiers.

Post-War Growth and Community Spirit

After World War II, Ascot's population continued to grow, and so did the school. Student numbers reached a peak of 1433 in 1959! The education department was not ready for this huge increase, known as the "baby boom." Many new buildings were constructed, and existing ones were extended. Several new buildings were added at Ascot State School between 1950 and 1960, though most have since been replaced.

The school grounds also improved. In 1955, plans were made to develop the oval. The Brisbane City Council agreed to let the school use nearby park land as a playground during school hours, while the public could use it at other times. This land became the upgraded Meibush Oval, named after a former principal, and opened in 1956. More improvements to the oval, including concrete stairs, were made in 1963.

In 1964, Grade 8 students moved to secondary schools, which helped ease the pressure on classroom space. However, the school continued to add new facilities and improve existing ones in the following decades.

Over time, the original buildings were also updated. Verandahs were enclosed, and classrooms were upgraded. The roofs of Blocks A, B, and C were re-tiled in 1982.

The school grounds also saw big changes. A larger swimming pool replaced the old one in 1966. In the 1980s, the areas between the main blocks were landscaped, and the adventure playground was improved. In 2000, a tennis court was turned into a covered area, and a new canteen was added.

Community involvement has always been a big part of Ascot State School. In the early years, parents created gardens, built playground equipment, and constructed the tennis court and swimming pool. For about 10 years starting around 1923, the Ascot Show Society even held its annual show on the school grounds. Fundraising events like walkathons were popular in later decades.

Unique Murals

A special feature of Ascot State School is its educational murals, which were painted directly on classroom walls. The first ones were done by a professional artist by 1930. Others were painted by Arthur E Guymer, who was a trainee and then a teacher at the school in the 1930s. These murals showed Queensland industries like sheep and cattle farming, mining, and sugar growing. In the younger students' classrooms, characters like Brer Rabbit and Donald Duck were painted. Today, some classrooms in Block B still have murals about Queensland industries, transport, tourism, Australian states, and New Zealand.

As of 2017, Ascot State School still operates from its original location. It keeps its historic brick buildings, set in beautiful grounds with sports areas and old shade trees. Ascot State School is very important to the Ascot community. It has taught generations of students and hosted many social events since it first opened.

School Buildings and Grounds

Site plan of Ascot State School in 2017.

Ascot State School is built on a sloping site of about 1.8 hectares (about 4.5 acres) in Ascot. The school is mainly accessed from Pringle Street to the north. The three main brick school buildings (Blocks A, B, and C) are located on the higher, western side of the grounds. They are connected and form a U-shape. A large playing field is on the lower, eastern part of the site. The school grounds also have many important old trees and landscaped areas, including a courtyard between the main buildings. Block B is especially unique because of its rare educational murals inside the classrooms.

Main Brick Buildings (Blocks A, B, and C)

These three buildings are made of brick and timber, with tiled roofs that have pointed or "Dutch-gable" ends. These ends have decorative timber designs and prominent pointed towers (called fleches) on top of the roofs. The buildings are arranged in a U-shape: Block A is in the middle to the west, Block B is to the south, and Block C is to the north.

The buildings have different numbers of stories because the land slopes. Block A has one main story with an enclosed space underneath. Blocks B and C have open spaces underneath at the west and enclosed spaces at the east. The first floors of all three blocks are connected by a continuous verandah (covered walkway). This verandah runs along the north of Block C, east of Block A, and south of Block B.

The verandahs have timber floors and posts, and brick walls. Some parts still have old timber walls that were once hat racks. Teachers' rooms are connected to the verandahs of Block A and C. Block B's verandah has a decorative scalloped edge.

Inside, the classrooms and offices are arranged in a line, mostly leading off the verandahs. On the first floor, Block A has three classrooms, Block B has six, and Block C has four. Most of the walls between classrooms have been partly removed, but some original timber sections remain.

The lower levels of the buildings have open play spaces and some enclosed classrooms or storage rooms. These areas have brick columns, which are rounded at the top.

One of the most interesting features is the rare educational murals in Block B. These paintings on the walls and beams show topics like tourism, transport, farming, and Australian states. Most have a detailed picture with words next to it. Some murals in the lower classroom of Block B have been covered, but they are likely still there underneath the paint.

Most of the original timber windows and doors are still in place. These include double-hung windows, casement windows, and timber doors. Many windows have tiled hoods over them to provide shelter.

Outdoor Areas

The school grounds are well-established with various old trees, paved areas, and courtyards. Retaining walls and stairs create terraces down to the playing field on the east. Newer buildings often use similar brickwork and tiled roofs to match the older ones.

Concrete stairs on the south side of the playing field and near the swimming pool provide access from Massey Street.

A courtyard between Blocks A, B, and C has a covered play space, a modern sculpture garden, and mosaic artworks. A paved path leads from the courtyard down to the playing field, creating a clear line of sight across the school. Tall palm trees are planted in rows in the courtyard.

Many old trees, including Poincianas, silky oaks, ironbarks, tulipwoods, and Jacarandas, are found along the northern and eastern edges of the playing field. There's also an old mango tree at the northeastern end of the playing field.

You can get great views of the old brick school buildings from Anthony and Pringle streets, looking over the open play areas.

Why Ascot State School is Special

Ascot State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on April 7, 2017, because it meets several important criteria:

It shows how Queensland's history has changed. Ascot State School is important because it shows how state education and school buildings have developed in Queensland since 1920. The school still has excellent examples of government-designed school buildings that show how educational ideas changed over time. These buildings are set in landscaped grounds with sports facilities and old trees.

The three brick school buildings (from 1920, 1923–39, and 1928–34) show the best designs for natural light, classroom size, and building height developed by the Department of Public Works. They also show how brick buildings became popular for schools in growing city areas in the early 1900s. The additions made in the 1930s were part of the Queensland Government's plan to create jobs and help the economy during the Great Depression.

The school's grounds, with their old trees, sports areas, and landscaping, show how important play and a beautiful environment were considered for children's education.

It has rare and unique features. The educational murals painted on the classroom walls of Block B in the 1930s are very rare. They are still in good condition and are the only known murals of their kind in Queensland.

It shows the main features of a Queensland state school. Ascot State School is a great example of a Queensland state school, even with later changes. It has teaching buildings designed individually, and large, landscaped grounds with old trees, assembly areas, play spaces, and sports facilities.

The brick school buildings are excellent examples of their type. They are high-set (raised off the ground), have classrooms and teachers' rooms accessed by verandahs, and open play spaces or extra classrooms underneath. They are built with strong brick walls and have special roof features. These types of schools were often built in a U-shape to create central courtyards in growing suburban areas.

It is beautiful to look at. The brick school buildings at Ascot State School are beautiful because of their balanced layout, consistent design, size, materials, and fine details like timber work.

These buildings are still in great condition and show how the school was planned from the beginning, with the main building placed in a prominent spot on the sloping site. The school's setting is made even more beautiful by the old trees and formal landscaping, like retaining walls and stairs.

The buildings also add to the beauty of the streets around them, like Anthony and Pringle Streets.

It has a strong connection to the community. Schools have always been important in Queensland communities. They often have strong and lasting connections with former students, parents, and teachers. They provide a place for people to meet and volunteer, and they are a source of pride, showing the community's progress and hopes.

Ascot State School has a strong and ongoing connection with the local community. It grew from 1920 thanks to the fundraising efforts of local people, and generations of Ascot children have been educated there. The school is important for helping the educational development of its area and is a key meeting place for social events with wide community support.

Famous Former Students

• Nick Earls, author
• Henry George Fryberg, a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland
• Stephanie Rice, Olympic swimmer
• Grace Shaw, musician
• Avra Velis, musician

See also

• History of state education in Queensland
• List of schools in Greater Brisbane