Block A, Townsville Technical College facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Block A, Townsville Technical College |
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Block A of Townsville Technical College, 2005
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| Location | 212–260 Stanley Street, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919–1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1920–1921 |
| Architect | Department of Public Works (Queensland) |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Townsville Technical College (former)(Block A, City Campus, Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE), Townsville State High School | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 13 May 2004 |
| Reference no. | 602158 |
| Significant period | 1920s (historical) 1960s (historical) 1920s (fabric) |
| Significant components | college – technical, dome, courtyard |
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Block A of Townsville Technical College is a heritage-listed building in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It stands at 212–260 Stanley Street in the city center. This building was designed by the Department of Public Works (Queensland). It was built between 1920 and 1921. The building is also known as Townsville State High School. It was once the City Campus of the Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on May 13, 2004.
Contents
A Look Back: The College's Story
This building was put up in 1920 and 1921. It was first known as the Townsville Technical College. It was designed for a special corner spot by the Queensland Department of Works. It is a large, two-story building made of stone. In 1924, it also became the Townsville State High School. It went back to being only a technical college in 1964.
Early Days of Technical Training
In Queensland, local groups first taught technical skills. In Townsville, the School of Arts Committee started these classes. By 1900, there were five Technical Colleges in Brisbane. Classes were also taught in eighteen other places in Queensland. Around this time, the state government became more involved.
How Technical Colleges Grew in Queensland
The government set up the Board of Technical Education in 1902. Their goal was to make technical education better and bigger. A new part of the Department of Public Instruction took over in 1905. Laws passed in 1908 and 1918 allowed the government to take control of technical colleges.
In 1904, a leader named RM Riddell explained what technical colleges were for. He said their main job was to teach skills needed for different jobs. In areas with mining, farming, or factories, technical training became very popular. Companies like the Mount Morgan Mining Company and railway workshops supported it. Student numbers grew a lot. By 1910, Queensland had a full system for technical education.
A New Building for Learning
In 1908, the Townsville Technical College committee built a new place. It was on the School of Arts site, at Stanley and Walker Streets. But this building was not good enough for technical classes. A report suggested building a brand new one. The government took some time to agree.
Why a New College Was Needed
After a lot of effort from committee members, a new college was approved. A piece of land across the street was taken over in 1917. The Department of Works drew up plans for the new building. The local committee had to pay a part of the cost. Building was delayed for a few years.
The new college was finally ready on April 19, 1921. It had two floors. The ground floor had offices and classrooms for subjects like drawing and science. The first floor had a library, teacher's room, and classes for math, art, and cooking.
Sharing Space: College and High School
The new building allowed more technical courses in Townsville. But the Department of Public Instruction also wanted students to learn general subjects. At that time, Townsville did not have a public high school. So, the Department decided to open a High School with the Technical College.
High Schools Come to Queensland
Queensland did not have a formal high school system until 1912. In 1911, the Queensland Parliament gave money for high schools. These were for towns without a grammar school. By 1912, six state high schools had opened. The government did not want to compete with grammar schools. But they were happy to use technical colleges as high schools. This saved money. The buildings were high schools during the day and technical colleges at night.
The Townsville High School opened on July 1, 1924. It started with 63 students. More space was needed by the mid-1930s. In 1939, the Stanley Street part of the building was made longer. It was built in the same style to add more classrooms.
Changes Over Time: New Homes for Education
In 1964, Townsville State High School moved to a new place. This was at Boundary Street in South Townsville. The building at Walker and Stanley Streets continued to teach technical skills. It became the Townsville TAFE College.
Later, a new TAFE campus was built on Fulham Road. The Walker/Stanley Street building became known as the City Campus. It was part of the Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE. The 1920/21 building was used for offices and classrooms.
Youth With A Mission (YWAM) moved into the building in 2013.
What Does the Building Look Like?
Block A is a very noticeable building. It is on the corner of Stanley and Walker Streets. Behind it, you can see the big Castle Hill. This two-story building has a metal roof. It is part of a group of old buildings on Stanley Street. These include the former Townsville School of Arts and the Sacred Heart Cathedral. They all make the views towards Castle Hill look beautiful.
Its Special Location and Design
The building is built right up to the street. It has three main parts. There is a rounded corner section and two wings that form an L-shape. The building's design looks like old Greek and Roman buildings. This is called classical design. You can see it in the neat rows of windows. Also, in the different roof shapes with pediments and domes. There are also fancy details like balustrades and mouldings. The design is balanced and highlights the corner spot. The outside walls are made of brick. They are painted where you can see them from the street.
The Main Entrance and Dome
The main door is at the rounded corner. It faces the intersection of Stanley and Walker Streets. This entrance area and the room above it are set back a bit. They have narrow verandahs. Above them is an eight-sided dome. Each side of the dome's base has a round window. A small, pointed tower called a fleche sits on top of the dome. Three other similar towers are on the roof's ridge. Panels of classical railings form a low wall around the dome. They also form the railing on the upper verandah. The ground floor verandah has wrought iron railings.
Windows and Walls
On each street side, there are parts that stick out. These are next to the corner section, at the ends of each wing, and in the middle of the Stanley Street wing. These parts have open, triangular tops called pediments. They also have stepped walls above them. The corners of these sticking-out parts have special rough-looking stone work. This is called rustication.
The windows in these parts are in groups of three. There are two single windows with a pair of double windows in the middle. On the top floor of each sticking-out part, the middle window has a rounded top. The fancy decorations and special stone above this arched window stick out into the space above it. Most windows are pairs of wooden double windows. They have smaller windows above that can pivot open.
Inside the College Building
The ground floor is raised above the street. A short set of stairs at the street corner leads to glass doors. These open into the main entrance area. This entrance area is eight-sided. It has wooden panels up to the height of the doors. The floor is tiled. French doors open from this area onto the narrow verandahs that face the street.
The Grand Staircase and Rooms
The main staircase is across from the entrance door. It starts as one flight of stairs. Halfway up, it splits into two curved flights. These go off at right angles to the lower part. The staircase has a fancy arch around it. It also has decorative wrought iron railings and a wooden handrail. The ceiling of the entrance area is flat. It has wooden strips laid out in a pattern that matches the room's shape. A reception office is next to the entrance area. The entrance area opens onto verandahs at the back of the building. These verandahs surround two sides of a courtyard.
Each floor of the building has a similar layout. Offices and classrooms are reached from the back verandahs. Wooden screens and doors close off the entrance area from the verandahs on the lower floor. The verandahs have painted brick columns, wooden floors, and vertical wooden railings. Parts of them are closed off by brick walls and toilets. The lower verandah has a flat, wavy metal ceiling. The upper verandah has a sloped wooden ceiling. Half-glass wooden doors open directly from the verandah into classrooms and offices. The walls facing the verandahs are unpainted brick. Window tops and bottoms are made of concrete. A set of stairs, enclosed with wooden panels and doors, is along the outside edge of the verandah on the Stanley Street wing. A connection has been built between the western end of the Stanley Street wing and another building, Block E. A raised concrete walkway connects to the end of the verandah on the upper floor of the Walker Street wing.
On the first floor, above the main stairs, there are two silky oak doors. They have matching side windows. These open into the eight-sided conference room. This room is very tall, covering two floors. It has a mezzanine gallery around it. Light comes in from circular windows above. A set of French doors across from the entrance opens onto the verandah. This verandah looks out over the street. The ceiling of this room is domed. It has wooden strips that match the dome's shape. The gallery is reached by narrow stairs in a small space called a niche. It has an iron railing with a circular design.
The offices and classrooms have flat ceilings. They have wooden strips laid out in different patterns. Some rooms still have old wooden blackboards that slide up and down. Air conditioning ducts have been added in some rooms.
The Courtyard Garden
The courtyard at the back of the building has a beautiful tropical garden.
Why This Building is Special
Block A of the Townsville Technical College was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on May 13, 2004. It met several important requirements.
A Piece of Queensland's History
This building was designed and built in 1920 and 1921 as a technical college. Soon after, it was also used as Townsville's first high school. This shows how the Queensland Government changed its plans for education after primary school. This building, along with the old School of Arts across the street, shows how technical education grew in Queensland. It started with local groups and then the government took over. Since 1921, it has been a technical college. From 1924 to 1964, it was both a high school and a technical college. This shows how technical and high school education developed in important regional cities like Townsville.
A Great Example of Old Architecture
The former Townsville Technical College was designed for its important corner spot. It is a great example of a public building from the time between the two World Wars. It is built in a classical style. It is also an excellent, well-preserved example of an early 20th-century school building. It was designed by the Queensland Department of Works. It shows the main features of a technical college built for that purpose. This includes its use for many years as a high school. The grand classical outside walls and simple, clear layout with open verandahs show the government's ideas at the time. They wanted to show how important technical training was by building a beautiful building that stood out in the town. The old Townsville Technical College has good natural light and air flow. It also has suitable classroom layouts and clean facilities. These were common ideas for school buildings in the first half of the 20th century.
Beautiful Views and Important Buildings
The former Townsville Technical College is part of a small group of historic buildings. This group includes the old School of Arts building and the Sacred Heart Cathedral. These buildings create a lovely view along Stanley Street. This view is made even better by the large presence of Castle Hill in the background.
A Special Place for the Community
The former Townsville Technical College has been used as a technical college for over eighty years. It was also Townsville's first high school. Because of this long history, it has a special connection for the Townsville community. It represents the history of state high school and technical education in the area.
