Brisbane Central Technical College facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brisbane Central Technical College
Former Brisbane Central Technical College, 2008
Location	2 George Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1900–1914 (early 20th century)
Built	1911–1956
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Brisbane Central Technical College (former), Queensland Institute of Technology (1965–1987), Queensland Institute of Technology (QUT 1987 to present), University of Queensland
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	27 August 1999
Reference no.	601728
Significant period	1910s–1950s (historical) 1910s–1950s (fabric) 1910s ongoing (social)
Significant components	classroom/classroom block/teaching area, school/school room, workshop
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

The Brisbane Central Technical College is a special old building in Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia. It's located at 2 George Street. This building is important because of its history and design. It was built between 1911 and 1956.

The college first opened in 1908. It taught practical skills and trades. In 1965, it became the Queensland Institute of Technology (QIT). Later, in 1987, it changed again to the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The college was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on August 27, 1999. This means it's a protected historical site.

How the College Buildings Started

Map of Queensland University Technology Gardens Point campus, 2012

The Brisbane Central Technical College started as nine separate buildings. They were made of bold red bricks. These buildings were grouped around a central courtyard. They were designed in 1909 and opened for classes in 1915. The college is located at the end of George Street. It's part of the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) campus at Gardens Point. It's also right next to Parliament House.

This area used to be a government garden. Then it became the Government House Domain in 1860. Old Government House was the home of the Queensland Governor. In 1909, the Governor moved to a new house. After that, the land was used for new schools. These included the University of Queensland and the Brisbane Central Technical College. Old Government House became the main building for the University of Queensland. The nine new buildings were built for the Technical College.

In the 1800s, technical colleges often started from Schools of Arts. These schools taught practical skills. In Brisbane, technical classes began in the 1870s. The Brisbane School of Arts ran these classes. They set up the Brisbane Technical College in 1882. Classes were held in a special extension to the School of Arts building. They also used other rented places in the city. By 1900, there wasn't enough space for all the students.

The Queensland Government started to get more involved in technical education. In 1907, they looked into creating a central technical college. They studied similar schools in America and Britain. In 1908, the Brisbane Technical College, South Brisbane Technical College, and West End Technical College joined together. They formed the Brisbane Central Technical College.

Queensland was the only Australian state to build a whole complex of buildings for a technical college. The Department of Public Works drew up plans in 1909. These plans showed nine two-storey buildings. They were grouped around a central courtyard. Covered walkways were planned to connect them. The buildings were designed to look similar. They used the same size and materials. Eight buildings formed a square. Three of these faced the main drive to Old Government House. The ninth building, the Workshops block, was set back towards the river. Each main department of the college had its own building.

Former B Block, circa 1931 (demolished)

Building happened in two stages. The first six buildings were started in March 1911. These were:

• B Block: For Administration and Exams
• E Block: For Chemistry and Geology
• F Block: For Wool-classing and Building
• G Block: For Physics and Electrical Engineering
• H Block: For Civil and Mechanical Engineering
• J Block: For Workshops

The other three buildings were started in July 1912. These included:

• A Block: For the Commercial School
• C Block: For the Art School
• D Block: For Domestic Science

Some changes were made during construction. For example, an extra floor was added to the Physics and Electrical Engineering building. This was to teach Biology. The planned covered walkways were not built. Building was slow because of strikes and material shortages. The Brisbane Central Technical College finally opened in February 1915.

After both World Wars, more people wanted technical education. So, the J Block Workshops were made bigger. K Block was added in 1919. It was a three-storey extension to J Block. This was to help soldiers returning from war learn new skills. In 1928, R Block was built. It was another three-storey extension. This was for the Industrial High School. Later, R and K Blocks were joined. W Block was added in 1956. It was a four-storey addition to the J Block Workshops. Even though it was built much later, it looked similar to the original buildings.

Other changes happened too. S Block was built next to F Block in 1921. It was a college store. It was later removed. An extra floor was added to A Block around 1924. This was for Art, Architecture, and Building classes. Student numbers grew a lot in the 1920s. A new building called U Block was built in 1935. It was shared by the University of Queensland and the Technical College. It held the university's Library and other college facilities. This building was a large, three-storey brick building. It faced the Main Drive.

The Brisbane Central Technical College shows an important time in Queensland's education. It's the largest group of technical college buildings from that period. Building it was a huge project for the Queensland Government. It was the biggest building project for the Department of Public Works before World War I. Many talented architects worked on these buildings. These included Thomas Pye, who had a major influence on the design.

The former Brisbane Central Technical College became part of the Queensland Institute of Technology in 1965. Then, in 1987, it became the Queensland University of Technology.

Some original buildings were removed. Blocks B and C were taken down in 1978-79. Block D was removed in 1998. New buildings were put in their places. In 1999, six of the original buildings were still there. These were A, E, F, G, H, and J Blocks. The three extensions to J Block (K, R, and W Blocks) also remained. U Block, the former Library, was also still there. Many of these buildings were updated between 1995 and 1999.

What the College Buildings Look Like

Brisbane Central Technical College, 1915

The former Brisbane Central Technical College is located between Parliament House and Old Government House. It looks out over the City Botanic Gardens. Six of the original red brick buildings from 1909 are still standing. There are also three extensions to the Workshops block. The U Block, which used to be the Library, is also there. It's a large, two-storey red brick building.

Blocks A, E, F, G, H, and J, along with their extensions K, R, and W, are two to four storeys tall. They have a strong, industrial look. They are grouped around the original central courtyard. This courtyard is now paved and has gardens. A Block faces the Main Drive. It's a key building at the campus entrance. E, F, G, and H blocks are around the courtyard. J Block and its extensions close off the courtyard. U Block is along the Main Drive.

All these buildings look similar. They use red bricks with darker red brick details. These details include corner stones, arched entrances, and flat arches above windows. Each original building used to have its department name in metal letters above the entrance. Only "Chemistry" on E Block can still be seen.

The central courtyard is a bright, open space. The paths between the buildings connect them visually and physically. The way the entrances and corridors are placed shows how people were meant to move between the buildings.

The buildings, courtyard, and paths of the former Brisbane Central Technical College are important historical features.

Commercial and Day School (A Block)

Elevation of A Block

History

Blocks A, B, and C were designed to be the formal entrance to the college. A and C Blocks were almost mirror images. They stood on either side of B Block, the main building. A Block opened in 1915 as the Commercial and Day School. An extra floor was added around 1924 because more students enrolled. The Commercial High School also used this building from 1933. The inside of the building has changed. But its shape and outside look are still the same. New walkways now connect A Block to F Block.

Description

A block (now QUT A block), 1999

A Block is a three-storey brick building with a hip roof. It's next to the Main Gate on George Street. It looks out over the City Botanic Gardens. The building has light red bricks with darker red brick details. These include corner stones, flat window arches, and bands marking the floor levels. Large metal drainpipes divide the walls. The main side facing the gardens is symmetrical. It has a narrow front section with stone carvings. The main entrance has a flat arch with a large stone at the top. It also has decorative carved shields. A metal screen is above the entrance. Another arched entrance opens to the central courtyard. A third entrance connects to the new D Block. There is also a new metal bridge from the second floor to B Block. The windows on the ground floor are double-hung. The upper floors have multi-pane windows.

Inside, each floor originally had classrooms and offices. These were off a central corridor. The inside spaces have been changed. They are now large studio spaces and smaller offices. Some original wooden features remain. These include glass doors, skirting boards, and timber rails. The original concrete stairs are still there. They have a decorative metal railing with a wooden handrail.

Chemistry and Geology (E Block)

Chemistry (E Block), 1915

History

This building opened in 1915. It was for the Chemistry and Geology departments. It was originally a two-storey L-shaped building. It had a separate rectangular section. The building was changed and added to in 1932, 1937, the 1960s, and 1990. It is now a U-shaped four-storey building. In 1932, changes were made for the Commercial High School. A corner was added in 1937. Another corner and a third storey were built in the 1960s. These were for art and pharmacy classes. A fourth storey was added in 1990.

Description

E block (now QUT E block), 1999

E Block is south of the courtyard, between Blocks B and G/H. It is now four storeys tall. It looks similar to the other buildings in the group. It has light red bricks with darker red brick details. These include corner stones, flat window arches, and bands marking the floor levels. The only decoration is the "Chemistry" sign above the arched entrance on the east side. The additions from 1937 match the original building well. The 1960s addition is less similar. The top storey added in 1990 looks different from the rest of the building. A curved metal roof has been added over the steps to the east entrance.

The inside has been changed. It now has laboratories, lecture rooms, and offices. These are off the main corridor. There are concrete stairs at each end. Some original parts remain. These include the concrete stair with a metal railing. Some wooden features and concrete beams are also still there. The inside walls are painted brick. The ceilings are plain plaster. The floors are concrete, some with vinyl or carpet.

Wool-classing and Building Construction (F Block)

Wool Classing (F block), 1915

History

This two-storey building opened in 1915. It was used for wool-classing, building construction, and botany classes. The building shows how important the wool industry was in Queensland. The building's shape and materials are mostly still original. Some inside spaces were changed in the mid-1990s. The large wool classing room on the first floor is now divided into smaller studios. Clear screens allow light from the saw-toothed roofs to enter the space.

Description

This building has a unique shape with a saw-toothed roof. It matches the other buildings in size, materials, and details. It has light red bricks with darker red brick details. These include flat arch window openings and corner stones. Large drainpipes add to the vertical look. The arched entrance is still there on the east side. It used to have the building's name above it. This entrance now opens to a new link that connects to A Block. The original wooden entrance doors have been replaced with glass doors.

The building's layout has an L-shaped corridor. Studios, workshops, offices, and storage areas open off this corridor. Some inside spaces have been divided. But the original layout is still mostly there. Original features remain. These include roof lights and pressed metal ceilings in the former wool-classing area. Decorative pressed metal ceilings are also in the corridors. There are also concrete columns, plaster cornices, doors, and skirting boards. The polished concrete stair with a metal railing is also original.

Physics and Electrical Engineering (G Block)

G block (now QUT G block), 2008

History

This was a small, two-storey building. It was for physics and electrical engineering classes. An extra storey was added during construction for Biology classes. A single-storey toilet block was also built nearby before 1915. This toilet block was removed in the 1960s. The building held the QIT library from the mid-1960s to 1977. It was home to the School of Nursing in the 1980s. A glass and concrete section was added in 1990 to connect G and H blocks.

Description

This is the smallest building in the group. It is south of the courtyard. It is a three-storey brick building with a hip roof. It has a service wing on the east side. It looks similar to the other buildings. It has a regular pattern of flat arched windows. Dark red bricks are used for the corner stones. The building's name has been removed from the stone above the arched entrance on the west side.

Classrooms and offices are off a central corridor inside the building. Original features include timber-lined ceilings and the main cedar staircase. A new glass and concrete link to H Block makes these buildings seem less separate.

Civil and Mechanical Engineering (H Block)

Engineering laboratory (H block), 1915

Engineering laboratory (H Block), 1915

History

This building opened in 1915. Its design was changed by Thomas Pye during construction. These changes included adding a special window on the south side. The main entrance was moved to the southeast wing. The Boiler Room and its chimney were removed in the early 1970s. Lecture rooms and storage rooms in the south wing were removed in the late 1970s. Metal sheeting now covers the damaged part of the building. A concrete and glass section was added between H and G Blocks in 1990.

Description

This is a two-storey brick building with a hip roof. It has a rectangular workshop wing that slopes downhill to the west. It also has a tall, four-storey rectangular tower. The building's details are similar to the other buildings. These include corner stones, flat arched window openings, and an arched entrance porch in dark red brick. The basement machine room has unique semi-circular arched windows. A special window on the south side connects the main part of the building to the west wing. Hooks and marks on the west wall show where the Boiler Room used to be. Metal sheeting covers the south wall where a wing was removed. A faint outline on the stone above the arched entrance shows the original "Engineering" sign.

The inside has been changed, but original parts remain. The layout has a central corridor. There is a polished concrete stair with a metal railing. The basement machine room is still used as a workshop. It has exposed timber beams and arched brickwork. You can see this room from the ground floor corridor through arched brick windows. The ceiling of this corridor has decorative pressed metal. Decorative pressed metal ceilings are also in several other rooms and corridors. Room 306 has exposed timber supports and decorative pressed metal ceilings. Room 405 is still a lecture theatre with decorative pressed metal ceilings. Glass timber walls remain in room 202.

Workshops (also known as Trades Building) (J Block)

J Block, 2012

History

J Block is different in shape from the other buildings. It opened in 1915 and held the trades workshops. Its design allowed for noisy and hot workshops. More buildings (K block 1920, R block 1929, W block 1956) were built west of J Block. These added more workshops and teaching spaces. The first-floor workshops were changed between 1996-98. They now have architecture and interior design studios. The building's general layout is still the same.

Description

J Block is a long, rectangular, two-storey brick building. It has a hip roof that extends over latticed verandahs. It is west of F, G, and H blocks. It visually closes off the courtyard. Even though it's a different shape, it matches the other buildings in size and materials. It has dark red brick columns on the verandah. These split into thinner paired columns in the middle. There are also dark red brick bands at window levels. The ground floor has flat arched windows. The first floor has arched windows with fanlights. The building is symmetrical around a central service area. There are four workshops opening onto both verandahs on each floor. A timber and steel structure has been added to the first-floor workshops. Original features remain. These include window and door frames. Exposed timber supports are in the first-floor workshops. Decorative pressed metal ceilings are in several rooms and the stairwell. The central concrete stair with a metal railing is also original.

Extensions to J Block

Blocks K, R, and W were built west of J Block. They are similar in style to the original buildings. A later link was added between Blocks K and R.

Description

K Block is a simple, rectangular, three-storey brick building. It joins J block. It was finished in 1920. It was designed to match the existing buildings. It has the same regular pattern of flat arched windows as the older buildings. The workshop spaces on each floor are now divided into smaller units.

R Block was built in 1929 for the Industrial High School. It is a simple, rectangular, three-storey brick building. It is linked to J Block by a walkway. The building's layout has been changed from the original. Workshops and classrooms are now divided into smaller units. The stair on the west side has been removed. Now, people use the stairs in the added link wing to go between floors in K and R blocks.

W Block was finished in 1956. It is a four-storey brick building northwest of J Block. It looks similar to the earlier buildings. But it only uses light red bricks. It has a regular pattern of paired double-hung windows. The inside has been changed. But the general layout of workshops and teaching spaces remains. The concrete stair with a metal railing on the west side is still original.

University of Queensland Library (now QUT U Block)

History

U Block opened in 1935. It was built to house the University of Queensland Library. It also held various Central Technical College activities. These included part of the Commercial High School from 1938. Classes for architecture and building construction were held here. The administration of the new QIT moved into the building in 1966. In the 1960s and 1970s, classrooms, an eye clinic, and a printing office also operated here. The south wing was updated in 1995-96 for the QUT Chancellery Offices.

Description

U Block was built in 1935. It is next to Old Government House. It is a long, impressive, three-storey brick building. It sits on a stone base. It faces the Main Drive and overlooks the City Botanic Gardens. A wide concrete staircase leads up to the main entrance. The building has a main wing that ends in rectangular sections. These extend to the west, forming a courtyard at the back. Two sets of stairs lead to smaller entrances at the front of each end section. Large, rendered columns divide the front of the building into ten sections. These sections have flat arched windows with fanlights. The other sides of the building have similar columns and windows. The west sides of the sections have paired rendered columns. The west entrance has a flat arched stone porch below a tall stairwell window.

The inside of the building has been changed. The large open spaces have been divided. They are now organized along a corridor facing the courtyard. Stairs and services are on the west side of these sections. The gallery on the second floor of the south section has been removed. This area was updated into offices in 1995-96. Some original features have been lost. But early parts remain. These include the windows, front and back entrance doors, and doors to former rooms. The columns in the entry area and the concrete stairs are also original. Decorative plaster arches remain in the central stairwell.

Why This Place is Important

The former Brisbane Central Technical College was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on August 27, 1999. This means it's important for several reasons:

• It shows how Queensland's history changed.

The college, built from 1911-1915, shows how education grew in Queensland. It was the main place for technical education. It also shows how technical education expanded. This happened especially after the World Wars. It helped train soldiers returning from war. It also helped with the increase in trade apprenticeships from the 1920s.

The Main Drive is a key part of the site. It runs from the George Street entrance to Old Government House. This driveway connects the college to Parliament House and the city. The college buildings were designed to face this drive.

• It shows rare or special parts of Queensland's history.

The college shows how the Government became more involved in funding and controlling technical education from 1900. It is the only technical college in Queensland designed and built as a whole group of buildings.

• It shows what a technical college should look like.

The buildings are great examples of technical college structures from the early 1900s. They were built with new ideas for designing schools.

• It is beautiful.

The former Brisbane Central Technical College is a beautiful group of buildings. They all look similar in size, design, and materials. They are important buildings at the end of George Street. They look out over the City Botanic Gardens and the Brisbane River. The buildings are strong brick structures with an industrial feel. They have nice stone carvings. Their design shows skilled architecture. The buildings also show high-quality work in their details and finishes.

Some original parts are still there. F Block is very well preserved. The machine room in H Block is also very original. A Block and U Block are important because they keep the campus aligned with the Main Drive. They are key buildings that mark the main entrance to the college area. The courtyard and paths between the buildings help keep the group of buildings together. U Block also shows how the school changed over time.

• It has a strong connection to people.

The former Brisbane Central Technical College is important to students and teachers. It was used by the Brisbane Central Technical College, the Industrial High School, the Commercial High School, the Queensland Institute of Technology, and the Queensland University of Technology.

• It is linked to important people or groups in Queensland's history.

The college is important because of its connection to the Department of Public Works. Especially with the work of architect Thomas Pye. He designed the original nine buildings. The college shows the work of the Government Architect's Office. It shows how they designed large school buildings.

Notable People

Students

• Davida Allen, artist
• Brian Bell, pharmacist and businessman
• William Leslie Bowles, sculptor
• Donald Cowen, artist
• Hilda Geissmann, naturalist and photographer
• Bessie Gibson, artist
• Edwin Hayes, architect
• Gil Jamieson, artist
• Daphne Mayo, artist and sculptor
• Elina Mottram, architect
• Kathleen O'Brien, cartoonist
• Margaret Olley, artist
• Harold Parker, sculptor
• Lloyd Rees, artist
• Campbell Scott, architect

Teachers

• Richard Godfrey Rivers, artist
• Charles Ford Whitcombe, Chief Instructor (Architecture) from 1916 to 1930