Brisbane School of Arts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brisbane School of Arts |
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School of Arts building in Brisbane, 2013
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| Location | 166 Ann Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1840s–1860s (mid-19th century) |
| Built | 1865–1985 |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Brisbane School of Arts, Servants Home (former) | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600072 |
| Significant period | 1877–1940 (historical) |
| Significant components | school of arts |
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The Brisbane School of Arts is a special building in Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia. It is located at 166 Ann Street. This building is important because of its history and unique design. It was built between 1865 and 1985. Today, it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's protected for its historical value.
Contents
A Look Back at the School of Arts
From Servants Home to Learning Centre
The building you see today was first built in 1865–1866. It was known as the Servants Home. This place offered a safe home for single women who had moved to Queensland. They stayed there while waiting to find jobs as domestic servants.
The building was designed by H. Edwin Bridges. It had a ground floor and two upper levels. All sides of the building looked the same. Inside, a special "lantern" window above the top floors let in lots of natural light. A huge tank on the roof held 27,300 litres of water for the building. Messrs Butler and Forster were the builders.
The School of Arts Begins
In 1873, the building was bought by the North Brisbane School of Arts for £1,000. For a few years, it was rented out. Then, in 1877, it was turned into a "school of arts." These places were also called mechanics' institutes. They were like community centres for learning.
Contractor Blair Cunningham added verandahs and made other changes. These updates were designed by Richard Gailey and cost £1,377. The new School of Arts building officially opened on May 17, 1878.
The North Brisbane School of Arts started in 1849. Its first home was on the corner of Queen and Creek Streets. For many years, it was a very important part of Brisbane's cultural life. The School of Arts had a library for its members. It also held public talks and offered many different classes.
Growing and Changing
To help with technical education classes, a large hall was added to the back of the building in 1884. This space was used by the Brisbane Technical College. The college operated under the School of Arts until 1902. After that, the Queensland Government took over technical education.
The lending library was a very popular part of the School of Arts. In 1908, more space was needed for books. So, an extension was built next to the hall. This new part was designed by Atkinson and McLay.
During the 1920s and 1930s, fewer people joined the School of Arts. To earn more money, shops were built in front of the building in 1937. In 1955, a brick upper floor was added to these shops. This new floor connected to the main School of Arts building. The verandahs were removed at this time.
In 1966, the Brisbane City Council took over the property. The Council continued to run a public library there until 1981. In 1983, the front offices and shops were taken down. The building then went through a big restoration. It reopened on February 13, 1985. Since then, different community groups have used the building.
As of 2020, the building has been closed for several years. It is waiting for more renovations to be completed.
What the Building Looks Like
The School of Arts building has two main floors. It sits high up from Ann Street. The lower part is made of rough stone blocks. It has red brick corners and decorative lines. The upper two levels are made entirely of brick. They have arched windows placed evenly across the walls. The roof is gently sloped and made of rolled iron. On top of the roof is a 4.5-metre tall lantern light. This light has parts that stick out, like small roofs.
The entry stairs and the verandahs on the front and sides have wooden railings. These railings have diagonal crossed pieces. Round brackets are found under the main roof's edges. The verandah roof curves slightly downwards from the main roof.
The lecture hall and three classrooms, added in 1884, are very tall. They have brick walls, wooden floors, and a corrugated iron roof. The library extension, built in 1908, looks similar. It is also a very tall room with a lantern roof light.
The building was carefully restored in 1984–1985. Not many of the original inside decorations or furniture remain. However, the way the rooms are laid out is still mostly the same. The rooms on the ground floor are used for exhibitions. The first floor has offices and a craft gallery. You can still see the original roof supports on the top floor of the 1860s section. The staircases and fireplaces have also been kept. The tiered seating and balconies in the lecture hall's first floor are still there too.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Brisbane School of Arts was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. It met several important rules to be listed:
- It shows how Queensland's history has changed.
The School of Arts is important because of its link to the North Brisbane School of Arts. This group played a big part in Brisbane's cultural life for many years.
- It shows rare or special parts of Queensland's history.
The building is one of the few old stone buildings from the 1860s that still stands in the inner city.
- It has a special connection to important people or groups.
The School of Arts is notable for how well its different additions fit together. This is especially true for the verandahs designed by Richard Gailey.
