Bundaberg State High School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bundaberg State High School |
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Block D, west wing and south elevation, looking northeast
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| Location | 37 Maryborough Street, Bundaberg South, Bundaberg, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919–1930s (Interwar period) |
| Built | 1920–1956, 1920, 1955–1956, 1958–1959 |
| Official name: Bundaberg State High School | |
| Type | state heritage |
| Designated | 22 June 2017 |
| Reference no. | 650046 |
| Type | Education, Research, Scientific Facility: School – state (high); Education, research, scientific facility: College-technical |
| Theme | Educating Queenslanders: Providing secondary education |
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Bundaberg State High School is a special school in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. It's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its important history. The school was built between 1920 and 1956. It's located at 37 Maryborough Street in Bundaberg South.
Contents
Discovering Bundaberg State High School's Past
Bundaberg State High School started in 1912. It moved to its current location on Maryborough Street in 1921. At first, it was both a high school and a technical college. This school shows how education in Queensland has changed over time.
The school still has its first two timber teaching buildings. These are Block D (built 1920) and Block G (built 1920, with additions in 1937 and 1956). It also has two workshop buildings: Block R (1956) and Block M (1959). Bundaberg State High School has been open continuously since it began. Block D is the oldest high school building of its kind still standing in Queensland.
Early Days in Bundaberg
The land around the Burnett River traditionally belongs to the Kalki people. Europeans started settling here in the 1840s and 1850s. Timber cutters arrived in the 1860s. Bundaberg became a town in 1869.
The town grew as a port and service center. It was important for shipping copper from Mount Perry starting in 1881. Bundaberg also became a major sugar town. Many sugar plantations and refineries were built nearby.
How State Education Began in Queensland
In the past, Queensland didn't have many state high schools. The government thought primary industries were more important. The Grammar Schools Act 1860 helped smart students go to special grammar schools.
It wasn't until 1912 that the government started a state high school system. High schools opened in bigger towns. In smaller towns, primary schools added a "high top" for older students. The first high schools often shared buildings with technical colleges.
Technical education used to happen in local Schools of Arts. Later, separate technical colleges were built. The government took over these colleges after 1908. This made it easier to combine high schools and technical colleges on the same sites.
Bundaberg's First High School
In January 1912, the first three Queensland state high schools opened. They were in Gympie, Warwick, and Bundaberg. Soon after, more high schools opened in other towns.
Bundaberg State High School first shared a building with Bundaberg Technical College. This was a former sugar laboratory building near Quay Street. The technical college had moved there in 1911.
By 1912, Bundaberg SHS had 97 students. The school soon needed more space. The first principal, Berthold Henry Charles Krone, suggested a larger site. This land was a reserve set aside for a grammar school in Bundaberg South.
In 1916, the Minister for Education agreed to use this reserve for the high school. The government decided to build a new combined high school and technical college there. Construction started in 1920.
The New School Buildings
The first special high school buildings in Queensland were built in 1917. They were large timber buildings. They had good light and ventilation. These buildings were high off the ground, with play space underneath. Classrooms had big windows on the south side for natural light.
The new Bundaberg State High School and Technical College building (now Block D) was a large version of this design. It was almost finished by December 1920.
The new Block D opened on January 24, 1921. It had a central wing with six classrooms. There were also separate rooms for teachers and for hats and coats. The ceilings were curved, with special vents for air. Two end wings had more classrooms. The space under the building was open for play.
Bundaberg's Block D was the third high school building of its kind. The first two were at Gympie and Gatton. Since those buildings were later removed, Block D in Bundaberg is now the oldest one left.
A smaller building, Block G, was also built in 1920. It was used for cooking and woodworking classes. It was a low-set timber building with a special roof. It had a verandah on the north side. Block G was a bit different from later standard designs for vocational buildings.
The new school grounds in Bundaberg South were spacious. This allowed the school to finally have sports facilities. A tennis court opened in 1921, and a cricket pitch was made by December.
Changes and Growth Over Time
In the 1920s, the school grounds grew larger. In 1925-26, an old sugar laboratory building was moved to the school. It was used for woodworking. Block G then became only for domestic science (home economics).
In the 1930s, an Intermediate School section was added. This was for years six and seven, offering vocational subjects. A new building for this (now gone) was built in 1933. By 1933, the school had five teaching buildings. More land was added to the school grounds in 1935. In 1937, a new domestic science classroom was added to Block G.
By 1940, the school had 10 teaching buildings. Toilets were added under Block D. The school had 183 students by the end of 1940.
After World War II, many more students needed schooling. This was due to immigration and the "baby boom." Queensland schools became very crowded. Many new buildings were constructed. The government also continued to focus on vocational education.
In 1955-56, a timber workshop building (Block R) was added for engineering trades. It had a special "sawtooth" roof. Another workshop (Block M) for Motor Engineering was built in 1958-59. These workshops show Bundaberg's industrial economy.
Block G was extended in 1955-56. It got a new wing with more classrooms for dressmaking and cooking.
In the 1960s, student numbers kept rising. Year Eight students started at the high school in 1964. By 1967, Bundaberg SHS was the second largest high school outside Brisbane. Many new buildings were added, and old ones were removed. Today, only Blocks D, G, R, and M remain from the late 1950s.
The school's structure also changed. The Intermediate section closed in 1963. The technical college became separate from the high school in 1965. By 1973, the school had 1673 students. The old technical college buildings were later used by the high school.
The school grounds continued to grow in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1987, Block D was used for business studies and computers. Today, the school still operates from its 1921 site. It covers a large area of 9.76 hectares. The school is a very important part of the Bundaberg community.
Exploring the School Buildings
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Bundaberg State High School is on a large site. It's about 1 kilometer south of Bundaberg's main center. The school buildings are mostly arranged facing north.
Block D (1920)
Block D is a large, one-story timber building. It stands high off the ground. It has a long central section with classrooms. A verandah runs along the north side for walking between rooms. This central part has a long gable roof. A wide entrance bay sticks out from the front. This bay used to be the main entrance. It had the head teacher's room and a library. Now it's enclosed with timber.
At each end of the long building are shorter classroom sections. These also have gabled roofs. The building is covered with timber weatherboards. The roofs are made of modern steel sheets.
The building uses simple materials. It was designed to let in lots of natural light and fresh air.
The central entrance bay has special timber shingles. The other gable ends have weatherboards with gaps for air. The roof has three large ventilation structures called fleches. These look like small bell towers. They help air move through the building.
The building has many large timber windows. Most face south. This brings in lots of natural light and air. The windows have different parts: lower casements, middle pivot sashes, and upper fanlights.
Later steel stairs lead to the verandah. The verandah has arched timber supports. The original timber railing is still on the end sections. The wall between the verandah and classrooms has original double-hung windows and French doors. Inside, some walls are original timber boards. Other parts have modern plasterboard. Some rooms have a special timber board at the bottom of the wall. This helped with ventilation.
The central entrance has a fancy timber door. It has colored glass. A small sliding glass window from the hallway to the library still exists.
The area under the building is mostly open. It has a concrete floor. The concrete stumps are original. There used to be a timber skirt around the edge. The original area for hand basins under the central entrance is now storage rooms. Other enclosed areas under the building's ends are later additions. These include toilets (from 1940) and changing rooms (from 1963). The toilets are still very much as they were.
Block G (1920, extended 1937 and 1956)
Block G was originally for domestic science and woodworking. It stands behind Block D. A bitumen parade ground is between them. It's a low-set timber building with two sections forming an L shape. The oldest part (1920) faces north. It has a northern verandah and a "Dutch gable" roof. A large lecture room (1937) sticks out from the front. The newer section (1956) is at the western end. It has verandahs on its east and west sides. All roofs are made of corrugated metal.
The building is covered with weatherboards. The verandah of the 1920 section still has its 1939 laundry enclosure. Two stove areas stick out from the back. These show its original use for cooking classes. Most original timber windows have been replaced with aluminum ones.
Timber stairs lead to the verandah. Original timber railings are still there. The verandah ceilings are lined with timber boards.
The inside layout is mostly the same. The older section has two large classrooms. These were cooking rooms in 1956. A narrow room between them was a dining room. A large lecture room is off the northern verandah. These rooms have tall, curved ceilings. The walls and ceilings are lined with timber boards. The stove areas are now cupboards. The newer section has two large classrooms. These were dressmaking rooms in 1956. They have flat ceilings.
Block R (1956) and Block M (1959)
Blocks R and M are south of Block G. Block M is behind Block R. They are both timber workshop buildings. They have two long sections with south-facing "sawtooth" roofs. They have concrete floors. They are covered with weatherboards up to the windows. The roofs are corrugated metal. A short covered walkway connects them.
These buildings have many windows on all sides. This lets in lots of natural light. Most original timber windows have been replaced. Block M still has original timber French doors. It also has large timber doors for big machines. Block R does not have its original doors.
The insides have been changed with new walls. Block R has offices and small spaces. It has a new ceiling, but the western end still has its original open space. Block M has fewer new walls. It also has a new ceiling. Block M has an extension on its north side. Two old ceramic sinks are still in Block M.
The School Grounds
The school has many other buildings and structures. The main buildings are long and narrow. They are mostly oriented north and south. This creates a clear layout with many long spaces between buildings. A large school oval is at the northern end. A big poinciana tree stands near Maryborough Street. It marks an old entrance to the school.
Why Bundaberg State High School is Special
Bundaberg State High School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on June 22, 2017. This means it's an important historical site.
Showing Queensland's History
The school shows how state education and school buildings have changed in Queensland. It has great examples of old government building designs. These designs show the ideas about education at the time. The school also has landscaped grounds, sports areas, and old trees.
Block D (1920) is the oldest high school building of its kind still in Queensland. It shows the government's plan to offer free secondary education.
Block G (1920, with additions in 1937 and 1956) was a vocational building. Blocks R (1956) and M (1959) are workshop buildings. These show how the government focused on training for jobs. They also show how high schools and technical colleges used to be together.
A Rare Part of History
Bundaberg State High School's Block D is the oldest surviving purpose-built state high school building of its type in Queensland. This makes it very rare.
Key Features of the School
Bundaberg State High School shows the main features of an early state high school. It has large, landscaped grounds with shade trees. It has a parade ground and play areas. It also has sports facilities. The timber teaching buildings follow standard designs. Classrooms have lots of natural light and air. There are also separate buildings for vocational training.
Block D is a type of timber school building. It is high off the ground with an open play area underneath. It has a balanced design with wings connected by verandahs. It had rooms for the head teacher and clerks. Classrooms are tall and bright, with large windows on the south side. It was designed for good natural ventilation. This includes special flaps on the walls and unique roof fleches.
Block G is an early example of a vocational building. It is low-set and made of timber. It still has the stove areas from its cooking classroom. It has a verandah with a laundry area. Classrooms have large south-facing windows. It has a Dutch gable roof.
Blocks R and M are technical college workshop buildings. They have large timber frames and sawtooth roofs. They have strong structures that create open spaces inside. They have many windows for light and air. They are built with tough materials suitable for workshops.
Strong Community Connection
Schools are very important to Queensland communities. They connect former students, parents, and teachers. They are places for social events and volunteer work. They also show local pride and hopes for the future.
Bundaberg State High School has a strong and ongoing connection with the Bundaberg community. It started in 1912. Generations of Bundaberg students have learned there. The school is important for education in Bundaberg. It is also a central part of the community.
Famous Former Students
- Daryl Dixon, a writer about economics and investments
- Ian Dorricott, a music composer
- Kyle Laybutt, a rugby league player
- Rheed McCracken, a Paralympic athlete
- Errol McCormack, a former Chief of the Australian Air Force
- Rob Messenger, a former politician in Queensland
- George Petersen, a former politician in New South Wales
- Lindsay Stuart Smith, a botanist and naturalist
See also
- History of state education in Queensland
- List of schools in Wide Bay–Burnett
