Cairns Technical College and High School Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cairns Technical College and High School Building |
|
|---|---|
Corner entrance, Block A of Cairns State High School, 2007
|
|
| Location | Sheridan Street, Cairns North, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1939–1945 (World War II) |
| Built | 1939–1941 |
| Architect | Nigel Laman Thomas of Department of Public Works (Queensland) |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Cairns Technical College and High School Building | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 9 May 2014 |
| Reference no. | 602834 |
| Significant period | 1939–1941 |
| Significant components | classroom/classroom block/teaching area |
| Builders | Day labour |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Cairns Technical College and High School Building is a historic school building in Cairns North, Cairns, Australia. It was designed by Nigel Laman Thomas from the Queensland Department of Public Works. The building was constructed between 1939 and 1941. Today, it is known as Block A of Cairns State High School. This important building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on May 9, 2014.
Contents
A Look Back: School History
This building was finished in 1941. It was specially designed for high school and technical education in Cairns. The Queensland Government built it as part of a program to help people find jobs during the 1930s. This was a time when many people were unemployed. The building is a large, three-storey brick structure. It stands proudly at the corner of Sheridan and Upward Streets.
State education in Cairns started in 1878. The first school was Cairns Central State School. Over time, the government created standard plans for school buildings. This helped make sure schools were built consistently and affordably. Queensland school buildings were known for their smart designs. They were good at controlling temperature, light, and fresh air.
Private schools offered higher education in Cairns from the 1880s. People in Cairns wanted a state high school. So, in 1917, Cairns State High School opened. It was a secondary department within the Cairns Central State School.
Combining High School and College
By 1918, the high school needed more space. Around the same time, the Cairns Technical College was looking for a new home. The government decided to combine them. In 1924, they created Cairns Technical High School. This happened in other parts of Queensland too. The government wanted to improve technical education. This was because other countries, like Germany, were doing well with it. Queensland also needed more skilled workers for its growing industries.
The new Cairns Technical High School opened on January 28, 1924. It was in new timber buildings on Sheridan Street. A government minister officially opened it in 1925.
Cairns Grows and Builds
Cairns grew a lot in the 1920s and 1930s. It became a city in 1923. Its population grew from 8,000 to over 15,000 by 1941. Many things helped Cairns grow. These included new farming areas, a strong sugar industry, and better port facilities. New roads and railways also helped. Plus, cyclones in the 1920s meant many old timber buildings had to be rebuilt.
During this time, the city centre got many new brick and concrete buildings. Important government buildings were constructed. They often had a Classical style. This showed the government's strength in the community. These buildings included the Court House, City Council Chambers, and the Cairns Technical College and High School.
A New Brick Building
As Cairns grew, the old timber school buildings became too small. So, a new brick building was designed in 1938. This was part of a government program to create jobs. This program started in 1932 during the Great Depression. The government wanted to build modern things and give jobs to unemployed Queenslanders. Improving schools was a big part of this plan.
The new brick school buildings from the 1930s were special. They were often two storeys high with an open space underneath. They could hold up to 1000 students. They usually looked grand with a central entrance. The classrooms were often one room deep, with a long verandah for walking. The Cairns building is unique because it's on a corner and right next to the footpath. This makes it stand out even more.
The government was very proud of these brick school buildings. They saw them as symbols of progress and modern education.
Building and Opening
The foundation stone for the new brick building was laid on October 7, 1939. A government minister, Henry Adam Bruce, did the honours. The building cost a lot of money, over £30,000. It was officially opened on February 5, 1941. People called it "magnificent." The school kept using the old timber buildings too. New workshops for technical trades were also built.
The new building had two long wings that formed an L-shape. They faced Sheridan and Upward Streets. The main entrance was at the corner. It was a three-storey building made of brick and concrete. It had a classic style. The ground floor was mostly open. It was used as a covered play area. It also had rooms for teachers and students. The first floor had the principal's office and domestic science rooms. These included areas for cooking and sewing. The second floor had classrooms, bookkeeping rooms, and a drawing room.
World War II and After
The new school building opened during World War II. The war affected the school a little. Cairns became an important supply centre for the army. A US Army hospital was built near the school. Air raid trenches were dug in the school's playing fields. Many people left Cairns in 1942. The school opened a month late that year with fewer students.
After the war, in 1946, memorial prizes were started at the school. These honoured students who died in the war. Schools often had honour boards to remember past students. These boards became important places for ceremonies. The Cairns school also received gifts from former students. Over time, more honour boards were added. They listed Dux winners (top students), head prefects, and champion athletes.
In the 1950s, more high schools opened in Queensland. They were built in new suburban areas. These schools had large grounds for sports. They also had special buildings for science, home economics, and workshops.
Cairns continued to grow after World War II. Its population increased a lot. More people moved to the city. Tourism also grew in the 1950s and 1960s. The Great Barrier Reef became a popular place to visit.
Changes to the Building
The Cairns Technical College and High School grew a lot after the 1950s. Many new buildings were added. The original building also changed. Part of the ground floor was enclosed for a tuckshop in 1966. In 1972, more classrooms were added above the toilets on the Sheridan Street wing. This extension used similar bricks but had a more modern style.
In 1974, all technical colleges in Queensland became TAFE Colleges. In the early 1980s, the Cairns TAFE College moved to a new location. This allowed the high school to use the whole site. The oldest timber buildings were taken down. New buildings were put in their place.
More changes happened to the main building in 1990. The ground floor was enclosed for special education rooms. Doors and windows were changed. Metal awnings were added to the classroom windows after 1995.
The school also received funding for a new multi-purpose hall. This was part of the Australian Government's "Building Education Revolution" program. The hall was finished by 2011.
Today, the Cairns Technical College and High School building is called Block A. It is still used for teaching at Cairns State High School.
What the Building Looks Like
The Cairns Technical College and High School building is a three-storey structure. It is at the southern corner of the Cairns State High School campus. It's known as Block A. It stands on the corner of Sheridan and Upward Streets. It's a large, impressive building made of brick and concrete. Its two wings face the streets. They form a big, grassy courtyard behind them.
The building looks very strong and grand from the street. It has a classic style, like old Italian palaces. The building has two main parts. The ground floor looks like it's made of large stone blocks. The upper floors are made of face brick. They have special window details that connect both levels. The top has a decorative border and a projecting roof edge. The dark bricks are laid in a special pattern. The pale, painted parts have nice designs. Some of the ground floor windows still have their original decorative iron screens.
The roof is sloped and covered with metal sheets. Classrooms and offices face the streets. A verandah (a covered walkway) runs along the back. This provides access to the rooms.
At the ends of the wings are lower sections. There's a two-storey section on the Sheridan Street side. A one-storey section is on the Upward Street side. These sections contain toilets. The first floor addition above the toilets on the Sheridan Street wing (from 1972) is not considered part of the original heritage.
The main entrance is at the corner. It has a round arch. There are large lamps on either side of the entrance. Above the entrance are two tall, classic columns. They stand next to a tall window that leads into a stair hall. The entrance doors are made of timber with glass panels. They still have their original handles. Inside, a small entrance hall has a patterned floor. A decorative staircase leads to the first floor. The ground floor is now enclosed with classrooms, offices, and storage rooms. Some original features are still there.
The first floor foyer has a patterned floor and smooth walls. A reception window is framed with timber. This room has timber honour boards on the walls. Some of these remember past students, teachers, and local people.
Throughout the building, the brickwork has neat corners. The verandahs run along the back of the building. They give access to the rooms. Concrete stairs are at each end of the building. These stairs have decorative iron railings. The floors in the walkways are polished concrete. The walls are brick. Some parts still have original ceilings with decorative patterns. Some original timber windows are still on the verandah wall. Some classroom doors are original timber double doors.
The layout of the first floor has been changed. New walls and a ceiling have been added. The second floor still has classrooms.
The large grassy courtyard behind the building makes it look nice. It has tall palm trees around its edges.
Other buildings and structures on the school site are not part of the heritage listing. The modern covered walkways behind Block A are also not part of the heritage listing.
Why This Place is Special
The Cairns Technical College and High School Building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on May 9, 2014. This means it is important for several reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history changed.
This building, finished in 1941, shows how state education and school design grew in Queensland. It was built for both high school and technical classes. This shows how the government first provided these types of education. It was also part of a government program to help people find jobs during the 1930s. This building is a clear example of that important program. It also shows how Cairns grew and became a major city between the two World Wars. Many grand brick buildings were built in Cairns during this time.
- It shows what a special type of building looks like.
The building still looks much like it did when it was built. It is a great example of a brick school building designed by the Department of Public Works in the 1930s. It has a grand, classic style. It is three storeys high and built with high-quality materials. It has a specific layout with a verandah facing north. It also has rooms for teachers, hat and coat rooms, and classrooms that get good light and air. The open space underneath was used for play.
- It is beautiful and important to look at.
The building has a strong and dignified look from the street. This is because of its size, classic style, and its important corner location. The beautiful grassy courtyard behind the building also adds to its charm.
