Charters Towers School of Mines facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charters Towers School of Mines |
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School of Mines, 1985
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| Location | 24 - 26 Hodgkinson Street, Charters Towers, Charters Towers Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Official name: School of Mines, Charters Towers | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600402 |
| Significant period | 1899-1907 (fabric) 1899-1925 (historical) |
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The Charters Towers School of Mines is an old school building in Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia. It was a special place where people learned about mining. Today, it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its important history.
Contents
History of the School
The School of Mines first opened in 1899. It was started by a local mining group. They used money donated by the public to build it. In 1900, the Queensland Government took over the school. They made it into a very respected technical college.
Charters Towers: A Gold Town
Charters Towers became a gold field in 1872. The gold here was not found in rivers (alluvial gold). Instead, it was deep underground in rock veins called reefs. Miners had to dig very deep shafts to get the gold. This needed a lot of money and many workers.
In the 1880s, Charters Towers became very busy. People invested a lot in mining companies. This happened after gold from Charters Towers was shown in London. Also, a rich gold vein called the Brilliant Reef was found in 1889. Charters Towers grew into a major town. It was once the second-largest town in Queensland.
Why a Mining School Was Needed
Some mines in Charters Towers were not using the best methods. This was because they started before metallurgy (the science of working with metals) was very advanced. By the late 1800s, people wanted to improve mining techniques. Mining was a very important industry in Queensland.
People in Charters Towers started asking for mining education in the 1880s. A government expert was sent in 1887. A committee was formed to start a school. The government offered to help pay for it. But the committee could not raise enough money. So, the idea was put on hold for a while.
In 1896, a group of mine managers formed an association. They met monthly to discuss mining topics. Many members had practical skills but lacked scientific knowledge. They found it hard to understand technical papers. This made them want a school to teach mining subjects. They looked at successful schools in Ballarat and Otago.
Building the First School
The group decided to build a Mining Institute. They raised £1,500 from public donations. This money paid for the building and equipment. The foundation stone was laid on March 3, 1899. This stone later became one of the building's supports.
The school opened in 1899. It taught subjects like mathematics, surveying, assaying (testing ores), chemistry, and mineralogy. About 60 to 70 students enrolled at first. But attendance dropped quickly. By the end of the year, only two students remained. The first attempt failed, but the need for technical training was still there.
The Institute asked the government to take over the school. The government agreed. The £1,500 was given back to the Institute. It was used to improve their main office.
Government Takes Over
In October 1900, a director for the School of Mines was chosen. He visited Charters Towers to plan changes to the building. The Queensland Government Architect designed the updates. These changes cost £700 and were done by a local builder. The director also hired staff and bought new equipment.
Classes started in 1901. The school had lecture rooms for geology and chemistry. It also had laboratories for assaying and chemistry. There was a balance room, a mechanical drawing and survey department, and offices.
The first director was W.A. McLeod. He was from New Zealand. He believed in helping working miners learn new skills. He offered evening classes so they could attend. This was a new idea in Australia at the time.
Growing and Changing
The new school was very popular. In 1903, the building was made bigger. A reading room and another office were added. This new part had different windows and a new roof shape.
In 1904, McLeod left the school. He became a mine manager. W. Poole became the second director. He made the school a very well-known educational place. More additions were made in 1907. These included a drawing office, a lecture room, and a new laboratory. The existing assay laboratory was also expanded.
Decline and Closure
Even though the School of Mines was doing well, the gold mining in Charters Towers was slowing down. The gold field reached its peak in 1899. By 1912, many people were leaving the town. In 1916, the gold field officially closed.
The school kept producing skilled graduates. These graduates became important figures in the mining industry. They worked in Queensland and other places.
The School of Mines finally closed in 1925. This was after the Department of Education took it over. By then, the building was more than twice its original size. It had many parts built around a central courtyard. In 1964, the front and back parts of the building were separated.
In 1977, the Queensland Public Works Department planned to remove the main part of the building. They wanted to keep only the back part for the High School. But local people strongly objected. So, the department leased the building to the National Trust of Queensland. The Trust worked to make the building usable again. Today, it is used as offices and training rooms.
About the Building
The School of Mines building is next to the Court House. It is a single-story building. It is made of timber and has a corrugated iron roof. It stands on concrete stumps. One of the stumps at the front is the original foundation stone. This shows how much the building has grown over time.
Many parts of the school are built with a single layer of timber. The front part is about 30 by 20 meters. It has two small sections that used to be wings. One of these now holds toilets and a tea room. The back part is 30 by 10 meters. Most rooms in both parts have high ceilings. They get good natural light from windows and roof lights. The rooms are simple but strong.
Many walls inside have been moved over the years. But the building is still quite original. It has much of its first wall coverings and wooden fittings. The floors are timber, except for a concrete floor in the old furnace room. The old school is now used as offices and training rooms. Some modern additions, like metal security grilles and air conditioning, have been added.
Why It's Important
The School of Mines in Charters Towers is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it is a very important historical site.
- Shows Queensland's History: This school was on one of Australia's richest gold fields. It shows how important mining was to Queensland's growth. It also shows how the government helped with mining education long ago. The school grew a lot, which proves its success in the early 1900s.
- Looks Good: The building has a special look that people in the community like. It adds to the beauty of the street.
- Connected to Important People: The school is linked to W.A. McLeod, its first director. It is also connected to the many important mining experts who studied there.
