Fortitude Valley State School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fortitude Valley State School |
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Fortitude Valley State School, 2009
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| Location | 95 Brookes Street, Fortitude Valley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1840s–1860s (mid-19th century) |
| Built | 1867–1913 |
| Architect | Benjamin Backhouse |
| Official name: Fortitude Valley State School (former), State Emergency Services State Headquarters, former Fortitude Valley Boys School and former Fortitude Valley Girls and Infants School | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 26 March 1999 |
| Reference no. | 602136 |
| Significant period | 1860s–1870s (historical) 1860s–1910s (fabric) |
| Significant components | infants' school, school/school room |
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The Fortitude Valley State School is a special old school building in Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia. It's located at 95 Brookes Street. This building was once a busy state school where many students learned.
It was designed by a famous architect named Benjamin Backhouse. The school was built in different stages between 1867 and 1913. Today, it's known as the State Emergency Services State Headquarters. It's also called the former Fortitude Valley Boys School and the former Fortitude Valley Girls and Infants School. This historic site was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1999 because it's an important part of Queensland's history.
History of the School
The former Fortitude Valley State School has two main brick buildings. One is a two-storey building from 1867. It was designed by Benjamin Backhouse for the Girls and Infants School. The other is a single-storey building from 1874. It was designed by Richard George Suter for the Boys School.
Early Days of Fortitude Valley
Fortitude Valley started to grow in the 1850s. Many people moved there, including free settlers who arrived on a ship called the Fortitude. By 1861, over 1300 people lived in the area. This growth meant more children needed a place to learn.
The first Fortitude Valley State School opened on March 4, 1861. It was in a rented hall on Ann Street. About 140 boys attended the school at first. A girls' school joined them in 1864. As more students came, a bigger, permanent school was needed.
Building the School
The current site on Brookes Street was chosen for the new school. Students moved into the two-storey building in 1867. This building was designed by Benjamin Backhouse. As student numbers kept growing, a second building was needed. Richard Suter designed this one, and it was built in 1874.
The original building became the Girls and Infants School. The new building was for the Boys School. They were run as separate schools.
How Students Learned
Both Benjamin Backhouse and Richard Suter designed their schools using the Lancastrian system. This system used large schoolrooms with raised seating areas, like a theatre. It also had smaller classrooms.
In this system, older students called "monitors" or "pupil teachers" helped teach smaller groups. They used the small classrooms for practice. The main teacher taught the whole class in the large schoolroom. This way, a few teachers could teach many children. The 1867 school was built for 300 students.
Architects of the School
Benjamin Backhouse was an important architect. He moved to Queensland in 1861. In eight years, he designed over 100 buildings in Brisbane. He was the architect for the Board of General Education from 1863 to 1868. He designed many brick schools, including ones in Warwick and Maryborough. He moved to Sydney in 1869.
Richard George Suter was another key architect. He started working with Backhouse in 1865. After Backhouse left, Suter took over many school projects for the Board of Education. He became known for using exposed timber on school buildings. This helped save money and used materials that were easy to find.
School Closure and New Beginnings
The Fortitude Valley State School closed in December 2013. This happened because there were not enough students. Parents and students tried to keep it open, but the government said another school was nearby.
The school site was later given to the Fortitude Valley State Secondary College. This new college opened in 2020.
About the School Buildings
The former Fortitude Valley State School has two special brick buildings. They are on Brookes Street, between the Fortitude Valley Police Station and the railway line. These buildings show a style called Gothic Revival. This style was popular for churches and schools in the 1800s. The buildings look strong and simple, with interesting details.
Former Girls and Infants School (1867)
This building has two floors and is made of red brick. It has a strong stone base. The outside is now painted. The building has steep, pointed roofs. The main entrance is from a five-sided porch on the east side.
On the north side, there's a single-storey timber room that sticks out. The building has interesting brick patterns and details under the roof. The words "primary school" are spelled out in bricks on the north side. Curved sunshades protect the windows on the ground floor.
Inside, the main entrance leads to a large schoolroom. Two smaller teaching rooms open from this main room. The ground floor and first floor layouts are similar. These rooms are now used as offices. Many of the original wooden parts, like door frames and stair railings, are still there. The large schoolroom on the upper level has a high ceiling. It was designed with high windows on one side and lower, larger windows on the other. This allowed for different levels of seating for students.
Former Boys School (1874)
This building has one floor and is made of brick. It is east of the Girls and Infants School. It also has steep, pointed roofs. The main entrance is from a five-sided porch on the north side. The building sits on stone foundations. The covered walkways (verandahs) on the east and west sides are now enclosed. The brickwork under the roof is more detailed than on the Girls and Infants School.
The entrance porch leads into a large schoolroom with a high ceiling. Two smaller teaching rooms open from this main room. The large schoolroom has been divided into two spaces. The ceilings are made of wood. Many windows have a curved top. Double arched doors connect the main room to the verandahs. Many of the original wooden posts and railings from the verandahs are still inside the enclosed areas.
What Replaced the School
In 2019, the Fortitude Valley State Secondary College opened on this site. The main building of the old Fortitude Valley State School was changed into the music block for the new college. The old oval was used to build the first of two tall, six-storey buildings for the new school.
Why the School is Important
The Fortitude Valley State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1999. This means it's a very important historical site.
A Look at Queensland's History
The two main brick buildings of the Fortitude Valley State School are important. They show how early schools were built in Brisbane. They also show how the city grew over time. Changes made to the school over the years, like an extension in 1913, show how ideas about teaching changed.
Unique and Special Features
These buildings are rare examples of the Gothic Revival style used for schools in the 1800s. Their insides are still mostly original. This includes the roof supports, wooden ceilings, and staircases. The design of the large schoolrooms and small classrooms was special. It allowed for the Lancastrian system of teaching, which used tiered seating. These are rare examples of schools built for this old teaching method.
Beautiful Design
The two school buildings add to the beauty of Brookes Street. They fit in with other historic buildings nearby, like the Holy Trinity Church and the Fortitude Valley Police Station.
Important People and Their Work
The 1867 Girls and Infants School was designed by Benjamin Backhouse. The 1874 Boys School was designed by Richard George Suter. Both were very important architects in Queensland. These school buildings are great examples of their work in education.
