Gympie School of Arts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gympie School of Arts |
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Gympie School of Arts, 2015
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| Location | 39 Nash Street, Gympie, Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900–1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1904–1905 |
| Architect | Hugo William Du Rietz |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Gympie School of Arts | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 23 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 601910 |
| Significant period |
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| Significant components | School of Arts |
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The Gympie School of Arts is a historic building in Gympie, Australia. It was built between 1904 and 1905. This important building was designed by a local architect named Hugo William Du Rietz. Today, it is home to the Gympie Regional Gallery. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, showing its importance to Queensland's history.
Contents
What is a School of Arts?
The idea of "Schools of Arts" began in the 1820s in places like Glasgow and London. These places were also called Mechanics' Institutes. Their main goal was to help working-class people learn and improve themselves. They offered classes, lectures, and had libraries.
The first School of Arts in Australia opened in Hobart in 1827. Soon, many more opened across the country. In Queensland, the first one started in Brisbane in 1846. Over time, about 350 Schools of Arts were built across the state.
These schools aimed to teach practical skills. They also offered fun activities and had reading rooms. They were like early community centers and libraries.
The Gympie School of Arts Story
The Gympie School of Arts started in 1870. This was soon after gold was discovered in Gympie in 1867. The town grew very quickly because of the gold rush.
Edward Bytheway, an early settler and shop owner, helped start the school. He was involved in many community groups. Many Schools of Arts were started by community leaders.
At first, the Gympie School of Arts used a temporary reading room. A main hall was built in 1874. There were some disagreements about where the building should be. People also debated if it should join with another local institute.
By 1890, people felt a new building was needed. However, the school didn't have enough money. By 1904, they had saved enough funds. They decided to build a new, bigger place.
Hugo Du Rietz, a local architect, was asked to design the new building. He had been on the School of Arts committee before. The committee wanted a practical design. The new building cost about £1,400. It officially opened on February 28, 1905. It was called the School of Arts and Technical College.
Changes Over Time
In the 1920s, Schools of Arts began to decline. New things like radio became popular. More people owned cars, so they could travel more. World wars and the Great Depression also meant fewer people joined. This made it hard for the schools to get enough money from memberships.
To earn money, the upstairs reading room in Gympie was rented out as a flat in 1941. In the 1970s, technical education moved to TAFE colleges. This meant the School of Arts had less to do.
However, the government started supporting free libraries. In 1975, money was given to turn the Gympie School of Arts into a public library. The Gympie City Council took over running the library.
Over the years, the building also housed other groups. These included the Wide Bay Regional Council and the Police Department. In 1985, it shared space with the library and a local history collection. Air conditioning was added around this time.
The library moved to a new building in 1995. The School of Arts building was empty for a while. Later, it became the home of the Gympie Regional Gallery.
Building Features
The Gympie School of Arts is a large, two-story brick building. It stands on a main street in Gympie. The building sits on a slope. There are rock walls and gardens in front. You can enter by a central staircase or a ramp.
The building is made of brown bricks. It has deep red arch-shaped stones above the windows. The design is balanced, with a central entrance. The entrance has cedar doors with a fanlight above. There are windows on each side. The same window pattern is on the upper floor.
The top floor has a verandah (a covered porch). It runs across the front and halfway along the sides. It has simple timber posts and railings. Part of the verandah on the eastern side is now a kitchen. The main roof is shaped like a pyramid. It has a decorative vent at the top.
Inside, some walls on the ground floor have been removed. This created a large open space. The floorboards have been redone. The main staircase is at the back of the building. It has a beautiful cedar railing.
The ceilings are made of timber boards. The outer walls are plastered. The inner walls are made of timber boards or fibro sheets. The first floor has a central room at the top of the stairs. Double doors open into a large room that spans the width of the building. This room has a decorative metal trim where the walls meet the ceiling.
Why is it Important?
The Gympie School of Arts is important for several reasons:
- Part of Queensland's History: It shows how education and self-improvement were promoted in Queensland. Many towns had a School of Arts. They showed how well a town was doing.
- Unique Building Style: Most Schools of Arts were made of timber. This building is a rare example of a large brick School of Arts.
- Shows its Purpose: The building's design shows its original use. It had rooms for reading, a library, and games. The verandah was also a common feature for these types of buildings.
- Beautiful Design: The building is considered beautiful because of its simple and balanced design. It adds to the look of the street. The inside details, like the staircase, are also very nice.
- Community Connection: The building has been important to the Gympie community for a long time. It was a library and an educational center. It was used as a library until 1995.
- Architect's Work: It is a good example of the work of Hugo Du Rietz. He was a very active local architect in Gympie.
