Harristown State High School Buildings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harristown State High School Buildings |
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Block B, north side
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| Location | 341–367 South Street, Harristown, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1940s–1960s (Post-WWII) |
| Built | 1954–1972 |
| Official name: Harristown State High School | |
| Type | state heritage |
| Designated | 19 August 2016 |
| Reference no. | 650037 |
| Type | Education, Research, Scientific Facility: School – state (high) |
| Theme | Educating Queenslanders: Providing secondary education |
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The Harristown State High School Buildings are a group of historic school buildings. They are located at Harristown State High School in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. The main building, Block B, was built in 1954.
These buildings are important because they show how schools were designed and built in Queensland after World War II. They were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 19 August 2016.
Contents
A Growing School for a Growing City
Harristown State High School opened in 1955. It was built because the city of Toowoomba and its suburb, Harristown, were growing fast after World War II. Many families were moving into the area.
As of 2016, the school still uses seven of its original buildings. These were built between 1954 and 1961. Some have been made bigger over time.
- Block B (a timber school building, 1954)
- Block L (used for manual training, 1955)
- Block K (used for domestic science, 1955)
- Part of the administration block (1957–58)
- Block C (another timber school building, 1959–60)
- An Oslo lunch canteen (1959)
- Block D (a timber school building, 1961)
The school also has its original layout from the 1950s. This includes covered walkways between buildings. There are also old brick flower boxes, a curved driveway, and sports areas. The school has been open and teaching students since it first started.
How Toowoomba Grew
Toowoomba is Queensland's biggest inland city. European settlers first came to the area in the 1840s. The area was originally home to the Giabal and Jarowair people. Toowoomba grew quickly because it had good land and water. It also had an easier road to Brisbane.
Toowoomba became a town in 1860. By 1861, it was bigger than the nearby settlement of Drayton. The railway arrived in 1867, connecting Toowoomba to Brisbane. This helped the city's economy grow. Toowoomba became a city in 1904.
Education in Queensland
Queensland started building schools early on. The first National School in Toowoomba opened in 1865. Schools became very important to communities. They showed progress and were a source of local pride.
The Queensland Government created standard plans for school buildings. This helped save money and made sure schools were similar. From the 1860s to the 1960s, most schools were made of timber. This was cheap and easy to build. These standard designs were always being improved. They were good at controlling temperature, light, and air.
Harristown's First School
The first school in Harristown opened in 1911. It was a state school, about 2 kilometres southwest of Toowoomba's centre. Harristown itself began in 1902 when land was sold.
After World War II, more and more students came to Harristown State School. The number of students grew from 237 in 1947 to 630 in 1960. This was because Toowoomba's population grew by 30% after the war. Many new homes were built, especially by the Queensland Housing Commission.
The government was not ready for so many new students. This was happening all over Australia because of the "baby boom" and more people moving to the country. Schools became very crowded. Many new buildings were needed, and old ones were made bigger.
In 1953, a teacher at Harristown State School reported that many young families were moving into the area. This led to the decision to build a new state high school.
The Rise of High Schools
For a long time, the Queensland government did not focus much on state secondary education. They thought it was not very important for Queensland's economy. In 1912, the government finally started a high school system.
After World War II, secondary education became much more common. The number of high schools in Queensland grew a lot in the 1950s. By 1954, high school student numbers had almost doubled since 1948.
Toowoomba State High School was no longer big enough. So, in 1955, new high schools opened in places like Harristown. These new high schools were often built in suburbs, not in the city centre. They had large grounds for sports. They also had special buildings for science, home economics, and workshops.
Architects started planning schools differently in the 1950s. They wanted schools to fit their surroundings and allow for future growth. They also wanted buildings to get the best sunlight. Harristown State High School was planned with this new, more open style.
The land for Harristown SHS was set aside around 1950. It was about 11 hectares in size. Building the school was approved in September 1954. The first building, Block B, was ready for students in 1955.
New Building Designs
From 1950, the Department of Public Instruction created new standard plans for school buildings. These buildings were tall, timber-framed structures. The space underneath was used as a covered play area.
In 1954, they improved the design. They used timber trusses to support the floor. This meant fewer poles underneath, creating more open play space. In 1957, they used steel trusses for even more open space.
Block B was one of these new timber school buildings with timber floor trusses. It was built high off the ground. The ground floor had science rooms and student areas. The upper floor had classrooms. It had a verandah on the north side with big windows for light and air.
Vocational Training Buildings
Harristown SHS soon added buildings for manual training and domestic science. These subjects were important to the government. They helped students learn skills for jobs.
Two timber vocational buildings were built in 1955. These were Block L (manual training) and Block K (domestic science). They were located east of Block B. Block L had rooms for sheet metal and woodwork. Block K had rooms for cooking and dressmaking.
Growing and Expanding
The school continued to grow. Around 1957-58, a new administration block was added west of Block B. It had offices for the principal and staff. This building used stone walls to make the school look nicer.
More classrooms were needed. In 1957, a new classroom was added to Block L. Around 1959-60, Block C was built. This was another timber school building. It used open web steel floor trusses for even more open space underneath.
In 1959, an Oslo lunch canteen was built near Block C. Oslo canteens offered healthy lunches. These lunches included things like salad sandwiches and milk. They were meant to help children be healthier.
In 1961, Block D was added. It was another two-storey timber school building. By this time, the school also had a sports oval and tennis courts.
The school kept growing in the 1960s. More buildings were added, including Block A (1963) and Block M (1963). Block K was also made bigger. A science block (Block H) was built around 1965. By 1965, the school had seven main blocks and an administration block. The school grounds also had many shade trees planted.
Harristown SHS continued to expand into the 1970s. A new classroom block (Block E) was built in 1966. An assembly hall (Block G) was built around 1967. A library (Block J) was added in 1970–71. Block K was extended again in 1972.
Even though more buildings have been added since, the original buildings from 1954-61 are still at the heart of the school. Harristown State High School is still open today. It is an important part of the Harristown community. It is the largest secondary school in the Darling Downs area, with over 1500 students.
The school's design helps with air flow, which is important for an inland location. Large louvre windows allow a lot of fresh air to move through the buildings.
School Buildings and Grounds
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Harristown State High School is on a large, rectangular site. It is located in Harristown, on the western side of Toowoomba. The land gently slopes down towards the north. You can get to the school from South Street through a curved driveway. The school also has access from Hennessy Street.
The school has seven important buildings from 1954–1961. Some have been extended later. These buildings are connected by covered walkways. There are open courtyard areas between them for play. These are all in the southeastern part of the school grounds. The school also has mature trees and playing fields.
The seven main buildings are:
- The northern part of the administration block (1957–58)
- Block B – a timber school building (1954)
- Block C – a timber school building (1959–60)
- The Oslo lunch canteen (1959)
- Block K – a timber vocational building (1955, extended 1963 and 1972)
- Block L – a timber vocational building (1955, extended around 1957, 1959)
- Block D – a timber school building (1961)
The way the school is planned shows how schools were designed in Queensland in the 1950s. Buildings are long and narrow, arranged around open courtyard spaces. They spread out from the administration block. Covered walkways connect the buildings.
Most of the buildings are made of timber and brick. They have metal roofs. The outside walls are mostly timber, with some brick walls at the ends. Modern windows have replaced the old ones.
Administration Block
The administration block is a single-storey building. It has a low roof and is made of timber and brick. The original part of the building is to the north (1957–58). A newer part was added later (around 1985–86) to the south.
The outside of the original part has metal sheets. It also has special stone walls in the southwest corner. There is a brick wall on the east side. Original concrete steps and brick flower boxes are still there.
Inside, the original layout can still be seen. It had open areas, but now some parts are divided by new walls. The building has offices and staff rooms. Some walls are made of stone. The windows are timber-framed.
Timber School Building (Block B)
Block B is a two-storey building. It has verandahs facing north. The first floor is supported by timber trusses. This creates open play space underneath. Timber stairs at each end lead to the first floor.
The verandahs have low roofs. The ground floor verandah has a concrete floor. The first floor verandah has a timber floor. Bag racks form the railings on the verandah.
The first floor has six classrooms. The ground floor has amenities (like toilets) and classrooms. The walls and ceilings are lined with flat sheets. Timber trusses can be seen in some ground floor rooms.
Many original timber windows and doors are still in the building. Some windows have been replaced. An old laboratory desk is in one classroom. Some classrooms also have cupboards with whiteboards above them.
Timber School Building (Block C)
Block C has brick and metal walls at its ends. It has an open web steel floor truss system. This means the first floor is supported by steel beams. Concrete columns support the trusses. The ground floor and stairs are enclosed by brick walls. There is a concrete garden box near the eastern stairs.
The verandahs face northwest. They have low roofs. The ground floor verandah has a concrete floor. The first floor verandah has metal posts and bag racks as railings.
The first floor has six classrooms. The ground floor has amenities and a former recreation area. This area is now used for storage and offices. The walls are made of brick or flat sheeting. Trusses can be seen in many ground floor rooms.
The building has many timber-framed windows. These include awning windows and double-hung sashes. Some original timber doors are still there.
Oslo Lunch Canteen
The Oslo lunch canteen is a small, rectangular building. It is located south of Block C. Its southern, eastern, and western walls are made of brick at the bottom. Above that, they have fixed glass windows. The northern wall has been changed and is not original.
Inside, it is a single room. The ceiling is lined with flat sheets. The walls are painted brick.
Former Domestic Science Building (Block K)
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Block K is a single-storey timber building. It has a verandah on the western side. The northern end wall is timber, and the southern end wall is brick. Timber stairs lead to the building. There is a brick flower box on the northeast corner.
The verandah has a sloped ceiling and timber posts. Bag racks form the railings. The floor is timber, with some concrete at the southern end.
Inside, there are classrooms. There is a large room for domestic science (home economics). Some classrooms have cupboards with whiteboards. The southern wall of the southernmost classroom is brick.
The eastern wall has many timber-framed windows. The western wall has timber-framed double-hung windows. Most doors have been replaced.
Former Manual Training Building (Block L)
Block L is a single-storey timber building. It is set high on concrete stumps. It has a verandah on the western side. The southern wall is brick. The space underneath is used for storage.
The verandah has a timber floor and timber posts. Bag racks form the railings. The northern end of the verandah is enclosed with glass.
Inside, there are four classrooms. There are also two store rooms. Many classrooms have timber-framed blackboards or cupboards with whiteboards.
The eastern wall has many timber-framed windows. The western wall has timber-framed double-hung windows. Some original timber doors are still in the building.
Timber School Building (Block D)
Block D is a long, two-storey building. It has metal open web floor trusses. These are supported by concrete columns. It has a verandah on the northern side. The eastern and western end walls are brick.
The first floor verandah has a timber floor and timber posts. Bag racks form the railings. The ground floor verandah has a concrete floor.
The first floor has classrooms and staff rooms. The ground floor has a tuckshop, classrooms, and toilets. Some walls have been added or removed over time.
Some original timber doors are still on the first floor. Some timber windows are still on the southern side.
School Grounds and Features
The school grounds are well-developed. They have sports facilities. There is a large oval west of the main buildings. There are also four tennis courts and three playing fields.
The open courtyard spaces between the buildings are paved. They are used as play areas. Covered walkways connect the main school buildings.
A curved driveway leads from South Street to the administration block. It is lined with mature trees. Other old trees are planted around the school grounds.
There is a decorative metal archway at the Hennessy Street entrance. It says "HARRISTOWN STATE HIGH SCHOOL". South of the archway are two brick pillars from an older entrance.
Why Harristown State High School is Special
Harristown State High School was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 19 August 2016. This means it is important because:
- It shows how Queensland's history of education changed.
* The school shows how state education and school buildings developed in Queensland. * The layout of the buildings and covered walkways shows the "master planning" ideas from the early 1950s. This planning allowed schools to grow in an organised way. * The timber school buildings show how designs improved to create more open play space under the buildings. * The domestic science and manual training buildings show how the government focused on teaching practical skills. * The administration block shows a move towards more permanent and attractive school designs. * The Oslo lunch canteen is a rare example of a healthy eating program from after World War II.
- It shows the main features of a 1950s Queensland high school.
* It has the typical layout from the 1950s. * It has high-set and low-set timber buildings. These have play areas underneath, verandahs, and classrooms with lots of natural light and air. * It has a large, landscaped site with old shade trees and sports areas. * The classroom blocks are arranged in a splayed, narrow way. They are linked around open courtyard spaces, spreading out from the administration block. This is typical of 1950s school design. * The timber school buildings (Block B and Block C) are good examples of their type. They show how timber and steel trusses were used to create open play spaces. They have large windows and good lighting. * The former domestic science and manual training buildings still have their original timber frames and verandahs.
- It has a strong connection to the community.
* Schools are very important to communities. They connect past students, parents, and teachers. They are a place for people to meet and volunteer. They also show a community's pride and hopes for the future. * Harristown State High School has a strong and ongoing link with the Harristown community. It opened in 1955, and many generations of students have gone there. It is important for education in Harristown and as a community hub.
See also
- History of state education in Queensland
- List of schools in Darling Downs
