Hemmant State School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hemmant State School |
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1876 school building
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| Location | 56 Hemmant–Tingalpa Road, Hemmant, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1876–1930s |
| Architect | Francis Drummond Greville Stanley |
| Official name: Hemmant State School and Dumbarton, Ashcroft House, Gibson House, Bulimba Creek School, Doughboy Creek Mixed School | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 4 September 2003 |
| Reference no. | 602382 |
| Significant period | 1870s (historical) 1870s–1930s (fabric) 1876–ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | staffroom/s / teachers' room/s / teachers' retiring room/s, residential accommodation – housing, school/school room, play shed |
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Hemmant State School is a historic school located at 56 Hemmant–Tingalpa Road in Hemmant, Queensland, Australia. It was built between 1876 and the 1930s. Famous architect Francis Drummond Greville Stanley helped design some of its buildings. The school was also known by earlier names like Bulimba Creek School. On its grounds, you can find an old house called Dumbarton. This house is also known as Ashcroft House or Gibson House.
The original Hemmant State School closed at the end of 2010. In 2012, the site became the Hemmant Flexible Learning Centre. This new school helps students who have struggled in regular schools. The school buildings and structures are important because of their history. They were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on September 4, 2003.
Contents
A Look Back: Hemmant School's History
Hemmant State School first opened in 1864 as the Bulimba Creek School. Over the years, many new buildings were added as the Hemmant community grew. The oldest building still standing was built in 1876. It was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley, who was the Queensland Colonial Architect at the time.
A large open playshed was added in 1884. The house called Dumbarton was moved to the school site in 2001. It was likely built in the 1870s or early 1880s. Local people believe the Uhlmann and Gibson families built and lived in it. These families were important in the area's early development.
Early Days in Hemmant
Hemmant was first known as Doughboy Creek. People started settling here in 1859. Migrants from England, Scotland, Holland, and Germany came to set up farms. The land was good for growing vegetables and fruit. Farmers sent their crops to Brisbane by river. Later, a bridge over Bulimba Creek in 1870 made road transport possible.
In 1863, William Gibson and his son Angus arrived and settled in Hemmant. In 1866, William Gibson started growing sugar cane. Other farmers in the area also began growing sugar. By 1871, there were seven sugar mills in the area. However, droughts and diseases later damaged the sugar crops. Sugar farming then moved to areas further north in Queensland.
School Name Changes and Growth
Hemmant State School opened on May 9, 1864. It was first called Bulimba Creek School. The school was "non-vested," meaning parents paid for the building. The government provided the teacher. Eighteen children enrolled in the first week. By the next year, 74 children had joined.
In 1866, the name changed to Doughboy Creek Mixed School. This was to avoid confusion with another school. It later became Doughboy Creek Primary School (1869), Doughboy Primary School (1870), and finally Hemmant Primary School (1876). A new house for the teacher was built in 1873.
The first school building was made of pine and became very old and damaged. In 1876, experts said a new school was needed. The new building was a standard design by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley. It was 40 feet long and 20 feet wide, with verandahs.
In 1884, a large open playshed was built. This was also a standard design. In 1897, the school roof was changed from shingles to iron. More improvements were made to the teacher's house in 1899. In 1893, a big flood covered much of Hemmant. Men took shelter in the school during the flood.
School Upgrades and Changes
An open-air annexe was added in 1915. This was a large room with canvas blinds to protect from the weather. It was connected to the existing school building. In 1922, windows replaced the blinds, enclosing the building.
In 1931, a teachers' room was built. The school residence was sold in 1939, and a tennis court was built on its site. More land was added to the school in 1951. In 1955, the schoolrooms were updated, and a new classroom was built. Major changes happened in 1955 and 1961. These included enclosing verandahs and dividing a large classroom into two. A preschool opened in 1980.
The Story of Dumbarton House
In 2001, a house known as Dumbarton was moved to the school site. It had been located nearby on Hemmant-Tingalpa Road. Dumbarton is linked to Hemmant's history as a farming community in the late 1800s. The land it stood on was first owned by Friedrich Uhlmann in 1859.
The Gibson and Uhlmann families were connected by marriage. Local stories say Friedrich Uhlmann built the house for the Gibson family. This might have been as early as 1864. The house is clearly shown on a railway map from 1887.
In 2000, the Main Roads Department bought the land where Dumbarton stood. They needed it to build a new road. Local residents and historical groups worked together to save the house. It was then moved to the Hemmant State School site in April 2001. The name "Dumbarton" is quite new for the house. It was named after the Ashcroft family's original home in Scotland. Before that, it was known as the Gibson House or the Ashcroft House.
Hemmant State School officially closed on December 31, 2010. In 2012, the site reopened as the Hemmant Flexible Learning Centre. This new school focuses on helping students who need a different approach to learning.
Exploring the School Buildings
Hemmant State School is on a large piece of land. The school buildings are located on the northern part of the site. The rest of the land is used for horses. The main historic buildings are the 1876 school, the 1915 open-air annexe, the 1931 teachers' room, the 1884 playshed, and Dumbarton House. These buildings are grouped around a paved play area.
The 1876 School Building
The 1876 school building is closest to Hemmant–Tingalpa Road. It is a timber building, about 8.5 by 12 meters, now divided into two classrooms. It has an enclosed verandah on one side. The walls are made of weatherboard. The roof is corrugated iron. Each classroom has windows that can be opened. Inside, the walls are made of wooden boards. The classrooms are separated by a wall with a blackboard and whiteboard.
The 1915 Annexe and Teachers' Room
The 1915 open-air annexe is north of the 1876 school building. It's a tall timber building that has been changed and extended over time. It has a corrugated iron roof. The outside walls are covered with timber boards. Inside, the building is divided into several sections. One part is now a computer room. Another large room has wooden walls and a pressed metal ceiling.
The 1931 teachers' room is a small timber building. It is located near the 1876 school and the 1915 annexe. It has windows with awnings on three sides. Inside, the walls and ceiling are lined with wooden boards.
The 1884 Playshed
The 1884 playshed is on the eastern side of the paved play area. It is an open timber structure, about 12.5 by 7.2 meters. The roof is corrugated iron, held up by timber posts. Part of one side is enclosed with corrugated iron, which has a blackboard on it. The floor is paved, and there are wooden seats between the posts.
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Dumbarton House
Dumbarton House is located on the southern side of the school area. It is a single-story house built on tall stumps. It has a gabled roof and a chimney. A verandah goes around most of the house. Some parts of the verandah have been enclosed. The open parts have timber railings. The posts are decorated.
Inside, the house has a central hallway with rooms on either side. Some rooms are now offices. They have wooden walls and ceilings. There are also modern bathrooms and a kitchen. Narrow stairs lead to the attic, which has two rooms. These rooms have wooden walls and ceilings.
Why Hemmant State School is Important
Hemmant State School and Dumbarton were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on September 4, 2003. This means they are important parts of Queensland's history and culture.
Showing Queensland's History
Hemmant State School started in 1864. It is one of Queensland's oldest state schools that is still operating. The school shows how Queensland developed. It was built after the Doughboy Creek area was divided into farms. This shows how farming grew around Brisbane in the late 1850s and 1860s. The school also grew when sugar farming started in the area in the 1870s. It expanded again in the 1920s and 1930s when meatworks opened nearby.
Unique Parts of History
Hemmant State School is special because it is one of the oldest schools still open in Queensland. The school buildings show how school architecture changed over time. These changes also reflect new ideas in education. The 1876 building is very old and a rare survivor. The 1884 playshed is still mostly original and is also quite rare. The 1915 open-air annexe has been changed, but these changes themselves show how the school and education policies developed.
Dumbarton House, even with its changes, shows how houses were built around 1880. It is one of the few remaining buildings in Hemmant that shows the home styles of that time.
Strong Community Connection
Hemmant State School is very important to the people of Hemmant. The school grew as the community grew. For many years, it was a meeting place and a center for the community.
Dumbarton House also has a strong connection to the community. When it was almost torn down in 2000, local people fought to save it. Their efforts led to the house being moved to the school site.
Links to Important People
The school and Dumbarton House are connected to the Gibson and Uhlmann families. These families were among the first settlers in the Hemmant area. The Gibson family was also important in starting the sugar industry in Queensland. Angus Gibson, who owned Dumbarton for a time, was active in local government and was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Council.
