Herberton School of Arts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Herberton School of Arts |
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Herberton School of Arts, 1992
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| Location | 61 Grace Street, Herberton, Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1881 |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Herberton School of Arts | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600540 |
| Significant period | 1880s–1900s (fabric) 1880s (historical) 1880s–1930s (social) |
| Significant components | school of arts, library – building |
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The Herberton School of Arts is a special old building in Herberton, Queensland, Australia. It's located at 61 Grace Street. This building was finished in 1881 and is considered a "heritage-listed" site. This means it's an important historical place protected by the Queensland Heritage Register since October 21, 1992.
Contents
What is a School of Arts?
Learning and Community Hubs
Schools of Arts, also known as Mechanics' Institutes, started in Britain in the early 1800s. They were places where people could learn and improve themselves. These centers offered lectures, discussions, and libraries. They helped people grow in their knowledge of literature, philosophy, and science.
Back then, there were no public libraries, and books were very expensive. So, these schools provided an important way for people to borrow books. This helped many people get an education and enjoy reading. The first School of Arts in Queensland was set up in Brisbane in 1849.
History of Herberton's School of Arts
Early Days of Herberton
Herberton town began in 1880 after a large amount of tin was found nearby. Many people quickly moved to the area. By August 1880, the town of Herberton was planned out. It already had a hotel, a butcher shop, and three stores. The tin fields around Herberton were the richest ever found in Australia.
Building the School of Arts
On December 31, 1880, people in Herberton held a meeting outside. They wanted to start a School of Arts. The community showed great support, donating £50 for the project. A piece of land was bought for £18 in January 1881. By the end of that month, a simple building made of bark was put up.
This was the first community building in the area. It was quite unusual for a School of Arts to be built so early in a new settlement.
A Busy Community Center
By October 22, 1881, a public hall was finished in Herberton. It officially opened with a big dance on November 9, 1881. Just a week later, on November 16, it hosted the first local government meeting for the Tablelands area. Within a month, it was also being used as a school.
The building was very popular for meetings, talks, and theater shows. By December, it had already booked £250 worth of events for the new year.
Growth and Changes Over Time
In 1882, Herberton was connected to Port Douglas by a coach service. The town grew quickly in the 1880s and 1890s. Its population reached its highest point of 1,500 people in 1895. Later, the population started to decrease as the nearby town of Irvinebank grew.
In 1895, the back of the School of Arts was made longer. This added a stage and two small dressing rooms. The railway line slowly reached Herberton from Cairns between 1886 and 1910. A photo from 1910 shows two small rooms at the front of the hall. These might have been created by closing in the verandahs.
In 1934, one of these rooms was made larger to be used as offices. This was for the Herberton Shire Council while their main offices were being built elsewhere. By the 1960s, the building was in poor condition. However, it was still used for meetings and social events.
Grants and community projects helped fund repairs and renovations. In 1986, the Shire Council took over looking after the building. Since 1992, the Herberton Public Library has been located inside. The front rooms have also displayed a collection of rocks and a photo exhibit. This shows how the building continues to serve the community's educational needs. In 1992, a new ceiling was put into the main hall.
In 1995, the space under the building was enclosed with timber. Changes were also made to the front of the building. Gardens, paving, and a pergola (a shaded walkway) were added by 1995. By 2001, the pergola had a metal roof.
What Does It Look Like?
Building Features
The School of Arts is in the center of Herberton's business area. It's a single-story building made of timber. It has weatherboard walls and sits on timber and steel posts. The area under the building, called the undercroft, gets taller as the land slopes down. This area is enclosed with timber. Two concrete block rooms, which are toilets, were added under the back of the building.
The roof is covered with corrugated metal. It has a main gable that points towards the street. There are also lower, sloping roofs over two rooms at the back. At the front, on either side of a central gabled porch, are low-pitched, hipped additions. The porch has a triangular wooden design. Behind it is the main entrance door to the library. There are several windows on either side of the door. A modern timber pergola was added in front of the northern part of this building face. There are also some paving and garden beds.
Inside the Building
Inside, there is a large hall now used as a library. At the back of the hall is a stage area with small dressing rooms on each side. There are also two L-shaped rooms on either side of the main entrance. The hall has a suspended ceiling made of acoustic board. The walls of the stage area are not covered, but the walls towards the street are covered with wide wooden boards. The windows in the hall have wooden shutters that open from the top. The small rooms next to the stage are not covered inside. Each has a small boarded-up window and a simple wooden door.
The rooms at the front of the building are used for exhibitions and a small geological museum. The ceilings in these rooms are covered with stained wooden boards. Some walls are single-layer horizontal boards, and others are weatherboards.
Why is it Important?
A Piece of Queensland's Past
The Herberton School of Arts is important because it shows how towns like Herberton grew in Queensland. It's also part of a network of similar institutions that appeared in many towns during the 1800s and early 1900s. These places were run by the community. They played a valuable role in sharing information and providing places for talks, meetings, games, and community events like plays and concerts.
Beautiful and Historic
The School of Arts is located in the main business area of Herberton. Its design and appearance add to the unique look of the town. It's a visually important building.
Strong Community Connection
This building has a strong connection with the people of Herberton. It has been a key part of the town's social and community life since it was first built.
