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, Australia. It is located at 61 Grace Street. This building was finished in 1881. It was built by the community to be a place for learning and social events. Today, it is still used by the community. Because of its history, it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Contents
A Look Back: Herberton's History
Herberton started as a town in 1880. This was after a lot of tin was found nearby. Many people quickly moved to the area. By August 1880, the town of Herberton already had a hotel and shops. The tin found around Herberton was the richest ever found in mainland Australia.
Starting the School of Arts
On December 31, 1880, people in Herberton held a public meeting. They wanted to create a "School of Arts." Many people supported the idea and gave money. They bought land for the building in January 1881. By the end of that month, a simple building made of bark was put up. It was the very first community building in the area. It was quite unusual for a town to build a School of Arts so early in its history.
What is a School of Arts?
The first "Mechanics' Institutes" or "Schools of Arts" began in Britain in the early 1800s. Their goal was to help people learn and grow. They offered talks, discussions, and books to borrow. At that time, there were no public libraries, and books were very expensive. So, these places were important for education and fun. The first School of Arts in Queensland started in Brisbane in 1849. It aimed to help the community learn about reading, philosophy, and science. As towns grew, local groups created their own Schools of Arts. They became a main way for adults to keep learning.
Early Days of the Herberton Building
By October 1881, a public hall was built in Herberton. It opened with a big dance on November 9, 1881. Just a week later, it hosted the first local government meeting for the Tablelands area. Within a month, it was also used as a school. Many groups wanted to use the building for meetings, talks, and plays. It was so popular that bookings for the new year were already filling up.
Growth and Changes
In 1882, Herberton was connected to Port Douglas by a coach service. The town grew quickly in the 1880s and 1890s. Its population reached 1,500 people in 1895. Later, the nearby town of Irvinebank grew, and Herberton's population started to go down. In 1895, the back of the School of Arts was made longer. This added a stage and two small dressing rooms.
Connecting towns on the Tablelands to the coast by train was a big goal. However, the land was very difficult. The Tablelands railway line slowly made its way from Cairns between 1886 and 1910. A photo from 1910, celebrating the train's arrival, 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 bigger. It was used as offices for the Herberton Shire Council while their new offices were being built. By the 1960s, the building was getting old and needed repairs. But it was still used for meetings and parties. Over the years, money from grants and community projects helped fix it up. In 1986, the Shire Council took over looking after the building. Since 1992, the main part of the building has been the Herberton Public Library. The front rooms also show a collection of rocks and old photos. This continues the building's long history of helping the community learn.
In 1995, the space under the building was closed off with timber. The front of the building also changed. Gardens, paving, and a covered walkway (called a pergola) were added by 1995. By 2001, the pergola was covered with metal sheets.
What the Building Looks Like
The School of Arts is in the middle of Herberton's main shopping area. The land slopes down from the street towards the back. The building sits close to the street. It is across from the two-story Royal Hotel. To the north, near William Street, is the old Jack & Newell General Store.
The School of Arts is a single-story building made of timber. Its outside walls are covered with timber boards. It stands on timber and some steel posts. The space under the building gets taller as the ground slopes down. This space is closed off with timber. Two concrete block rooms (toilets) were added under the back of the building. The roof is covered with corrugated metal. It has a main pointed roof section that runs away from the street. There are also lower, sloping roof sections over two rooms at the back. At the front, there are low, sloped roof sections on either side of a central pointed entrance. This entrance has a triangle-shaped wooden decoration. Behind it is the door to the library. On either side of the door are several windows. A modern timber covered walkway was added in front of the northern part of the building, along with paving and garden beds.
Inside, there is a large hall, which is now the 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 front entrance. The hall has a special ceiling that hangs down and curves. It is made of acoustic board to help with sound. The walls of the stage area are not covered. The walls towards the street are covered with wide vertical timber boards. The windows in the hall have timber shutters that open from the top. The small rooms next to the stage are not covered inside. Each has a small window that is boarded up and a simple wooden door.
The rooms at the front of the building are used for displays. One room shows different items, and another is a small geological museum. The ceilings in these rooms are covered with stained timber boards. Some walls are made of a single layer of horizontal timber boards, and some are the outside weatherboards.
Why This Place is Special
The Herberton School of Arts was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it is important for several reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history developed.
The School of Arts helps us understand how Herberton grew. It is also part of a network of similar buildings that appeared in many Queensland towns in the 1800s and early 1900s. These places were run by the community. They played a valuable role in education and social life. They shared information and provided places for talks, meetings, games, plays, and concerts.
- It is beautiful to look at.
The School of Arts is in a central spot in the business area. It adds a lot to the look and feel of Herberton.
- It has a strong connection to the community.
The School of Arts is important because it has been a key part of Herberton's social and community life since it first started.
