Ipswich Grammar School Buildings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ipswich Grammar School Buildings |
|
|---|---|
Aerial photograph of Ipswich Grammar School Buildings
|
|
| Location | Woodend Road, Woodend, Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1840s–1860s (mid-19th century) |
| Built | 1863–1972 |
| Official name: Ipswich Grammar School | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600601 |
| Significant period | 1860s (historical) 1860s–1920s (fabric main bldg) 1910s (science/music bldg) 1860s ongoing (socia) |
| Significant components | swimming pool, classroom/classroom block/teaching area, school/school room, science block, garden/grounds, dormitory, gymnasium, driveway |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Ipswich Grammar School Buildings are a group of historic school buildings in Ipswich, Australia. They are located on Woodend Road in the suburb of Woodend. These buildings were constructed between 1863 and 1972. They are recognized as important heritage sites and were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Contents
The Story of Ipswich Grammar School
Ipswich Grammar School was the very first high school built in Queensland. Its original building was constructed in the early 1860s. It is a great example of Gothic Revival architecture, a style that looks like old castles and churches.
What is a Grammar School?
The name "grammar school" goes back a long way. In early Christian times, these schools focused on teaching "grammar." This meant learning classical languages like Latin and Greek, and old literature. In England, grammar schools started teaching more subjects in the 1700s and 1800s. Ipswich Grammar School was created during this time of big changes in education.
Starting Education in Queensland
Before Queensland became a separate colony from New South Wales in 1859, schooling was very basic. Kids mostly learned reading, writing, math, and religion. Often, this happened in private homes. After Queensland separated, the new government needed to create a proper education system.
In 1860, two important laws were passed. One created a Board of General Education. The other, the Grammar Schools Act 1860, encouraged new grammar schools. It offered a government grant of £1000 if a local community raised the same amount.
Building the School in Ipswich
People in Brisbane tried to start a grammar school first, but arguments stopped it. In Ipswich, things moved faster. By June 1861, £1000 was raised, but not without some disagreements!
On August 20, 1861, a meeting was held to discuss the school. It was chaired by the local Mayor, John Murphy. The meeting ended in chaos and fighting. A week later, another meeting finally decided to establish Ipswich Grammar School.
Some people who disagreed, especially Roman Catholics, took their money back. But this was only a small problem. By March 1862, almost all the money was collected. Soon after, the first Trustees were chosen.
Designing the School Building
In April 1862, the Trustees asked for building plans. They offered prizes for the best designs. Benjamin Backhouse was the only one to submit plans. His designs were accepted after some small changes, like adding toilets.
Backhouse was born in England in 1829. He worked as a stonemason and builder-architect. He moved to Australia in 1852 and later settled in Brisbane. Ipswich Grammar School was likely his design.
The Trustees then asked for building bids. McLaughlin & Ferguson, an Ipswich building company, won the job with a quote of £2890.
Opening Day and Early Years
By September 1863, the school building was almost finished. The Queensland Times newspaper announced that the school would be run like the best schools in England. It also noted the school's high position, overlooking Ipswich town.
The school quickly became a landmark. It showed how important Ipswich was becoming for business and industry. The Queensland Governor, Sir George Bowen, officially opened the school on September 25, 1863.
Within two weeks, the first students arrived. Student numbers grew for the first three years. But they dropped when the economy got worse and Brisbane Grammar School opened in 1869. The school's first headmaster was Stuart Hawthorne.
Growing and Expanding
Hawthorne was headmaster until 1868. During his time, the Great Hall was made bigger in 1865. Over the next 32 years, the school had only two principals: John Macrae (1869-1875) and Donald Cameron (1875-1900).
Even with ups and downs in the economy, the school grew. Student numbers peaked in the mid-1880s. More buildings and grounds work were done. In 1876, a cricket ground was built. In 1877, the famous architect Francis Drummond Greville Stanley designed the school's gymnasium shed and other changes. Water was connected in 1879, and gas in 1883. A verandah was added in 1890.
New Century, New Buildings
At the start of the 1900s, Charles Alfred Flint became principal. In his first year, a covered balcony was designed by George Brockwell Gill. Gill also designed a two-storey building in 1921, which became known as Bradfield House.
In 1910, the school sold about 2½ acres of land. The money from this sale, plus a government grant, was used for new buildings. This included a new science building designed by Gill in 1912. New servants' quarters and a room for sick boarders were also built.
War Years and Growth
Richard Alexander Kerr became headmaster in 1914 and stayed until 1945. This was during the First World War and Second World War. Even in these tough times, the school grew. Student numbers more than doubled between 1914 and 1930.
More classrooms were needed. In 1923, four brick classrooms were built. In 1930, the old museum was updated for Geography and History classes. A sports ground was also laid out and opened in 1925. However, during the Great Depression and World War II, no new buildings were added.
Post-War Development
After World War II, student numbers started to increase again. New buildings became necessary. In 1946, a new wing for boarders was added. It was named The Murray Hancock Memorial Block, after a former student who died in the war.
In 1947, the War Memorial Library opened. In 1954, a brass plaque honored students who died in both World Wars. The dining room was made bigger, and a new kitchen and laundry were added.
A very important building was constructed in this period. It cost over £100,000 and was designed by architect Dr Karl Langer. The foundation stone was laid in 1961. This building has 13 classrooms, science rooms, labs, and offices.
Modern Expansions
The 1970s saw more growth. In 1972, the Fox and Hancock dormitory towers were built. The War Memorial Teaching Complex and the Earle Williams Building were also constructed. Five years later, the 1912 science building was updated to become the Music School. An open-air theatre was also built. In 1978, the Earle Williams Building was extended. A swimming pool, gymnasium, and tennis courts were added in 1979.
The school has continued to expand in recent times. The original 1863 building was updated between 1980 and 1982. Bradfield House was changed into accommodation. In 1985, a new Art School was created by renovating an old building.
In 1987, the Clive Wyman Building was opened. It houses the school's library and computer facilities. The late 1980s also saw a new administration building and clock tower. In 1990, a cricket storage shed and a new scoreboard were added.
Ipswich Grammar School remains a key landmark in the area. Its long history is seen in its buildings and its many successful former students. These include Alfred Paxton Backhouse (son of the architect), John Job Crew Bradfield (who designed the Sydney Harbour Bridge), and Sir Harry Gibbs (a former High Court judge).
School Campus and Buildings
Ipswich Grammar School is located less than 1 kilometer west of the town center. It is surrounded by Woodend Road, and Burnett, Waghorn, and Darling Streets. The school buildings are on a hill, overlooking much of Ipswich. The sports fields and courts create a green space around the school. You can see parts of the school from different places in Ipswich, like Burnett Street.
The school teaches students from grades 5 to 12. It has about 800 students, including those who live at the school (boarders) and those who go home each day.
Main Building Complex (1863–1921)
This group of buildings is made of brick and stone. Over time, they have been covered with a smooth layer and painted. Some smaller parts have been added using timber. The main parts of the complex are in the Gothic Revival style. They have classrooms, a Great Hall, towers, and rooms for students living at the school.
The buildings are arranged with two long wings that meet at the Great Hall. This corner looks very strong and welcoming to visitors. The Great Hall used to be shorter in 1863, and you can still see where it ended. Another building, possibly the gymnasium shed from 1877, runs parallel to one of the main wings. This creates a rectangular open space, like a courtyard.
The outside walls of the main wings have stone details around the windows and on top of the walls. These are painted white, while the rest of the building is light grey. The roofs are made of corrugated iron. There are also decorative rainwater pipes and several chimneys.
The Great Hall has impressive pointed gables with five tall, narrow windows. The windows on the tower are square. Bradfield House, designed in 1921, is also part of this complex. It is a two-storey building with double gables.
The courtyard area is informal and used by students at lunchtime. An iron roof or verandah built in 1890 provides shelter. A small single-storey building is attached to one wall of the courtyard.
Inside the Main Building Complex
Inside, you'll find the Great Hall, meeting rooms, and other spaces. The Great Hall is used for orchestra practice and has the school's museum. It has two parts, separated by a few steps and a large pointed archway. The walls are plastered brick. Wooden honor boards line the walls, showing names of important people from the school.
The ceilings have exposed wooden beams. These beams are painted, and the ceiling behind them is made of wooden boards. The windows are high up, so you can mostly see the sky.
A hallway leads from the main tower to a wooden staircase. Off this hallway is the Great Hall and a large meeting room. This room has a fireplace and a decorated ceiling. Another smaller meeting room has a simpler ceiling.
The upper rooms of the secondary wing also have high, open ceilings like the Great Hall. These rooms are spacious but feel more private. They have tall windows that look onto the informal courtyard.
The Music Building
This building is a single-storey rectangle with a hipped roof. Its walls are painted brick, similar to the main complex. The paint is scored to look like large stone blocks. A wide verandah is attached to the south side of the building. It looks out over a large cricket oval.
The verandah roof is supported by six sets of double wooden columns. The building has five windows and two doors on its south side. All the windows and doors are round-headed. The inside of the building is a single classroom, now lined with sound-absorbing material.
School Grounds
Other school buildings are spread around the campus. The Langer-designed classroom block is near the main building. The two sports ovals face Burnett, Darling, and Waghorn Streets. The gymnasium, swimming pool, and tennis courts are at the northern end of Waghorn Street.
The main entrance driveway is on Darling Street. The headmaster's residence is located here, surrounded by large gum trees. Behind the house, there's a garden with a waterfall, palm trees, and a Norfolk pine. The driveway winds past the ovals, offering views of the music building and one of the dormitory towers.
Why Ipswich Grammar School is Special
Ipswich Grammar School Buildings are listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because they are very important for several reasons:
- Showing Queensland's History: The school opened in 1863 and was Queensland's first high school. It shows how education developed in Queensland during a time of big changes. It also reflects how Ipswich grew into an important town in the mid-1800s.
- A Typical Grammar School: The school shows what a Queensland grammar school looked like in the mid-1800s. Its growth also shows how education policies and the economy changed over time. The original building was expanded many times, making it a complex of buildings today. Important buildings include the Music School (originally the science block from 1912), the Murray Hancock Memorial Block (1946), the Karl Langer Building (1961), and the Fox and Hancock dormitory towers (1972).
- Beautiful Design: The original school building, designed by Benjamin Backhouse, is a great example of Gothic Revival architecture. It was once a very noticeable building in Ipswich and still has strong aesthetic (beauty) qualities.
- Connected to Important People: The school buildings and grounds are linked to the many important people who worked there, studied there, or visited. Many of these people became important figures in Queensland's history and community.
