Ipswich North State School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ipswich North State School |
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Block A, looking SW from Fitzgibbon Street, 2015
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| Location | 9 Fitzgibbon Street, North Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919–1930s (Interwar period) |
| Built | 1934–1937, 1934–1937 |
| Architect | Frederick Thomas Jellet |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Ipswich North State School | |
| Type | state heritage |
| Designated | 5 February 2016 |
| Reference no. | 650021 |
| Type | Education, Research, Scientific Facility: School – state (primary) |
| Theme | Educating Queenslanders: Providing primary schooling |
| Builders | Queensland Department of Public Works |
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Ipswich North State School is a special school in North Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it is an important historical place. The school was designed by Frederick Thomas Jellet. It was built between 1934 and 1937. The Queensland Department of Public Works built it. It was first known as North Ipswich National School.
Contents
The School's Journey: A Look at its History
Ipswich North State School opened in 1867. It was first called North Ipswich National School. The school was built to teach the growing number of children in North Ipswich. In the 1870s, it split into two schools: a Boys School and a Girls and Infants School. These became state schools around 1876.
In 1935, the two schools joined again. They became Ipswich North State School. The main building was a large brick school. It was built during the Depression era. This building was finished in 1934 and extended in 1937. The school also has terraced grounds. These are held up by concrete walls. These walls were built around the school in 1934 and 1937. The school has been open non-stop since it started. It has always been a key place for the local community.
How North Ipswich Grew
North Ipswich is an old part of the city of Ipswich. Ipswich was first called Limestone. After 1842, it became a busy river port. It helped farmers move their goods. Ipswich became a town in 1860.
North Ipswich grew quickly from the 1860s. New areas were divided into blocks for homes. Many new people arrived in North Ipswich. They came to work on Queensland's first railway. The railway started being built in North Ipswich in 1864. The first part opened in 1865. It passed through the area where the North Ipswich Railway Workshops are today.
Early Education in Queensland
As Ipswich and North Ipswich grew, schools were needed. Before Queensland became its own state, schools were often private. They charged fees. In 1860, the Queensland Government passed a law. This law created a Board of General Education. This board helped set up and run public schools. By 1875, there were 230 public schools.
In the early 1860s, two national schools opened in Ipswich. One was in Brisbane Street. The other was in Omar Street. By 1865, people wanted a school in North Ipswich. They even rented a building to teach children.
Schools were very important for new communities. They showed that a town was growing. Schools became a source of pride. People felt strong connections to their old schools.
In 1865, local people met in North Ipswich. They decided to start a primary school. A man named Mr. Hawthorne said it was time for a school. He noted that many people were moving to North Ipswich. This was because of the important railway work.
The site for the North Ipswich National School was chosen in 1867. It was a large piece of land. The school officially opened on 1 July 1867. It first had 26 students. By September 1867, 90 students were attending. The school was in a timber building. It was on a hill with a nice view.
Expanding the School
The North Ipswich National School grew in the 1870s. It was split into two schools. These were the North Ipswich Boys' School and the North Ipswich Girls' and Infants' School. By 1876, the Boys School had its own building. The Girls and Infants School had two buildings. Both became state schools. This happened under the State Education Act of 1875. This law made primary education free and required.
More people kept moving to North Ipswich. Businesses like a sawmill and a wool factory opened. The railway workshops also grew. They became a major employer. In 1887, North Ipswich was described as growing fast. New houses and public buildings were being built.
The Boys School and Girls and Infants School kept expanding. More buildings were added. In 1907, a new house for teachers was built. This house is still south of the school today.
Ipswich became a city in 1904. By 1910, it had 10,000 people. Many coal mines were near Ipswich. The railway workshops employed 1600 men during World War I.
Building a New School for the Depression Era
By 1933, a decision was made to combine the schools. They would all move into one new, multi-storey building. At this time, the railway workshops had 1300 employees. The Boys School had 231 students. The Girls and Infants School had 293 students.
The new school building was part of a government plan. This plan aimed to create jobs. The Great Depression started in 1929. It caused many people to lose their jobs. The Queensland Government started big building projects. These projects helped people find work. They also boosted the economy.
The government spent a lot of money on school grounds. They built fences and leveled play areas. They also built terraces and retaining walls. This created large school ovals. These play areas became a common feature of Queensland state schools.
In 1932, the Forgan Smith Labor Government came to power. They promised to spend more government money. This would help fight the Depression. They started a large building program. It aimed to employ local workers. It also used local building materials. The goal was to build strong, long-lasting buildings. These included new government offices and schools.
Many of these projects helped Queenslanders. They built many brick school buildings. These buildings often looked like classical Greek or Roman buildings. This style showed stability and hope. The government wanted to show that things would get better.
The new brick schools were a sign of progress. They were designed to be ideal learning places. They often had two floors above an open play area. They could hold many students. They usually had a main entrance in the middle. Classrooms were often separated by folding walls. This allowed them to become large assembly rooms.
Each brick school building was unique. They were designed by architects from the Department of Public Works. The Chief Architect was Andrew Baxter Leven. The drawings for the North Ipswich school were done by F.T.J., likely Frederick Thomas Jellet.
The new brick school was built in 1934. It was on the site of the old Girls and Infants school. It faced Fitzgibbon Street. The old timber school building was moved. It was used for classes while the new school was built.
By April 1934, the new building was almost done. Concrete retaining walls were also nearly finished. A government official said the school would be "one of the most modern schools in Queensland." He also noted that many unemployed people worked on the site. A special stone was laid on 8 June 1934. This was done by Frank Cooper, the Minister for Education.
The new school building was rectangular. It had two floors and a ground level play area. It was designed in a Neo-classical style. It cost about £12,900. It could hold 432 students. It could even be extended for up to 752 students. The roof had terracotta tiles.
The ground floor was mostly a play area. It also had bathrooms. The first floor had five classrooms. It also had cloakrooms and teachers' rooms. The second floor had five classrooms and another teachers' room. The middle classrooms on each floor had folding walls. This meant they could become large assembly halls. The first and second floors had an open verandah on the north side.
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Concrete walls and drains surrounded the new building. This created a flat area. There were also plans for tennis courts. Stairs led up to the school from different directions.
The new brick school building was ready for 1935. The Boys School and Girls and Infants School closed. They moved into the new building on 29 January 1935. Ipswich North State School officially opened on 4 May 1935.
However, more space was still needed. A second part of the school was approved in 1936. This part could hold 160 more students. It was added to the west end of the building by mid-1937. This addition had two classrooms on each of the first and second floors. It also had a play area on the ground floor. Retaining walls were also added around the lower playground. This included the school's tennis courts.
Changes Over Time
Some small changes happened in the 1940s. During World War II, air raid trenches were dug. These were in the lower playground. The school committee also planted grass and trees. The large fig trees along the lower playground are from this time. Some trees are even older than World War II.
By 1947, the railway workshops employed almost 3000 people. Ipswich North State School continued to grow in the 1950s. The northern verandahs of the brick building were enclosed. This happened after 1951. A new two-storey brick wing was added in 1957. This was called Block B.
After 1958, the school grounds also got bigger. More land was bought. By 1977, the school covered 2.9 hectares.
However, local jobs started to disappear. The railway workshops moved away between 1965 and 1995. The school's student numbers went down. They fell from 600 in 1967 to 275 in 1989.
Changes still happened at the school. A special archway was built in 1967. This was for the school's 100th birthday. In 1971, new rooms were made for staff. By 1977, some classrooms became a library.
By 1991, a tuckshop was added. By 2000, classrooms were changed. The school also added a dental clinic in 1978. A preschool building was built in 1991. Other new parts include covered play areas. A war memorial was built in 2004.
The school grounds have become smaller since 2000. Some land was sold. The tennis courts and the old teacher's house were sold in 2014. The school grounds now cover 2.3 hectares.
In 2015, the school was still on its original site. It still has its brick building and old retaining walls. It also has terraced grounds and old trees. The school is very important to the community. Many generations of children have learned there. Markets are also held on the school's lower playground. In 2014, 215 students attended the school.
What the School Looks Like Today
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Ipswich North State School is in a noticeable spot in North Ipswich. It is surrounded by streets and houses. The main part of the school is on the western side. This area includes two flat sections. These are surrounded by concrete walls.
The main brick school building (Block A) faces Fitzgibbon Street. It stands out and is a landmark. The southern, lower section is a large playing field. It has shade trees around it.
The Main Brick School Building (Block A)
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Block A is a large, two-storey brick building. It has an open area underneath. The building is shaped like an "L". It has three parts. The main part was built in 1934. It has a central entrance. A smaller part was added to the east in 1934. A two-storey wing was added to the west in 1937. The roof is made of terracotta tiles. A newer building (Block B) is connected to Block A. It is not part of the heritage listing.
The building is well-designed. It has red brick walls. It also has decorative parts made of rendered (smooth) concrete. The base looks like large stone blocks. Dark brown bricks are used for columns. These columns have simple tops. The main entrance has a pointed gable roof. It has a central doorway on the first floor. This doorway has decorative features.
Inside, the main part of the building is balanced. There are brick stairwells at each end. These lead to enclosed landings. These landings were once hat rooms. Now they are used for storage and offices. Verandahs on the north side lead to the classrooms. These verandahs were enclosed around 1952. There are three classrooms on each floor now. They used to have five. The classrooms have plaster walls and timber floors. They have flat ceilings with timber strips. You can still see where the original walls were.
The main entrance area has a hallway. On the first floor, there is a reception area and a sick room. On the second floor, there is a teachers' room. The western wing has two rooms on each floor. These are separated by a hallway. This hallway is a continuation of the verandah.
The building still has many of its original timber windows and doors. The outside windows are tall and narrow. They have smaller windows above them. The windows on the verandah walls are double-hung. Classroom doors are timber panels with smaller windows above. The verandahs have been enclosed with new windows. The floors are concrete. Old sinks are still at the eastern end of the verandahs.
The ground level is mostly an open play space. It has concrete columns and walls. The central columns are painted with bright colours and murals. Bathrooms are at each end. They still have their original timber walls. The floor is concrete. There are outlines for games like hopscotch on the floor. Timber benches are found between the columns.
School Grounds and Landscape
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The school grounds are well-established. The sloping land has been leveled into two flat areas. The northern area has the school buildings and a parade ground. The southern area has sports fields. Both areas are surrounded by concrete retaining walls. These walls were built during the Depression era. They also have concrete drains.
The northern area is almost square. It has a special entrance gate from 1967. This gate is at the corner of Downs and Fitzgibbon Streets. Concrete stairs also lead up from the street. Block A is a prominent building on this area. It is set back from Fitzgibbon Street. There are gardens and a curved pathway in front. South of the building is a parade ground. It has a bitumen surface for a basketball court. A row of large fig trees is west of the parade ground. The retaining wall between the two levels has murals painted on it.
The southern playing field has a cricket pitch in the middle. It has shade trees around its edges. There are fig trees on the eastern side. Figs and a silky oak tree are on the western side. Another fig tree is on the south side. Concrete stairs in the southern retaining wall lead to the former tennis courts below.
The school is on a hill. This high position gives nice views of the area. The large Block A building is a noticeable part of the street. It is a landmark for the whole area.
Why Ipswich North State School is Special
Ipswich North State School is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This happened on 5 February 2016. This means it meets certain important standards.
Showing Queensland's History
Ipswich North State School shows how state education in Queensland has changed. It has a great example of a brick school building from the Depression era. This building was designed by the government. It was built in 1934 and extended in 1937. The school also has landscaped grounds. These include retaining walls from the 1930s and old trees.
The brick school building and the landscaping were part of a government plan. This plan helped create jobs during the Great Depression. It also boosted the economy.
The school also shows the growth of North Ipswich. This area was home to Queensland's first and main railway workshops. These workshops employed thousands of people. The school building in North Ipswich is very impressive. It shows how important the suburb once was.
Key Features of a Special School
Ipswich North State School shows the main features of a Queensland state school from the Depression era. It has a brick school building designed by the government. It also has landscaped grounds. These include retaining walls, assembly areas, play areas, a playing field, and old trees.
The large brick school building is an excellent example of its type. It is very well-preserved. Its main features include:
- Two storeys with an open area underneath.
- An outside made of face brick.
- A high-quality design with classical details.
- A central part with a main entrance in the middle.
- A hip roof with terracotta tiles.
The building has a long layout. Rooms are accessed from verandahs. The open area underneath is used for play and toilets.
Its Beautiful Look
The brick school building at Ipswich North State School is very beautiful. It is large and made of high-quality materials. Its brick exterior and elegant design make it special. It shows the sense of progress and strength that the Queensland Government wanted in its new public buildings.
The building's strong size and classical design make it look dignified. It stands out from the smaller houses around it. It is on a hill and has terraced grounds. This makes the building a landmark in the area.
Strong Community Connection
Schools are always important to Queensland communities. They have strong connections with past students, parents, and teachers. They are places for social events and volunteer work. They are also a source of pride. They show the hopes and progress of the local area.
Ipswich North State School has a strong link to the North Ipswich community. It started in 1867 because local people raised money. Generations of children from North Ipswich have gone to school there. It has helped educate the community. It is a key meeting place for social and special events. The community strongly supports it.
See also
- History of state education in Queensland
- List of schools in Greater Brisbane
Images for kids
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Lower playground eastern retaining wall, southern end, 2015
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