Ipswich West State School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ipswich West State School
Buildings, 2016
Location	12 Omar Street, West Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1840s–1860s (mid-19th century)
Built	1861–1919
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Little Ipswich State School, Ipswich West Special School, Ipswich West State School
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	21 October 1992
Reference no.	600606
Significant period	1860s (historical) 1860s ongoing (social) 1860s–1920s (fabric)
Significant components	tower – bell / belfry, classroom/classroom block/teaching area, school/school room, play shed
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Ipswich West State School (which used to be called Little Ipswich State School) is a very old school in West Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It's been around since 1861! This school is special because its buildings show how education in Queensland has changed over many years. It's also known as Ipswich West Special School.

The School's Story

The land where Ipswich West State School and Ipswich West Special School stand has been used for a primary school since 1861.

Early Days: 1861 and Beyond

• In 1860, Queensland started its first government-run education system.
• Seven "National Schools" opened in 1861, including one in Little Ipswich (now West Ipswich).
• This school opened on August 5, 1861, and taught both boys and girls.
• By 1862, 52 students were enrolled.

Separate Schools for Boys and Girls

• Later, the local school committee wanted separate schools for boys and girls.
• A new Boys' School building was built in 1882.
• It cost £621 to build, with the local community paying £200.
• This was common at the time, as communities helped fund new schools.
• The Education Act of 1875 made school free and compulsory for children aged 6 to 12. This meant more schools were needed!

The Boys school

The "Carpenter Gothic" Style

• The 1882 Boys' School was designed by Robert Ferguson.
• He was the Superintendent of School Buildings for the government.
• His designs were known as "Carpenter Gothic" style.
• These buildings had wider verandahs, lots of space, and better light and air.
• This style showed that people were starting to think more about what was best for students.
• The old Boys' School still has many original features. These include steep roofs, fancy decorations, and diagonal wooden boards on the verandah ceilings.
• A play shed, common in Ferguson's time, is also still there.

New Buildings for Girls

• After the Boys' School was built, the girls stayed in the original 1861 building.
• During big floods in 1893, the Girls' School was even used to help people who lost their homes.
• A new Girls' School began construction in 1907.
• It was built in stages, with brick wings added in 1907, 1911, and 1919.
• The final section opened on June 19, 1920.
• These brick schools were often built in busy towns where there were many students.
• They were usually designed individually, making them special examples of school buildings from that time.

Becoming Co-Ed Again

• In 1934, the Boys' and Girls' Schools became co-educational again.
• They used only the brick buildings, and C.W. Munro became the Headmaster.
• At this time, there were 232 students.
• The old Boys' School building was empty for 20 years and started to fall apart.
• However, the School Committee saved it and used it for fundraising events.
• In 1957, it became a training center for students to learn practical skills.
• Today, this building is home to the Ipswich West Special School.
• New buildings have been added to both schools over the years, including some in 1991.

What the School Looks Like

The school site has two separate schools: Ipswich West State School and Ipswich West Special School. Both have very old and important school buildings.

Ipswich West Special School Buildings

• This school is at the northern end of the site.
• It has two old timber buildings from 1882.
• These buildings are typical of schools built between 1875 and 1893.
• They are low-set timber buildings with wooden planks called "chamferboards."
• They have steep, pointed roofs (gable roofs) with decorative wooden boards.
• You can see fancy wooden brackets and vents at the ends of the roofs.
• Each building originally had two classrooms with verandahs.
• Large windows at the ends of the walls are protected by wooden hoods.
• Some windows can pivot open from the middle.
• The verandah ceilings have diagonal wooden boards.
• Inside, the classroom walls and ceilings are lined with horizontal wooden boards.
• One classroom in the northern building is still original, while others have been changed into offices.
• The eastern building has two classrooms connected by a folding door.
• The back walls of the verandahs have been removed, making the classrooms bigger.
• A new classroom block has been added next to the eastern building.

Belfry, 2016

The Old Play Shed

• There's an old timber play shed in the Ipswich West Special School grounds.
• It's an open structure with a gable roof.
• It has large timber posts with curved wooden supports.
• The roof has been replaced, and one end wall is now enclosed.

Ipswich West State School Buildings

• This school has three brick buildings built between 1907 and 1919.
• Brick schools were not as common as timber ones.
• These buildings are arranged in a U-shape.
• They are made of brick with steep, pointed roofs.
• You can see decorative wooden patterns at the ends of the roofs.
• The buildings are connected by a timber verandah.
• The verandah has wooden balustrades, lattice panels, and curved wooden decorations.

• The 1907 building is low-set with evenly spaced double-hung windows.
• Its roof extends down to protect the windows on one side.
• Part of the verandah has been enclosed to make a storeroom.
• Inside, the ceilings have "tongue and groove" boarding and a central lattice vent.
• This building used to be one large room but is now two offices.
• Near the verandah, there's an old school bell hanging under a small pyramid roof.

• The south building seems to be the 1911 one.
• It's high-set at one end, with toilets underneath.
• The upper floor originally had three classrooms, now changed into two classrooms and a multi-purpose space.
• The south wall has evenly spaced double-hung windows.
• A timber addition at the eastern end is used for offices.

• The west building, likely built in 1919, is also high-set.
• It has play space and a tuckshop underneath.
• The upper floor originally had three classrooms.
• Now, one is a staff room, and two have been combined for the library.
• Large groups of "casement windows" (windows that open outwards) are at each end.
• These windows have hoods with timber brackets and lattice panels.
• Double timber doors with "fanlights" (windows above the doors) lead into the classrooms.
• A separate brick office, once for the principal, is accessed from this wing's verandah.

Sports oval, 2016

• A brick toilet block stands to the east of the main buildings.
• Newer school buildings are set far back, so they don't block the view of the older ones.

Why the School is Special

Ipswich West State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.

A Look at Queensland's History

• The school shows how education in Queensland has grown since 1861.
• The different school buildings built over time tell the story of this growth.

Great Examples of School Design

• The school buildings are excellent examples of different types of Queensland State School designs.
• These designs changed to meet practical needs, new ideas about education, and community trends.
• The 1882 buildings (in the Special School Complex) are examples of the "Carpenter Gothic" style. This style was created to make school buildings better.
• The brick buildings (in the Ipswich West State School Complex, 1907-1919) show how school designs varied. They depended on the size and wealth of the local community.

Beautiful Buildings

• Both school complexes are beautiful.
• The brick buildings look great together, surrounded by mature trees.
• Both the brick and older timber buildings are special because of their design. This includes their steep roofs, timber brackets, and different types of windows.

Important to the Community

• The schools have a strong connection with past, present, and future students and families.
• They have been a place of continuous education and fun.
• The school has been a central part of the local community since 1861.