Ironside State School facts for kids

Ironside State School is a special old school located at 378 Swann Road in St Lucia, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's considered a heritage site, meaning it's an important historical place. The main brick building was built between 1935 and 1959. It was officially added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 July 2018 because of its history and unique features.

A School's Long History

Ironside State School first opened its doors in 1870. It started as "Toowong Provisional School." Over the years, it changed its name several times. It was called Toowong State School, then Indooroopilly State School, and later Indooroopilly Pocket State School.

The school is in St Lucia, about 4.5 kilometers southwest of Brisbane city center. It shows how state education in Queensland has grown. The school still has a special brick building from the 1930s. It also has a nice front entrance area and old trees. The school has always been a big part of its local community.

Early Days and First Buildings

The land where the school stands once belonged to the Turrbal people. In the 1850s, settlers started farming and raising cattle here. By 1871, a sugar mill opened in St Lucia Pocket. Local farmers grew sugar cane for it.

Starting schools was very important for new communities. Locals often gave land and helped build the schools. The community also helped keep them running. Schools became a central place, showing progress and making people proud.

The first attempts at schooling in St Lucia were private lessons in 1864. Ironside State School officially opened as "Toowong Provisional School" on 10 October 1870. It had 42 students. Provisional schools were for smaller towns. The government provided teachers and books. However, the community had to build the school itself.

The school moved to its current site on 21 February 1871. A local landowner, Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, provided the land. The first school building was a simple timber house. It had one room and a porch. The teacher's house was behind it.

Growing Pains and Name Changes

In 1875, new railway stations opened nearby. This made the area more popular for homes. Toowong Provisional School grew bigger. It became Toowong State School in 1875. By 1879, it had 146 students.

The school changed its name again in 1881 to Indooroopilly State School. This happened after a new Toowong State School was built. Even though the area was growing, land sales were slow. This was because roads were poor and there was no public transport.

In 1884, the school's land was sold to architect Richard Gailey. He then gave the land to the government for the school. In 1888, the school was renamed "Indooroopilly Pocket School." This was to avoid confusion with another new Indooroopilly State School.

The big 1893 Brisbane flood hit low-lying areas of St Lucia. The area stayed a small, semi-rural community for many years. Still, the school's student numbers grew. More rooms were added in 1895 and 1908. In 1905, the school got its current name, Ironside State School. This was the name of a nearby property.

Building During Tough Times

In the early 1900s, Brisbane's population grew a lot. Land around Ironside State School was divided into smaller blocks for houses in the 1920s. This meant more students for the school.

The school grounds also got bigger in the 1930s. This was to make space for new sports areas. More land was added to the school in 1934 and 1937. This new land became the school's playing field.

The Great Depression started in 1929. It caused many people to lose their jobs. The Queensland Government started big building projects to help people find work. They built many strong brick school buildings. These buildings showed that the government was trying to fix the unemployment problem.

These "Depression-era" brick schools were often two stories tall. They had a classic design to show strength and hope. They usually had a main entrance in the middle. Classrooms often had folding walls so they could be made bigger or smaller. The space under the building was used for play and storage.

Ironside State School's main brick building, called Block A, was designed by Thomas Robert Gladwin. He was an architect who worked for the government. The building was constructed in four stages between 1935 and 1959. This was because the number of students kept growing. It was also hard to get building materials after World War II.

The first part of Block A was finished in 1935. It had the ground floor and an open play area underneath. The old timber school building was sold and moved away in 1936. Block A opened on 16 November 1935. It had classrooms, teacher's rooms, and a main hall.

Post-War Growth and School Grounds

After World War II, many more children needed schooling. This was due to immigration and the "baby boom." Queensland schools became very crowded. Many new buildings were built, and old ones were extended. Ironside State School's student numbers grew a lot. This was also because the University of Queensland moved to St Lucia in 1946.

More parts were added to Block A. Two classrooms were added in 1947. More classrooms were added in 1948 and 1959. All these additions matched the original design. Other classrooms were built nearby, but they are no longer there.

School grounds were also very important. Trees and gardens were planted to make schools look nice and provide shade. Playing fields and sports courts were also added.

The Ironside State School community helped pay for many improvements. A playing field was made between 1936 and 1946. A tennis court opened in 1940, and another in 1951-52. A basketball court was built in 1956. The school swimming pool opened in 1958.

In 1952, plans were made to improve the school grounds. New walls, steps, and paths were built in 1953-54. This included the current entrance driveway and brick walls with garden beds. The flagpole was also moved to a new base. The brick gateposts were in place by 1955.

Block A has been changed a bit over time. In 1985, the play area underneath was changed. In 1996, the upstairs verandah was enclosed. Other parts of the school have been built since 1960. These include new libraries, halls, and classroom blocks.

Ironside State School has always been closely connected to the St Lucia community. Parents and citizens groups have held many events to raise money for the school. The school has celebrated its anniversaries, including its 150th in 2020. On that day, a time capsule from 1988 was opened.

Today, Ironside State School still operates from its original site. It keeps its special brick building, front entrance, and old trees. It is a key part of the St Lucia community. Many generations of students have learned there. It's a place for community events and a source of local pride.

What the School Looks Like

Ironside State School is on a triangular piece of land in St Lucia. It's about 1.8 hectares in size. The main road, Swann Road / Hawken Drive, runs along the front of the school. Central Avenue and Ironside Street are on the east and north sides.

The school buildings are in the middle of the site, on the highest ground. They are built around a central courtyard with gardens. The main building at the front is the large brick building called Block A. It's the most noticeable building and can be seen from many places nearby.

Block A (1935-59)

Block A is a long, H-shaped building made of brick. It has a tiled roof. The long sides face north and south. It looks the same on both sides of its central entrance. There's plenty of open space around the building. This lets in lots of natural light and fresh air to all the rooms.

The building has two floors of classrooms. There's also an open space underneath, called an undercroft, at the east end. The walls of the undercroft are smooth and look like stone. This area was once partly open but is now fully enclosed for classrooms. You can see slight differences in the brickwork. This shows it was built at different times.

The front (south) side has many timber-framed windows on both classroom floors. A short, wide staircase leads from the driveway to the main entrance. This entrance is a porch with an arched doorway. It has the school crest and the words "IRONSIDE STATE SCHOOL" on it. There's a similar entrance on the west side.

Inside, the classrooms are on the southern side. A long verandah on the north side leads to them. Stairs are at each end of the building. The classroom walls are plastered. Classrooms have timber floors. The verandah floors and stairs are concrete. Some walls between classrooms and the verandah have been removed. Some folding walls between classrooms are also gone.

Front Entrance Area

The open play area and driveway in front of Block A create a welcoming space. This area makes the elegant Block A building look even more impressive. You can see Block A clearly from the main roads, Hawken Drive and Swann Road.

Why Ironside State School is Special

Ironside State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 July 2018. This means it's important for several reasons:

Showing Queensland's History

Ironside State School shows how state education in Queensland has changed over time. The school has a great example of a brick building from the Great Depression era. This building was designed by the government's Public Works Department. It shows how the government responded to tough economic times. The school also has landscaped grounds, play areas, sports facilities, and old trees.

The brick building was finished in stages between 1947 and 1959. This was because many more people moved to the area after World War II. The school's grounds, with their old trees, sports areas, and special entrance, show how important play and beauty were in educating children.

A Great Example of Its Kind

Ironside State School is a good example of a Queensland state school built during the Depression. It has a large, well-preserved brick building. It also has a landscaped site with old shade trees, places to play, and sports areas.

The main brick building is a strong example of a Depression-era school. It still looks very much like it did when it was built. It has two stories and an undercroft. It has a high-quality design with decorative parts. It has a brick outside and a tiled roof. The central entrance sticks out. The building has a simple layout, with rooms accessed from verandahs.

Beautiful and Important to the Area

The brick building at Ironside State School is beautiful. It has an elegant design and is very large. Its brick exterior shows ideas of progress and lasting quality.

The building also looks great from the street. It stands in a noticeable spot. You can see it clearly from Swann Road and Hawken Drive. It's a very attractive and visible part of the area.

Connected to the Community

Schools have always been important to Queensland communities. They often have strong connections with past students, parents, and teachers. They are places for social events and volunteer work. They also make people proud and show how the local area is growing.

Ironside State School has a strong and lasting connection with the St Lucia community. It started in 1870 because local people raised money. Generations of children have gone to school there. It's a key meeting place for the community. It hosts social events and special celebrations. The community strongly supports it.

Images for kids

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  Plaque opening Ironside State School 1936

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  Ironside State School, Block A, 2020

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  Honour Board of Ironside State School, main panel

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  Honour Board of Ironside State School, right panel

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  Honour Board of Ironside State School, left panel