Irvinebank State School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Irvinebank State School |
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Irvinebank State School, from the east, 2014
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| Location | High Street, Irvinebank, Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (Late 19th century) |
| Built | 1889–1906, 1891 |
| Architect | Robert and John Ferguson; Queensland Department of Public Works |
| Official name: Irvinebank State School | |
| Type | state heritage |
| Designated | 1 May 2015 |
| Reference no. | 602850 |
| Type | Education, research, scientific facility: School-state |
| Theme | Educating Queenslanders: Providing primary schooling |
| Builders | Thomas Gordon, August Conrad Ferdinand Ohnesorgen |
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Irvinebank State School is a special old school located on High Street in Irvinebank, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by architects Robert and John Ferguson, along with the Queensland Department of Public Works. The school was built between 1889 and 1906. Builders Thomas Gordon and August Conrad Ferdinand Ohnesorgen helped create it. This school is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on May 1, 2015.
Contents
School History
Irvinebank State School first opened its doors in 1889. It was built in the small mining town of Irvinebank. As the town grew, the school building was made bigger in 1899 and again in 1906. Other parts were added too, like a playshed in 1891.
The town of Irvinebank became less busy after 1907. But the school buildings are still mostly the same as they were. Irvinebank State School has been open continuously since it started. It has always been a key place for the local community. It's where important social and cultural events happen.
How Irvinebank Began
The land around Irvinebank traditionally belonged to the Bar Barrum people. European settlers arrived in the 1880s. The town of Irvinebank exists because of a man named John Moffat. His mining businesses were very important in north Queensland from 1884 to 1914.
In 1883, Moffat's business partner bought tin mines at Gibbs Creek. In 1884, Moffat built a dam and his home, Loudoun House, nearby. This area was named Irvinebank. The Loudoun Mill, which processed tin, started working in December 1884. A School of Arts building was built in 1885. The first land sales in Irvinebank happened in February 1886. Irvinebank became the main hub for Moffat's businesses. The Loudoun Mill grew bigger between 1886 and 1904.
Early School Days
In June 1886, people in Irvinebank met to start a provisional school. A provisional school was a temporary school. It was set up by the local community before the government took over. Irvinebank Provisional School opened on October 18, 1886. It was in a building south of Jessie Street. By the end of 1886, 16 students were enrolled.
Providing state education was very important to the government. The number of public schools in Queensland grew a lot. From 4 schools in 1860, it jumped to 230 by 1875. The State Education Act of 1875 made primary education free, required, and non-religious. It also created the Department of Public Instruction.
Building schools was seen as a vital step for new communities. Local people often gave land and helped build the schools. The school became a central point for the community. It showed progress and was a source of pride. Many people felt a strong connection to their old school.
Becoming a State School
Irvinebank soon had enough people to become a state school. This was thanks to more tin being produced. The town was very successful in two periods: 1888-90 and 1899-1904. This was helped by the opening of the Vulcan tin mine in 1889. The Loudoun Mill also expanded. At its busiest in the early 1900s, Loudoun Mill was Australia's largest tin processing plant.
In 1888, the School Committee wanted to upgrade the provisional school. They raised 20 percent of the money for a new building. The Department of Public Instruction would not let them use the old building. A new site was chosen in May 1889. It was steep but closer to the town center. Tenders for construction were called in May 1889. The new school buildings, including a teaching building and a teacher's house, were finished soon after. The school officially became a state school on July 25, 1889.
School Building Design
The first teaching building at Irvinebank was built using a standard design by architect John Ferguson. The government used standard plans for schools. This helped make sure buildings were consistent and saved money. From the 1860s to the 1960s, Queensland school buildings were mostly made of timber. This was easy and cheap, especially for remote areas.
Standard designs were always being improved. They changed to fit new needs and ideas about education. Queensland school buildings were very good at controlling temperature, light, and air flow. This led to many similar schools across Queensland.
In 1879, Robert Ferguson became the Superintendent of Buildings. He was in charge of designing all government schools. Ferguson quickly improved school designs. He added tall, fancy vents to the roofs and special panels to let air out. He also put in more and bigger windows. These windows were high up to stop drafts and too much sunlight.
Ferguson's buildings were also decorated with nice timber work. They were considered much better than earlier schools. In 1885, Robert Ferguson's brother, John Ferguson, took over. He continued using his brother's designs until he died in 1893. After that, the Department of Public Works became responsible for school buildings. The Ferguson period (1879-1893) brought many changes to school designs.
The first teaching building at Irvinebank State School was a low timber building. It had verandahs (covered walkways) at the front and back. It had a gable roof and was covered with weatherboards on the outside. It had tall, high windows on all sides. It had one large classroom and hat rooms at each end of the back verandah.
The Playshed
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In 1891, a playshed was built at Irvinebank State School. The education system knew that play was important. School grounds were often cleared of all trees. So, a playshed gave students a covered outdoor space for play. It could also be used for teaching.
Playsheds were open shelters with seats between the posts. They usually had dirt or gravel floors. They were made of timber and often open on the sides. Their roofs were usually hipped (sloping on all sides) and covered with iron. Playsheds were common at Queensland state schools from the 1880s to the 1950s. The playshed at Irvinebank was a typical design. It was a timber-framed, 10-post shelter with a hipped roof and seats around the edge.
School Expansion
Irvinebank continued to do well in the 1890s. John Moffat started the Irvinebank Mining Company in 1890. The town was booming by 1899. This was also helped by the decline of the nearby silver mining town of Montalbion. A new School of Arts building was built in 1890. It was replaced by the Irvinebank School of Arts Hall in 1900.
By 1898, 107 children were attending Irvinebank State School. As the town grew, the school needed to expand. In July 1895, more land was added to the school property. To handle the growing number of students, the teaching building was extended in 1899. This was designed by the Department of Public Works.
From 1893, the Department of Public Works greatly improved how air and light entered classrooms. They tried different roof vents, wall vents, and larger windows. Getting enough natural light without glare was very important for teachers. So, it became a key part of school building design.
In September 1899, Thomas Gordon won the bid to extend the teaching building. This doubled its size. The new part looked like the old building. It also added new features for better light and air flow. These features were common in the new school designs. This new section had one classroom. A new hat room was added to the back verandah. A metal vent was put on the roof where the old and new parts joined. This helped air both classrooms.
Irvinebank State School continued to grow into the 1900s. In March 1905, 221 students were enrolled. The town's population also increased. It went from 619 people in 1901 to 1264 in 1911. Tin prices were high between 1900 and 1907. By 1907, Herberton and Irvinebank were the main centers for metal mining in Queensland.
Because more space was needed, another extension was added to the teaching building in 1906. This was also designed by the Department of Public Works. This new part was similar to the earlier building. But it was built at a right angle to it. It also had more ways to let in light and air. The teacher's house was also made bigger in 1906.
Later Years
Irvinebank's success started to slow down after 1907. John Moffat's businesses faced problems. These included the cost of the Stannary Hills Tramways, worker strikes, and lower tin quality from the Vulcan mine. Tin prices also dropped. Moffat had to retire in 1912 because of too much debt.
In 1919, the Queensland Government bought the Loudoun Mill. It reopened as the Irvinebank State Treatment Works. The number of people in Irvinebank dropped sharply. It went down to 607 by 1921 and 147 by 1933.
After 1906, the Irvinebank State School teaching building stayed mostly the same. Over time, some changes were made to the ground around the building. The posts under the building were replaced. In 1961, the 1906 classroom was lined inside. Its windows were also changed. In 1969, a new school sports field was created nearby. A new teacher's house was built there in 1979. The old teacher's house was later removed.
In 2015, the school was still operating from the same site. The original teaching building, with its 1899 and 1906 additions, and the 1891 playshed, are still there. The state school is very important to the town. Generations of Irvinebank students have learned there.
School Buildings
Irvinebank State School is on a 1.28 hectare site in the middle of Irvinebank. You reach the school from a dirt road off Herberton Petford Road. The main teaching building is in the center of the site. It faces southeast down a steep slope. Stone walls create flat areas behind it for the tennis court and playshed.
The Main Teaching Building
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The teaching building has three classrooms and is shaped like an "L". It is made of timber and covered with weatherboards. The roof is a gable roof covered with corrugated metal. Because the ground slopes, the building is low at the back and high at the front. The 1889 and 1899 classrooms form the long part. The 1906 section branches off at a right angle.
The 1889 part is still in its original condition. It has verandahs at the front (southeast) and back (northwest). These verandahs have special posts and timber railings. Original hat rooms are still there in the middle and at both ends. This part of the building still has its original tall, narrow windows. These windows have high sills and are protected by hoods with lattice on the sides.
Special panels in the roof peaks let air out of the roof space. An original metal fleche (a small spire) stands on the roof ridge. It helps air both classrooms. From the verandahs, timber French doors open into the classrooms. The classrooms are separated by a timber wall with a glass door. The inside walls are not covered, so you can see the timber frame. The coved ceiling is lined with boards and has central lattice panels for air.
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The 1906 part has a verandah on the southwest side. It has square timber posts and an original hat room. Special packed weatherboards at the roof peaks let air out. Original window hoods with lattice are still on the end walls. These protect windows that now have lower sills. The window panes and fanlights are newer, but they are in the original openings. They are timber-framed or steel louvres. A large area of windows has been added to the verandah wall. However, the original timber French doors are still there. The southwest verandah has been enclosed with later weatherboards. The inside walls are covered with flat sheeting. The coved ceiling is lined with boards and has ventilation panels, which have been covered.
Some old school items are still in the building. These include long bench seats and a school bell.
The supports under the building are newer, made of steel and concrete. Small enclosed areas have been made underneath. These newer parts are not considered historically important. The solar panels on the roof and other metal covers are also newer additions.
Tennis Court
A tennis court is located right behind the teaching building. It is held up by rock walls.
The Playshed
A playshed with ten timber posts stands on higher ground. It is just northwest of the tennis court. It has open sides and a hipped roof covered with corrugated metal. You can see the timber roof frame inside. The floor is concrete.
Why the School is Special
Irvinebank State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on May 1, 2015. This means it is very important for several reasons.
It shows how Queensland's history has changed. Irvinebank State School, started in 1889, shows how state education and school buildings have changed in Queensland. The school has great examples of standard government school designs. These designs were a response to the government's ideas about education.
The building and expansion of the school's teaching building and playshed between 1889 and 1906 show Irvinebank's growth. During this time, the mining town was very important to north Queensland's economy.
It shows what early Queensland schools were like. Irvinebank State School is a great example of early Queensland state schools. These schools often had:
- Large, well-kept sites with old shade trees.
- Playsheds and areas for playing and gathering.
- Timber teaching buildings with standard designs.
- Verandahs and classrooms with lots of natural light and fresh air.
The three classrooms of the teaching building (1889, 1899, and 1906) show a time when school designs were changing a lot (around 1879-1914). They show how simple timber school buildings for small communities developed.
The Ferguson building (1889) and the 1899 extension are very well preserved. This is rare. They show the main features of these two types of buildings. They have:
- A low shape with a gable roof.
- Single-layer timber construction.
- Wide verandahs at the front and back of large, airy classrooms.
- Good quality, simple timber decorations.
- Good natural lighting and ventilation.
The 1906 extension is also well preserved. It shows the features of its type. These include:
- A high-set shape with a gable roof.
- A verandah on only one side of a large, airy classroom.
- Good natural lighting and ventilation.
The playshed (1891) is a good example of its type. It still has its open-sided, timber-framed shape with a hipped roof.
It has a strong connection to the community. Schools have always been a key part of Queensland communities. They often have strong and lasting connections with former students, parents, and teachers. They are places for social events and volunteer work. Schools are a source of pride and show local progress and hopes.
Irvinebank State School has a strong and ongoing link with the Irvinebank community. It was started in 1886 by local fundraising efforts. Generations of Irvinebank children have been taught there. The school is important for helping to educate the people of Irvinebank.
See also
