Junction Park State School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Junction Park State School |
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Front entrance, Depression-era brick school building as seen from Waldheim Street, 2015
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| Location | 50 Waldheim Street, Annerley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919–1930s (Interwar period) |
| Built | 1909–1910, 1928–1929, 1934, 1935–1936, 1935 |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Junction Park State School; Thompson Estate State School (former) | |
| Type | state heritage |
| Designated | 6 May 2016 |
| Reference no. | 650023 |
| Type | Education, Research, Scientific Facility: School – state (primary) |
| Theme | Educating Queenslanders: Providing primary schooling |
| Builders | Queensland Department of Public Works, MR Hornibrook |
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Junction Park State School is a historic school located at 50 Waldheim Street in Annerley, Australia. It was built between 1909 and 1910 by the Queensland Department of Public Works and MR Hornibrook. The school was once known as Thompson Estate State School. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 6 May 2016 because of its special history and buildings.
Contents
School History: From Past to Present
Junction Park State School first opened in 1891. It was called Thompson Estate State School back then. The school was built to serve the growing number of families in this area, which was once countryside.
The school still has two old swimming pools from 1910 and 1929. It also has a large brick building built during the Great Depression in 1936. This building has concrete walls and brick toilet blocks from 1934. The school grounds are beautiful, with many old shade trees. Junction Park State School has been open continuously since it started. It has always been a key place for the local community.
Early Days in Annerley
The school is in Annerley, which is part of the traditional lands of the Turrbal and Jagera people. Annerley was first called "Boggo." A hotel called the Junction Hotel opened in 1866. This helped a small town grow, which was renamed Annerley in 1892.
In the late 1800s, farms in the area were replaced by suburbs. This happened because Annerley was close to South Brisbane. New train lines in 1884 and tram services in 1899 also helped the area grow.
Starting a School for the Community
In the 1880s, more people moved to the Thompson Estate area. They needed a local school for their children. The closest schools were too far away.
The government in Queensland wanted to provide education for everyone. Schools were seen as very important for new communities. Local people often helped by donating land or their time to build schools. Schools became a symbol of progress and a source of pride for the community.
The Thompson Estate Provisional School No. 514 started on 30 April 1888. It was held in a rented cottage. A provisional school could open with just 15 students. The government helped these schools with money, but the local community had to provide a building and a teacher.
The school quickly grew from 52 students to 173. In 1889, James Joseph Dempsey became the head teacher and stayed until 1923. When the school reached 200 students, it moved to a larger hall. It officially became Thompson Estate State School in January 1891.
Finding a Permanent Home
The community worked hard to find a permanent place for the school. They also raised money, as the government required them to pay part of the cost. In 1890, 5 acres (2.0 ha) of land was given for the school. This land was part of a larger area owned by Thomas Blacket Stephens, a former mayor of Brisbane.
A teacher's house and a timber school building were built between 1890 and 1891. The new school opened on 31 March 1891. It was designed for 280 students, but 425 showed up on the first day! The school building was extended several times. In 1892, the school's name changed to Junction Park State School.
Growing the School Grounds
The school grounds were rough at first. In May 1891, the first Arbor Day was celebrated. Students planted 12 trees from the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. Arbor Day helped teach children about nature and hard work.
The school grounds also grew over time. More land was bought, especially along Gowrie Street. By 1934, the school owned most of the land it needed. This included space for sports.
Sports and Activities
The school had many sports facilities. A cricket pitch was made by 1894. There were also tennis courts, with the first one opening in 1908.
Junction Park State School was the first state school in Queensland to have its own swimming pool. Before this, students swam in local creeks. But after a case of typhoid fever, they needed a safer place. Work on a concrete pool started in 1909.
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The first pool opened on 5 February 1910. It was 43 by 16 feet (13.1 by 4.9 m) and about 3 feet 6 inches (1.07 m) deep. The school community raised most of the money for it. The government helped by calling it a "recreation shed" since they didn't usually fund pools.
As more students joined, a new building for younger children opened in 1911. A special tree was planted to celebrate the coronation of King George V. In 1913, a two-storey infants' school building was added. It was named the "Denham Infant School" after the Premier, Digby Denham.
During World War I, the school community helped with the war effort. Many former students joined the armed forces. An honour board from 1915 lists 86 former pupils who served. By 1917, 300 former students had enlisted. Teachers, students, and families raised money for the troops. In November 1915, the "March of the Dungarees" (a group of army recruits) stopped at the school for breakfast. In 1916, the school held a fete to raise money for the Australian Red Cross.
Building During the Great Depression
Annerley continued to grow in the 1920s. A new timber building with classrooms was added around 1924. By 1925, nearly 1000 students attended the school daily.
A new, larger swimming pool was built in 1929. It was 75 by 25 feet (22.9 by 7.6 m) and deeper than the old one. The old pool was kept for younger children. By 1934, a brick wall was built around the new pool, and tiered seating was added by 1944.
The Great Depression started in 1929. It caused many people to lose their jobs. The Queensland Government started big building projects to create jobs. This included building many new schools.
These new schools were often made of brick and looked very grand. They were designed to show stability and hope. The Department of Public Works designed each school uniquely.
In 1934, the school asked for a new brick building. It was finished by June 1936. The old timber school building was partly removed to make way for the new one. Three new brick toilet blocks were also built in 1934.
The new brick building (Block A) cost about £20,560. It had 21 classrooms for 860 students. It was designed with a main entrance, classrooms, and offices. Some classrooms had folding walls to create larger assembly rooms.
World War II and Beyond
Like World War I, World War II also affected the school. In 1942, many coastal schools in Queensland closed due to fear of Japanese invasion. Students could choose whether to attend.
Zig-zag trenches were dug at the school to protect students from air raids. Parents and staff helped dig them. Junction Park also hosted students from Moorooka State School, which was used by the United States Army for a few months.
After World War II, student numbers grew a lot. This was due to the "baby boom." In 1947, Junction Park State School had 1477 students, making it Brisbane's largest state school for a few years.
To handle the growth, more buildings were added. Block B was extended in 1953, and Block C was added in 1955. New tennis courts were also made.
A new infants' school complex opened in 1958. The old infants' building was moved and changed into a domestic science and manual training block. Later, the primary and infants' schools combined again.
Over the years, the school has had other changes. Some internal walls in the brick building were changed. The undercroft (ground floor) was enclosed for more space. In 1997, a forest of native trees was planted in the southeast corner.
In 1998, part of the school grounds was used for residential apartments. The infants' school buildings were removed. New school buildings were added in 2003 and 2009.
The school celebrated its 100th birthday in 1988. A history of the school was also published. In 2016, Junction Park State School continues to operate. It still has its historic pools, brick building, and beautiful grounds. The school remains a very important part of the Annerley community.
School Features: What You See Today
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Junction Park State School is on a 2.2-hectare (5.4-acre) site in Annerley. It's about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of the Brisbane city centre. You can enter the school mainly from Waldheim Street. The school has many buildings and features. The most noticeable is the large brick school building (Block A) from 1936.
The Main Brick School Building (Block A; 1936)
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Block A is a grand, symmetrical building with two main floors and an open area underneath called an undercroft. A tall, pointed spire (called a fleche) rises from its tiled roof. The building has a long central part with two shorter wings on each end.
The main entrance is in the middle, facing Waldheim Street. It has two L-shaped stairs leading up to a covered walkway with three brick arches. The building is made of red-brown bricks with decorative elements. The words "JUNCTION PARK STATE SCHOOL" are written above the entrance.
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Inside, the building is also symmetrical. The ends of the building have stairwells and storage rooms. The central part has a foyer on the first floor. This foyer has special stained-glass windows with the school's name and crest. A timber board lists all the school's principals since 1888.
Most classrooms have their original walls and ceilings. Some classrooms have folding doors, so they can be made into larger rooms. The stairs are made of polished concrete.
Verandahs run along the back (north side) of the building. They provide access to the classrooms. A large metal school bell is attached to the verandah on the western side. It has "JPSS, 1888" written on it.
The undercroft level is an open play area. It also has a tuckshop and storage rooms. Some parts of the undercroft have been enclosed for classrooms.
Many original timber windows and doors are still in the building. They have special hardware for opening them.
Swimming Pools (1910, 1929) and Stands
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The school has two concrete swimming pools. The older, smaller pool from 1910 is 13 by 4.9 metres (43 ft × 16 ft). The larger pool from 1929 is 23 by 7.6 metres (75 ft × 25 ft). Both pools have tiled edges. There are also timber stands with tiered seating next to the 1929 pool, where people can watch swimming events.
Toilet Blocks (1934)
The school has three brick toilet blocks from 1934: one for boys, one for girls, and one for infants. They are rectangular buildings with corrugated metal roofs. The entrances are screened by brick walls. Inside, the brick walls are exposed, and the floors are concrete.
School Grounds and Trees
The school grounds are well-maintained. The land slopes, so there are concrete retaining walls built around 1935. These walls create flat areas, including the school oval.
Many old trees, including large fig trees, are found around the school grounds. Some of these trees were planted before 1936. They provide lots of shade.
Why Junction Park State School is Special
Junction Park State School is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register for several reasons:
- Showing Queensland's History: The school shows how education and school buildings have changed in Queensland. The brick building from the Depression era is a great example of government school design from that time. The school grounds, with their old trees and walls, also show how schools were planned.
- Helping During the Depression: The brick school building, toilet blocks, and landscaping were part of a government plan during the Great Depression. This plan helped create jobs for people who were unemployed.
- First School Pool: The two swimming pools, especially the 1910 one, are important. The 1910 pool was the very first swimming pool built at a state school in Queensland. This shows how important it was to teach children to swim for their health and safety.
- Remembering World War I: The World War I Honour Board from 1915, located in the brick building, reminds us of the school community's part in a major world event.
- A Great Example of a Depression-era School: The school is a perfect example of a Queensland state school built during the Depression. It has a well-designed brick building and brick toilet blocks. It also has large, landscaped grounds with old shade trees, retaining walls, and sports areas like the pools and oval.
- Beautiful Design: The brick school building is very beautiful. Its large size, brick exterior, and classical design show the government's ideas of progress and strength. It looks very dignified from the street.
- Strong Community Connection: Schools are always important to their communities. Junction Park State School has a strong connection with the Annerley community. It started in 1891 because the local people worked hard to raise money. Generations of children from Annerley have gone to this school. It's a central place for social events and gatherings in the community.
Famous People Who Attended
- Romeo Lahey, a well-known conservationist.
- Doug Sherrington, a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.
