Maryborough School of Arts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maryborough School of Arts |
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Maryborough School of Arts, 2008
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| Location | 427 Kent Street, Maryborough, Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1887–1888; Groundbreaking: 3 June 1887; Opened: 21 May 1888 |
| Architect | John Harry Grainger |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Owner | Fraser Coast Regional Council |
| Official name: School of Arts, Maryborough School of Arts, Museum, Technical College and Recreation Club | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600701 |
| Significant period |
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| Significant components | School of Arts |
| Builders | Jacob and John Rooney |
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The Maryborough School of Arts is a special old building in Maryborough, Queensland, Australia. It's listed as a heritage site, meaning it's an important part of history. This two-story building was designed by John Harry Grainger and built between 1887 and 1888. It replaced an earlier, smaller building from 1861. Over the years, it has been used as a museum, a technical college, and a recreation club.
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What Does the Building Look Like?
The School of Arts is a large, two-story building made of brick with a smooth, rendered (plastered) finish. It has a hipped roof, which means all sides slope downwards to the walls. The front of the building, facing Kent Street, is designed in a classical style. This means it uses ideas from ancient Greek and Roman architecture, like columns and balanced shapes.
Special Features of the Design
The main entrance has a central archway. Above this arch, you'll see a plaster carving of Minerva. She was a Roman goddess known for wisdom, arts, and protecting cities. Her image shows the building's purpose: to encourage learning and culture. Inside, the building has a big central hall. Rooms are found on both sides of this hall on the ground floor. A grand staircase leads to the upper floor.
A Look Back: History of the School of Arts
The Maryborough School of Arts was built to help people learn and grow. It was part of a bigger movement in the 1800s called "Mechanics' Institutes" or "Schools of Arts." These places aimed to provide education for adults, especially working people. They offered classes in practical skills and had libraries for everyone to use.
Early Days and the First Building
The idea for a School of Arts in Maryborough started in 1860. The local community wanted a place where adults could take technical classes and borrow books from a public library. The first building, a small brick structure, was opened in 1861. The Queensland Government helped by providing land in Kent Street, which is where the current building stands today.
Building the Grand New School of Arts
As Maryborough grew, the community decided they needed a bigger, more impressive School of Arts. In 1886, they held a competition for architects to design a new building. John Grainger, a well-known architect from Melbourne and Adelaide, won the competition. His design was for a large, two-story brick building with a classical look.
The construction began in 1887 and was finished in 1888 by local builders Jacob and John Rooney. The new building was much grander, showing how important education and culture were to the town. People admired its classical style, with its columns, arches, and detailed carvings.
Learning and Growth Over Time
The new School of Arts quickly became a busy hub. It had a large library with thousands of books on the ground floor. There were also classrooms for teaching. In 1888, a museum was added, displaying interesting collections like timber, minerals, and even taxidermy (stuffed animals).
In the 1890s, the School of Arts started offering technical classes in art and science. These classes became very popular and eventually led to the creation of the Maryborough Technical College. To make space for more students, timber extensions were added to the back of the building in 1895. A verandah (a covered porch) was also added to the side in 1896, giving people a shady place to relax.
Later, in 1907, a special timber gallery was built inside the library. This allowed more bookshelves to be added, reaching up to the ceiling.
Changes and New Uses
Over the years, the role of the School of Arts changed. The technical college eventually moved to its own buildings in 1910 and then to the Maryborough State High School in 1936.
During World War II, the building was used by the Australian Comforts Fund, which helped support soldiers. It also became a club for members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) stationed in Maryborough.
After the war, parts of the building were rented out as offices. From 1949, the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) and the Post Master General's Department (PMG) had offices there. The local ABC radio station even started broadcasting from the building.
The Library's Journey
The library at the School of Arts continued to operate for many years. However, in 1972, the Maryborough City Council took over the management of the building and its land. The library eventually closed in 1977 when a new public library was opened in Maryborough.
Today, the Maryborough Wide Bay and Burnett Historical Society uses the building. They keep its history alive and share it with the community.
Heritage Significance
The Maryborough School of Arts is important for several reasons:
- History of Education: It shows how adult education developed in Queensland, from local community efforts to government-supported programs.
- Classic Design: It's a great example of a large, regional School of Arts building, designed in a classical style. It had a reading room, library, and classrooms, which were typical features of these institutions.
- Beautiful Building: The building is a key part of the Kent Street area. Its front facade is well-designed and looks impressive. Inside, it has beautiful woodwork, plasterwork, and well-proportioned rooms.
- Community Connection: For over a hundred years, this building has been a public space. It was the start of the current public library and technical college, making it very special to the local community.
