Morayfield State School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Morayfield State School |
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Morayfield State School, original building, 2014
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| Location | 196–230 Morayfield Road, Morayfield, City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia |
| Built | 1873, 1903 |
| Built for | Department of Public Instruction |
| Architect | Richard George Suter |
| Official name: Morayfield State School; Caboolture National School; Caboolture South State School | |
| Type | state heritage |
| Designated | 10 October 2014 |
| Reference no. | 602839 |
| Type | Education, research, scientific facility: School-state |
| Theme | Educating Queenslanders: Providing primary schooling |
| Builders | Robert Monteith, Thomas Heron |
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Morayfield State School is a special old school located at 196–230 Morayfield Road in Morayfield, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by an architect named Richard George Suter and built in 1873. The school is also known by its older names, Caboolture National School and Caboolture South State School. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 10 October 2014, which means it's recognized as an important historical place.
Contents
School History
Morayfield State School first opened its doors on August 4, 1873. Back then, it was called Caboolture National School. It started in a small timber building designed by architect Richard George Suter. The school was built on a large piece of land south of the Caboolture River. It was meant to serve the families living in the growing farming area.
Early Days of Morayfield
The area around Caboolture was first opened to settlers in 1842. People initially came for timber, especially red cedar. By the 1860s, it became a farming area. Sugarcane was one of the first major crops grown here.
Two big sugar farms, "Moray Field" and "Oaklands," were set up south of the Caboolture River. These farms used workers from the Pacific Islands. The school was built to help the families of these farmers and workers.
How Schools Started in Queensland
The government in Queensland wanted to make sure all children could go to school. In 1860, the Board of General Education was created to set up schools. Later, in 1875, a new law made primary education free, required, and not linked to any religion. This law helped make schools similar across Queensland.
Building schools was a big deal for early communities. Local people often gave land or helped build the schools. Schools became important places for social events and a source of pride for the community.
The First School Building
The first building at Morayfield State School was finished in 1873. It was designed by Richard Suter, a private architect who designed many school buildings. Suter used a special building style called "outside studding." This meant the timber frame was visible on the outside, making the building look unique.
Suter's design for this school was a low-set timber building. It had a large classroom and verandahs (covered porches) on the front and back. The roof was made of timber shingles. Inside, the walls were lined with wooden boards. This design was meant to be simple and easy to build in many places.
Changes to the School Name
In the 1870s and 1880s, the Caboolture/Morayfield area continued to grow. In 1889, a new railway line came to North Caboolture. Because of this, a new school, North Caboolture State School, was built. Our school, Caboolture National School, was then renamed Caboolture South State School. In 1907, it was renamed again to Morayfield State School.
The Playshed and Other Additions
In 1903, a playshed was built at the school. Playsheds were common additions to Queensland schools. They were open, timber-framed shelters that gave students a covered place to play, especially when it rained. They were also sometimes used for teaching.
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The playshed at Morayfield State School was built to a standard design. It was 24 feet by 16 feet and had six posts supporting a hipped roof. The local community helped pay for it.
Over time, the school buildings were changed to improve things like lighting and ventilation. For example, in the 1930s, windows were added to the verandah of the original Suter building to let in more light and fresh air.
School Grounds and Trees
The school grounds were also developed for outdoor play. Teachers believed that planting trees and gardens taught students good values. Arbor Day celebrations, where trees were planted, started in Queensland in 1890. Morayfield State School held its first Arbor Day by 1891.
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There's a very old and large Moreton Bay Fig tree at the school. It was mentioned in a report from 1958 as providing shade all year round. This tree is a landmark at the school and has been there for a very long time.
Modern Growth and Changes
Morayfield started growing very fast in the 1970s. Because of this, Morayfield State School also grew a lot. Between 1970 and 1990, many new buildings were added, including more classrooms, toilets, a library, and an administration block.
The original Suter building was changed around 1977 to be used as a staff room. By 2014, it was used as a Student Behaviour Room. The school is still operating today and continues to be an important part of the Morayfield community. It has taught many generations of students since 1873.
What the School Looks Like Today
Morayfield State School is located south of the main part of Morayfield. The school grounds are very large, about 16.5 hectares. The main historical buildings are the Suter-designed teaching building from 1873 and the timber playshed from around 1903. The large fig tree also stands out.
The Suter Building
The Suter building is a small, low-set timber building. It has a roof made of corrugated metal. There are verandahs on the front (east) and back (west) sides, with small stairs to reach them. The verandahs have wooden posts and floors.
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The walls of the verandahs show the timber frame on the outside. The front verandah has a decorative timber railing. The back verandah has bag racks instead of a railing, which was a common change in schools after World War II. Parts of the back verandah are now enclosed to make small storage rooms.
Inside, the classroom walls and ceiling are lined with horizontal wooden boards. You can see the timber roof frame inside. Some parts of the interior, like the carpet and modern sink, are newer additions.
The Playshed
The playshed is located north of the Suter building. It is 24 feet by 16 feet. It has a hipped roof made of corrugated metal, supported by six timber posts. The roof frame is visible inside. The modern seats and concrete floor are newer additions.
The Fig Tree
The large, old fig tree provides a lot of shade to the area east of the playshed. You can still see the stump where the fig tree was first planted. This tree is a well-known feature of the school.
Why Morayfield State School is Important
Morayfield State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2014. This means it's recognized for its historical and cultural importance.
- Shows Queensland's History: The school shows how state education and school buildings developed in Queensland. The original Suter building and the playshed are great examples of early government school designs. The school also shows how the Caboolture/Morayfield area grew as a farming region.
- Rare Building: The Suter building at Morayfield State School is special because it's one of only three known original buildings of its type that are still mostly unchanged.
- Typical School Features: The school shows the main features of early Queensland state schools. The Suter building still has its original design with timber framing, verandahs, and a single classroom. The playshed also shows a typical design for covered play areas. The fig tree is a good example of the shade trees planted in school grounds.
- Community Connection: Queensland schools have always been important to their communities. Morayfield State School has a strong connection with the Morayfield community. It was started by local fundraising efforts in 1873 and has educated many generations of children. It's a key meeting place for social events and has strong community support.
See also
- List of schools in Greater Brisbane
- History of state education in Queensland
