Morningside State School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Morningside State School
Infants School Building (Block A), 2018
Location	67 Pashen Street, Morningside, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1919–1930s (Interwar period)
Built	1925–1926, 1927–1954, 1927–1958, 1930, 1937, 1956–1957, 1956
Architectural style(s)	Art Deco
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Morningside State School
Type	state heritage
Designated	24 April 2018
Reference no.	650057
Type	Education, research, scientific facility: School-state
Theme	Creating social and cultural institutions: Commemorating significant events; Educating Queenslanders: Providing primary schooling
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

Morningside State School is an old school in Morningside, Queensland, Australia. It was built between 1925 and 1926. This school is special because it shows how education and school buildings have changed over time in Queensland. It is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical place.

A Look Back: Morningside School's Story

Morningside State School first opened its doors in 1926. It is located on Pashen Street, about 3.8 kilometers northeast of Brisbane city. The school has several original buildings and features that tell its story:

• Four connected timber buildings (Blocks C, B, D, and L)
• A brick building (Block A) built during the Great Depression
• Two connected timber buildings (Blocks E and F) from the 1950s

The school also has old retaining walls, tennis courts, and a special memorial for soldiers from World War II. Morningside State School has always been a very important part of the Morningside community.

Early Days of Morningside

The land where Morningside is now was traditionally home to the Jagera and Turrbal peoples. In the past, Morningside was mostly farmland. As more people moved into the area, especially after the railway opened in 1889 and the tram line extended in 1925, the population grew quickly.

By the early 1920s, many families lived in Morningside. Children had to walk long distances to other schools. People in the community really wanted a local school. Schools were seen as a key part of new communities. They became a place for everyone to gather and a source of local pride.

Getting the School Started

In 1922, local parents asked the government for an infants (young children's) school. Because there wasn't enough money, a temporary school opened in a rented hall in 1923. It was called Morningside Provisional (Infants) School.

Meanwhile, a site for a state school was chosen on Pashen Street. The community kept pushing for a new school building. By 1924, the land for the school was officially bought.

In 1925, plans were made for the first school building, which is now called Block C. This building was a "sectional school" type. These schools were designed to have lots of natural light and good airflow. They could also be easily extended as the school grew.

The new school building was finished in 1926. Morningside State School officially opened on August 16, 1926. The infants school moved from the rented hall into the new building.

Growing Pains and New Buildings

The school was designed for 200 students, but it opened with 350! By October 1926, there were 475 students. Clearly, more space was needed right away. For a short time, 200 students had to be taught in a local hall.

By December 1927, two more "sectional school" buildings, Block B and Block D, were added. These were similar to Block C, made of timber and raised high off the ground. They were officially opened in February 1928. Even with these new buildings, the school was still very crowded, with 600 students.

In 1930, another two-story sectional school building, Block L, was added. This provided space for 160 more students.

The Great Depression and Brick Buildings

The 1930s brought the Great Depression, a time when many people lost their jobs. To help, the Queensland Government started big building projects. This included improving school grounds and building new schools.

At Morningside State School, workers built basketball courts and some retaining walls. The government also built large, strong brick schools in growing areas. These buildings were designed to look grand and show hope during tough times.

Block A, a brick infants school building, was added to Morningside State School in 1937. It was a beautiful building with a tiled roof. It had classrooms, teachers' rooms, and an open play area underneath. This building cost a lot of money, showing the government's commitment. In 1939, a new concrete wall was built along Pashen Street in front of Block A.

World War II and After

World War II started in 1939. After Japan entered the war in 1941, people in Australia worried about attacks. Many coastal schools, including Morningside, closed temporarily in 1942.

Students and staff at Morningside State School helped with the war effort. They dug slit trenches for protection during air raids. The understory of Block A was even set up as an emergency hospital.

After the war, many babies were born, leading to a "baby boom." This meant even more students needed to go to school. Morningside's population grew a lot. The school became very crowded again.

Between 1949 and 1951, temporary classrooms were added. Later, in the mid-1950s, two new permanent timber buildings, Block E and Block F, were built. These were designed to have lots of natural light and play space underneath.

Continued Growth and Changes

The school continued to grow in the 1960s and 1970s. A swimming pool was built in 1964, thanks to fundraising by the school and parents. The school grounds also got bigger, adding a large playing field.

More buildings were added, including a toilet block and a dental clinic. In the 1980s, a tuckshop was added, and a pre-school opened under Block A. Over the years, classrooms were changed to create larger teaching spaces.

In 2014, a special ANZAC memorial garden was created. It includes a World War II memorial dedicated to the "Rats of Tobruk," a famous group of Australian soldiers. The memorial is a stepped, Art-Deco design. It has a plaque with important words from Anzac Day ceremonies:

• "This is hallowed ground for here lie those who died for their country."
• "At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them."
• "Lest We Forget."

Morningside State School is still an active school today. It keeps its original buildings and grounds, which are important parts of its history. The school remains a key place for the Morningside community, educating generations of children and hosting many events.

What the School Looks Like

Morningside State School is built on a terraced site, meaning the ground slopes down in sections. It faces Pashen Street to the north. The main school buildings are located on the higher parts of the site.

The school has seven main historical buildings:

• Block A: The brick infants school building from 1937.
• Block B: A timber sectional school building from 1927 (extended in 1958).
• Block C: A timber sectional school building from 1926.
• Block D: A timber sectional school building from 1927 (extended in 1954).
• Block E: A timber school building from 1956.
• Block F: A timber school building from 1956 (extended in 1957).
• Block L: A timber sectional school building from 1930.

Other important parts of the school include:

• Stone walls, gates, and steps along Pashen Street.
• Retaining walls with steps in front of Blocks B and C.
• The World War II memorial for the Rats of Tobruk.
• Tennis courts in the northwest corner of the school.

The Brick Infants School Building (Block A)

Block A is a beautiful brick building with one main floor raised on an understory (ground level area). It faces Pashen Street. The building has a special roof shape called a Dutch-gable roof, covered in terracotta tiles. Its red-brown bricks are contrasted with painted white details.

The main entrance is in the middle of the front, with steps leading up to it. Above the entrance, the school's name "MORNINGSIDE STATE SCHOOL" is carved into the stone. The building has many windows to let in light, with small roofs above them to provide shade.

Inside, the main floor has a central hallway with classrooms and staff rooms. Some of the original folding doors between classrooms have been replaced. At each end of the hallway are stairwells that lead down to the understory.

The understory was originally an open play area. Now, it has some added walls to create more classroom space. Toilets and storage rooms are at each end.

Timber Sectional School Buildings (Blocks B, C, D, and L)

These buildings are made of timber and are usually raised high off the ground. They have corrugated metal roofs, and their outside walls are covered with timber boards.

Most of these buildings have verandahs (covered walkways) on the north side. These verandahs are where students walk to get to their classrooms. The verandahs have timber posts and railings. Some corners of the verandahs used to have hat rooms.

Inside, the walls and ceilings are made of timber boards. Many classrooms still have their original high ceilings with special vents for airflow. While some classroom walls have been changed to make bigger rooms, you can still see where the original walls were.

These buildings have many windows, especially on the south side, to let in lots of natural light. They also have timber doors.

The understories of these buildings are mostly open play areas. Some parts have been enclosed for things like old toilets or health rooms.

Highset Timber School Buildings (Blocks E and F)

Blocks E and F are long classroom buildings, also raised high on concrete posts. This creates covered play space underneath. They have gable roofs covered in corrugated metal. The outside walls are made of timber boards.

Block E has two classrooms, and Block F has four. The classrooms are connected by doors. The walls and ceilings inside are covered with flat sheets.

The verandahs have timber posts and floors. They also have enclosed bag racks. These buildings have large windows, especially on the east side of Block E and the south side of Block F, to let in light.

The understories of these blocks are mostly open play areas with concrete floors.

School Grounds and Special Features

The school grounds are well-kept and have terraced areas with concrete and stone walls. There's also a remnant of an old quarry on the southeastern side.

A concrete wall along Pashen Street acts as a fence. It has decorative features at the entrances. There are also two retaining walls with steps in front of Blocks B and C.

The two tennis courts from 1939 are still in their original spot. There's also a large playing field.

The painted concrete World War II memorial is in the Anzac memorial garden. It's a stepped, Art-Deco design with metal crosses. It honors the "Rats of Tobruk" and has important words about remembering those who served.

The open spaces around the buildings, like the assembly areas, help keep the classrooms bright and airy. The way the school is set back from Pashen Street makes it stand out and look impressive from the street.

Why Morningside State School is Important

Morningside State School is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register for several reasons:

It shows how Queensland's history and education have changed. The school's buildings show how school designs developed over time. The brick building from the 1930s and the concrete wall were part of government projects to create jobs during the Great Depression. The timber buildings from the 1920s and 1950s show how architects designed schools to have good light and airflow, fitting both educational and climate needs. The World War II memorial shows how the school community was involved in the war.

It shows what a typical Queensland state school looked like in the early to mid-1900s. Morningside State School has all the main features of a school from that time: government-designed teaching buildings, landscaped grounds with play areas, sports facilities, and old trees. The brick infants school building is a great example of its type, with its grand look, two stories of classrooms, and focus on natural light. The timber sectional school buildings are also good examples, with their raised design, verandahs, and large windows. The highset timber buildings from the 1950s also show their specific design features.

It is beautiful and adds to the area. The brick infants school building is very well-designed and built. Its size, materials, and balanced look make it aesthetically pleasing. It stands out and makes the street look better.

It has a strong connection to the community. Schools are always important to their communities. They connect past students, parents, and teachers, and are a place for social events. Morningside State School has a strong and lasting link with the Morningside community. It was started by local fundraising, and many generations of children have learned there. It's a central part of the community.