Murgon State School facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Murgon State School
Blocks A and C, looking west, 2015
Location	91 Gore Street, Murgon, South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1914–1919 (World War I)
Built	1914–1940
Architect	Department of Public Works (Queensland)

Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Murgon State School; Murgon Rural School
Type	state heritage
Designated	9 October 2015
Reference no.	650003
Type	Education, Research, Scientific Facility: Accommodation – teacher's residence; Education, research, scientific facility: Pre-school; Education, research, scientific facility: School-state
Theme	Maintaining order: Policing and maintaining law and order; Educating Queenslanders: Providing primary schooling

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Murgon State School is a special school in Murgon, Queensland, Australia. It's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical place. The school includes a pre-school and a house for teachers. It was built between 1914 and 1940 by the Department of Public Works (Queensland). This school has also been known as Murgon Provisional School and Murgon Rural School over the years. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2015.

History of Murgon State School

Murgon State School first opened in 1908 as Murgon Provisional School. It became Murgon State School in 1909. The school was built in the small farming town of Murgon to teach children from the area.

A new school building was constructed in 1917. In 1925, the school became a rural school. This meant it offered special classes for students interested in farming and home skills.

By the mid-1930s, the school had more buildings. These included a blacksmith's shop and a domestic science building. The school has been open continuously since it started. It has always been a key part of the local community.

Murgon Town Grows

The first European settlers arrived in Murgon in the 1840s. This land traditionally belonged to the Wakka Wakka people. In 1901, part of the Barambah farm became the Barambah Mission Station. It is now known as Cherbourg.

The town of Murgon grew near a timber loading spot. This spot opened in 1903 on the railway line. The railway helped farmers send their produce, like maize, pumpkins, pigs, and dairy products, to markets. This brought more people to the area.

Murgon became an important town in 1914. This was when the Shire of Murgon was created. More railway lines were built, helping the town grow even more.

Dairy Farming in Murgon

Dairy farming was very important to Murgon's early success. In the 1920s and 1930s, dairy farming grew a lot in Queensland. Many small farms relied on families to milk cows twice a day.

Murgon's butter factory was built in 1913. By 1931, it was one of the biggest butter producers in Queensland. Murgon quickly became a busy centre for the surrounding farms.

In 1911, Murgon had 706 people. By 1941, it had grown to 1091 people. It was the second largest town in the South Burnett area.

Starting the School

Establishing schools was very important for new communities. Local people often helped by donating land and labour. Schools became a symbol of progress and a source of pride.

In 1906, people in Murgon started working to open a school. A building committee was formed. They chose a site for the school on the north side of town.

The first school building was finished in November 1907. It had one classroom and verandahs. The school opened on 24 February 1908 with 40 students.

Provisional schools were temporary schools for smaller towns. If a town grew, these schools became state schools. Murgon Provisional School became a State School in 1909.

Teacher's House

In 1914, a house for the teacher was added to the school site. Most Queensland state schools, especially in country areas, had a teacher's house. This was to help attract teachers to rural places.

The teacher's house was designed by the Department of Public Works. It was a timber house with a hipped roof. It had a living room, dining room, two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

The house was located northeast of the main school building. It faced Gore Street.

Railway Changes the School Layout

In 1915, it was decided that the new Murgon-to-Proston railway line would go through the school land. This meant big changes were needed. The teacher's house could stay, but the main school building was in the way.

A new school area was planned in 1915. It was triangular in shape, at the corner of Gore and Fryar streets. The main entrance moved to Fryar Street.

New School Building (Block A)

Before the old school building was moved, a new State School building was built in 1917. This building (now called Block A) was a standard design used by the government. Queensland school buildings were often made of timber.

These standard designs were improved over time. They focused on good ventilation and natural light. High-set buildings, built from around 1909, provided better airflow. They also created covered play areas underneath.

The new Murgon State School building was a high-set timber building. It had three classrooms with folding walls. It also had a verandah and a teacher's room. Large windows let in lots of light.

The building was finished in October 1917. It was located northeast of the teacher's house, facing Fryar Street.

School Becomes an Isolation Hospital

In May 1919, the school had to close temporarily. This was because of the worldwide influenza pandemic. The school building was used as a hospital for sick people.

A kitchen was built for the hospital. By early June, there were over 17 patients. The epidemic started to slow down by the end of June.

Murgon Rural School

Murgon continued to grow in the 1920s. Dairy farming and pig farming were very important. In 1923, the local council asked for a rural school to be built in Murgon.

Rural schools aimed to teach children practical skills for country life. They offered extra classes in farming and home economics. The first rural school opened in Nambour in 1917.

In 1925, Murgon became one of three new rural schools. These schools taught subjects like woodwork, metalwork, cooking, and sewing.

The Murgon community helped raise money for the rural school. The space under the 1917 teaching building was enclosed. It was divided into three rooms for classes.

Domestic Science was taught in one room. The other two rooms were for leatherwork, woodwork, and metalwork. Murgon Rural School officially opened on 30 March 1925 with 160 students.

The rural school was a big success. Students could buy a cooked meal made by the girls in the domestic science class. Sometimes, it was hard for students from other schools to get to Murgon. So, branches of the Murgon rural school were set up in other towns.

Playshed and School Grounds

In 1927, a playshed was built at the school. Playsheds were covered outdoor areas for play and teaching. They were common additions to schools.

The Murgon School Committee raised money for the playshed. It was officially opened during Arbor Day celebrations. Arbor Day was a time for planting trees and improving school grounds.

The school grounds were greatly improved in the 1920s. They had vegetable plots, flower gardens, and even a tennis court. Several Pepperina trees were planted, and two of them are still there today.

New Vocational Buildings

By 1929, the rural classes under the main building were noisy and uncomfortable. New buildings were needed. In October 1930, a blacksmith's shop and a manual training building were opened.

The blacksmith's shop was a timber shed with a skillion roof. The manual training building was a low-set timber building with a front verandah. It had a large room for woodwork and a smaller room for metalwork.

More additions were needed as student numbers grew. In 1935-36, a big building project took place. This included extending Block A, building another teaching building (part of Block C), and a domestic science building. The blacksmith's shop was also moved and extended.

The additions to Block A included two more classrooms. Windows were changed to let in more southern light. This made the building similar to the popular "sectional school" design.

The new teaching building (part of Block C) had one classroom and verandahs. The domestic science building was a low-set timber building with a gambrel roof. It had rooms for dressmaking, cookery, and laundry.

The blacksmith's shop was made twice as long. It was moved between the playshed and the domestic science building. These new buildings cost £2500. They were opened in February 1936.

Murgon Court House Becomes Part of the School

Across Fryar Street, a new Court House was built in 1940. It was a timber building with a T-shape plan. It had a courtroom and several offices.

Between the 1940s and 1960s, the rural school program ended. This was because farming changed, and vocational subjects moved to high schools. Murgon State School stopped being a rural school in 1959. This was when Murgon High School opened.

Dairy farming declined after World War II. Many small farms closed. The Murgon butter factory was the last one in the South Burnett area until it closed in 1995.

As smaller schools in the area closed, their students came to Murgon State School. The school buildings were extended in the 1950s and 1960s to fit more students.

After the rural school closed, the vocational buildings were used for other things. In 1959, the domestic science building became a library. The manual training building was moved and became part of a new block of classrooms (Block B).

Block C was extended between 1966 and 1969. The verandah of Block A was enclosed in 1960 to create a staff room. Later, in 1973, this verandah was removed for a new administration building.

In the early 1970s, the school area grew to about 3.8 hectares. Fryar Street was closed and became part of the school grounds. New playing fields and tennis courts were created.

A new court house was built elsewhere in Murgon in 1967. The old 1940 Court House building became part of the school. It was used as an Opportunity School and later as a preschool in 1981. Today, it still hosts many school and community events.

Murgon State School celebrated its 100th birthday in 2008. The school is very important to the Murgon community. Generations of students have learned there. It has been a key place for social events and gatherings.

School Buildings and Grounds

Site map, 2015

Murgon State School is located on the north side of Murgon. The school site is about 3.8 hectares. Most school buildings are in the southern part of the site. The former Court House is on the north side. The rest of the northern grounds are playing fields.

All the main buildings are made of timber with metal roofs. Most buildings now stand on concrete or metal posts.

Teacher's Residence (1914)

Teacher's residence, 2015

The teacher's house faces Gore Street. It is a high-set timber building with a front verandah and a hipped roof. It has three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

The space under the house is enclosed with timber screens. The front verandah has a timber floor and a timber railing. The house still has its original layout inside.

Block A (1917, extended 1935–1936)

Block A, from north-east, 2015

Block A is a long, rectangular timber building. It has enclosed verandahs on two sides and two teacher's rooms. The southern part was built in 1917, and the northern part was added in 1935–1936.

The roof is gabled. There are large windows on the southwest wall. These windows let in natural light. The inside walls are lined with timber boards. The ceilings are made of pressed metal or timber boards.

The area under the building has a concrete floor. It is partly enclosed and used for storage.

Block C, Southeast Classroom (1935–1936)

Block C from the south-east, 2015

The important part of Block C is the southeast classroom. It is a high-set building with a gable roof and an enclosed verandah. Other parts of Block C were added later and are not as old.

The building has timber walls and a bank of early windows. The verandah has timber posts with decorative brackets. The inside walls and ceiling are lined with timber boards.

The space under the building is partly enclosed. It has a concrete floor.

Playshed (1927)

Playshed (left) and former Blacksmith's Shop (right), 2015

The playshed is a timber structure with six posts. It has a hipped roof covered in corrugated metal. Two sides are enclosed with corrugated metal sheeting. The floor is earth, partly paved.

Former Blacksmith's Shop (1930, extended 1936)

The former blacksmith's shop is a timber shed. It has a skillion roof covered in corrugated metal. It is open on one side and enclosed on the other three sides. The floor is earth.

Former Domestic Science Building (1935–1936)

Former domestic science building, from west, 2015

The former domestic science building is a low-set timber building. It has a gambrel roof covered in corrugated metal. It is divided into three rooms.

The main room was used for dressmaking and cookery. It has a picture rail and a flat ceiling. The other rooms were used for laundry and ironing.

Former Court House (1940)

Former court house, from south-east, 2015

The former Court House is a low-set timber building. It has a hipped and gabled roof. It is T-shaped and has wide verandahs around it.

The front of the building has six rooms that were offices. The large courtroom is at the back. The verandahs have timber railings and ceilings lined with timber boards.

The building still has most of its original timber windows and doors. The inside walls and ceilings are lined with timber boards. The space under the building is partly enclosed.

School Grounds and Trees

Pepperina tree beside the former domestic science building, 2015

The school grounds have many old trees. These include eucalypts, jacarandas, and elms. Two old Pepperina trees are still there from early plantings. One is near the former blacksmith's shop, and the other is near the former domestic science building.

Why Murgon State School is Heritage Listed

Murgon State School is important because it shows how state education in Queensland has changed over time. The buildings are great examples of government designs that followed different teaching ideas.

The main school building (Block A) shows how school designs improved lighting and airflow. Its changes in the 1930s show how timber schools could be adapted.

The teacher's residence (1914) shows that the Queensland Government provided homes for male head teachers in country areas.

The Playshed (1927) highlights that playing was an important part of the school day.

The domestic science building and blacksmith's shop are rare examples of buildings from rural schools. They show how important practical skills were for country students. These buildings also show the government's focus on vocational training to help the state's economy.

Murgon State School is a good example of a Queensland state school. It has high-set timber buildings with play areas underneath. It also has verandahs and classrooms with lots of light and air. The school grounds are large and have old shade trees.

The school has a strong connection with the Murgon community. It was started in 1908 with help from local fundraising. Generations of children have gone to school here. It is a central place for social events and gatherings in Murgon.

Notable Students

Bob Moore, a politician in Queensland
Selwyn Cobbo, a rugby league player for the Brisbane Broncos