New Farm State School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Farm State School |
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New Farm State School, 1940
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| Location | Corner of James & Heal Streets, New Farm, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900–1914 (Early 20th century) |
| Built | 1901–1939, 1901–1940, 1919–1928, 1923 |
| Architect | Department of Public Works (Queensland) |
| Official name: New Farm State School | |
| Type | state heritage |
| Designated | 28 April 2017 |
| Reference no. | 650043 |
| Type | Education, research, scientific facility: School-state; Monuments and Memorials: Memorial/Monument – war |
| Theme | Creating social and cultural institutions: Commemorating significant events; Educating Queenslanders: Providing primary schooling |
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New Farm State School is a special school with a long history. It is located at the corner of James and Heal Streets in New Farm, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The school was designed by the Department of Public Works (Queensland) and built between 1901 and 1939. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 April 2017, meaning it's an important historical place.
Contents
A Look Back: The School's History
New Farm State School opened in 1901. It was built to help educate the many families moving into the New Farm area. The school is about two kilometres northeast of the centre of Brisbane. It still has its original brick school building from 1901, which was made bigger in 1909 and 1939. There's also an open-air classroom building from 1919. A special memorial for World War I was added in 1923. The school grounds have sports areas, old walls, and mature trees. This school has always been a very important part of the New Farm community.
How New Farm Grew
Long ago, the land belonged to the Turrbul and Jagera Aboriginal people. Later, in 1825, a farm was set up here to feed the convict settlement in Brisbane. After the convicts left, the land was surveyed in 1843. People started buying plots and building homes. By the 1880s, Brisbane's population grew a lot. This led to the larger plots being divided into smaller ones for more houses.
The New Farm area became very popular for living. This was because electric trams started running down Brunswick Street in 1897. Also, new industries like the CSR Refinery (1893) and the first Teneriffe Wharf (1907) brought more jobs. All this growth meant a new school was definitely needed.
Building the School
Schools were seen as vital for new communities to succeed. Local people often helped by donating land or their time to build schools. The school community also helped with upkeep and improvements. Schools became a central point for the community. They showed progress and were a source of pride. Many people felt a strong connection to their old school.
In 1899, the Department of Public Instruction agreed to build a school in New Farm. Local residents agreed to pay one-sixth of the building cost. A local businessman, Thomas Welsby, helped buy the land for the school. It cost £1087.
Plans for the school were approved in 1900. Construction began in May 1900. The foundation stone was laid on 7 July 1900. This was done by the Minister for Public Instruction, James Drake. The total cost for buildings, fences, and other items was £3,571. Parents contributed £634 of this amount.
The First Buildings
New Farm State School's site was about 0.8 hectares. It had a long front along Heal Street. The main brick school building (now called Block A) was U-shaped. It had three large classrooms and verandahs all around. There was also a cloakroom and a room for the head teacher. The roof was made of corrugated iron with special vents. The area underneath the school was open. It had brick pillars and arches, providing a play space when it rained.
In the early 1900s, the Queensland Government built many large public buildings. This included impressive brick school buildings. Brick schools were less common than timber ones. They were usually built in busy city areas with growing populations. These brick schools were designed individually. They had big budgets, making them look grand. Architects focused on good light and air. These schools had a more important look than standard school buildings.
New Farm State School opened in January 1901. It had 582 students right away. The official opening was on 21 January 1901. Many important people attended, including the Chief Justice, Sir Samuel Griffith. The school's first Head Teacher was Arthur Outridge.
However, the building was too small for all the students. By 1903, there were 650 students. Classes had to be held on the verandahs and under the school. To create more play space, two extra plots of land were bought in 1905. This area was even used as a rifle range by the school cadets for a few years.
In 1909, more classrooms were added to the main building. This cost £1,189. These new parts matched the original brick design. Each new section had a large classroom and verandahs. In 1912, changes were made to the undercroft. New windows and doors were added to the "basement" classrooms.
The Open-Air Annexe
By 1917, student numbers jumped to 918. A separate school for younger children was needed. This led to the building of an open-air annexe (now called Block B) in 1918–1919. Two more plots of land were bought for £1200 to make enough space. The annexe cost £1,813 to build. It was opened on 15 February 1919.
The open-air annexe was a high timber building on brick supports. It had two large classrooms and a verandah. It also had a teachers' room. Its roof was a Dutch gable style. Three sides of the building were open above the balustrade. This allowed for lots of fresh air.
Open-air annexes were a new design in 1913. Doctors at the time believed fresh air and light were good for health. These buildings were also cheap and easy to move. They were designed to let in as much air and light as possible. They usually had only one solid wall. The other sides were open with canvas blinds for privacy.
Many open-air annexes were built in Queensland. But they didn't work very well. They were stopped in 1923. The open sides didn't protect much from bad weather. The canvas blinds also wore out quickly. So, all open-air annexes were changed to be more enclosed. At New Farm State School, the blinds were replaced with sliding windows in 1924.
Remembering War Heroes
A special memorial was built to remember 24 former students. These students had died during World War I. The school community helped organize it. The memorial was unveiled on 2 February 1923. The Governor of Queensland, Sir Matthew Nathan, did the unveiling.
The memorial is in the southwest corner of the school grounds. It's a red brick pillar with a concrete top. A flagpole stands on top. Two sides of the pillar have marble tablets. These tablets list the names of the students who died. Stone wreaths are on the other sides. Four low brick platforms extend from the pillar. Each platform used to have a drinking fountain. Lowther and Sons, Monumental Masons, built the memorial.
School Grounds and Improvements
School grounds were very important in Queensland. Play-based learning was encouraged, especially for primary students. This meant schools needed outdoor play areas and sports fields. Arbor Day started in Queensland in 1890. On this day, trees and gardens were planted to make schools look nicer. Teachers believed gardening taught hard work and good habits.
At New Farm State School, a tennis court was built by September 1928. By 1931, a retaining wall was put up on the eastern side. In 1935, more walls and fences were built along Hawthorne and Heal Streets. Other old retaining walls were built before 1940. Trees were planted around the tennis court and along James and Heal Streets by 1936.
The Great Depression started in 1929. It caused a big slowdown in building work. The Queensland Government started programs to help people find jobs. This included building and repairing schools. By 1930, workers were improving school grounds. They built fences, leveled play areas, and made retaining walls. This created many large school ovals. At New Farm State School, workers dug rock from the Hawthorne Street side around 1931. This helped create a flat play area for the children.
In 1939, more additions were made to the school. This was to fit the growing number of students. A second storey was added to two wings of the main brick building. This added five new classrooms. New teachers' rooms were also built. Windows and doors were changed to improve light and air. The entire undercroft area was cleared to create a larger play space. This work cost £5430.
War and Growth After WWII
Like many schools, New Farm was affected by World War II. Because people feared a Japanese invasion, coastal schools closed in January 1942. Most schools reopened in March 1942, but going to school was optional until the war ended. Major building work stopped until 1945.
After WWII, Australia's population grew rapidly. This was due to immigration and the "baby boom." Schools became very crowded. Many new buildings were constructed, and old ones were extended. At New Farm State School, the two classrooms in the open-air annexe were divided into four in 1949. Windows were also changed. A tuckshop and a library were added to the main brick building in the 1950s. In 1958, folding walls were put in three classrooms. This allowed them to be used for school assemblies.
Parents and friends of the school raised money for a swimming pool. It was built southeast of the open-air annexe. The pool opened on 29 October 1966.
The main brick school building was changed in the 1970s. The outer verandahs were enclosed with flat sheeting and windows. This happened to different wings between 1971 and 1979.
Other changes included renovating the open-air annexe in 1972. A preschool was built in 1976. The drinking fountains were removed from the World War I Memorial. But it still has its flagpole, carved wreaths, and memorial tablets.
New Farm State School did not have a sports oval for a long time. This is an important part of Queensland schools. In 1991, the Department of Education got land next to the school. This land was meant for a new freeway. Houses were removed, and part of Hawthorne Street closed in 1989. In March 1991, the new school oval was officially handed over. In June, students planted 30 trees around it.
In the 1990s, student numbers were low. This was because industries in the area closed. Also, older houses were replaced by unit blocks, which families often didn't prefer. However, programs like urban renewal helped. By 2001, student numbers increased again.
Since it opened in 1901, New Farm State School has served its community. It has hosted many events like school fetes and dances. The school celebrated its 75th and 100th anniversaries.
The school still has some old furniture. In the former Head Teacher's Room, there's a silky oak memorial cupboard. It's dedicated to FJB Marin, a Head Teacher from 1922–23. There's also an old medicine cabinet and a safe. Honour boards, with the oldest from 1901, are also there. An old school bell is on the southwestern verandah.
In 2017, the school was still operating from its original site. It keeps its main brick building and open-air annexe. These are set in landscaped grounds with sports areas, play spaces, old walls, and mature trees. New Farm State School is very important to its local area. It's a key meeting place for the community. Generations of students have learned there. Many social events have been held at the school since it began.
What the School Looks Like
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New Farm State School covers about 1.25 hectares. It's in a residential part of New Farm, about 2 kilometres northeast of Brisbane's city centre. The school is on land that used to be very sloped but is now flat. You mainly enter from Heal Street. Other sides are bordered by James Street, Annie Street, and Kingsholme Street. There are also houses nearby. A small street called Hawthorne Street ends in a cul-de-sac. This provides another way to get into the school grounds.
The school has several buildings. The most noticeable is the main brick school building (Block A). It's at the western corner of the site, facing Heal Street. This building was built in 1901 and extended later. To its southeast is the Open Air Annexe (Block B), built in 1919. The school grounds are well-established. They have mature trees and old features like retaining walls from before 1940. There's also a playing field, an old school bell, and some early furniture.
The Main Brick School Building (Block A)
This building is large and made of timber and brick. It has three wings shaped like a "U". A central teachers' room and a small courtyard are in the middle. The main wing faces Heal Street. The other two wings extend to the southeast. The central and southwest wings have two floors of classrooms. The northeast wing has one floor. All wings have an open space underneath, used for play. The building is made of red bricks. It has contrasting cream-coloured brick bands and arches.
The roofs of each wing are Dutch gable style. They are covered in corrugated metal. There are also vents in the gables. The central wing has a tall, pointed roof decoration called a fleche. Most ceilings under the eaves are lined with timber boards.
Each wing has verandahs on both the inside and outside. The inside verandahs connect the classrooms and allow movement between the wings. Several staircases, built at different times, provide access between floors. Some original timber stairs are at the ends of the central wing's verandah. An internal concrete staircase is in the southwest wing.
Most inside verandahs have square timber posts and timber railings. The floors are timber and concrete. The first-floor verandahs have flat ceilings. The second-floor verandahs have sloped ceilings. All outside verandahs have been enclosed. This was done with timber, flat metal, and louvre windows around the 1970s. Modern floor coverings and these 1970s enclosures are not part of the original heritage.
The undercroft level is mostly open play space. It has brick arches and columns with rounded corners. The floors are concrete. Part of the central wing's undercroft has been enclosed for classrooms and toilets. Some original timber walls and windows remain. Sections of the other wings' undercrofts are now a tuckshop and storage. Recent walls and roller doors in the undercroft are not part of the heritage.
The first floor has a balanced layout. The second floor is similar to the first. The central wing has two classrooms on each level. These are bordered by former hat and cloak rooms. The teachers' rooms on the first and second floors are still there. An old sink is on the verandah wall of the first-floor teachers' room. The southwest wing has two classrooms at one end. A hallway (formerly a hat and cloak room) separates them from a third classroom. Some walls on the second floor have been removed to make larger classrooms. The northeast wing has a large room, used as a library in 2017.
Most inside spaces have plastered walls. The inner walls are lined with timber boards. The first-floor classroom ceilings are flat. They are lined with flat sheeting and timber strips. The northeast wing has decorative ceiling roses. The second-floor ceilings are generally coved (curved). They are lined with timber boards.
Most of the original timber doors and windows are still there. This includes double-hung windows with opening fanlights. There are also casement windows and arched windows. Many original double doors with special details remain. Folding timber doors separate some classrooms. Timber-framed window hoods with corrugated metal protect windows on some sides.
Old timber furniture and honour boards are kept inside the building. These include a silky oak memorial cupboard and a medicine cabinet. There's also an old safe in the teachers' room. Various honour boards, dating back to 1901, are present. An old metal school bell is on the southwestern verandah. A foundation stone plaque is in the northwest wall of the northeast wing.
The Open-Air Annexe (Block B)
This building is high up and made of timber. It's located southeast of Block A. It stands on tall brick supports and is covered in weatherboards. Both the main roof and the smaller roof over the teachers' room are Dutch gable style. They are covered in corrugated metal. The gable ends have louvered timber vents. The ceilings under the eaves are lined with flat sheeting. An enclosed verandah runs along the northwest side. You can reach it by timber stairs. Weatherboard cladding and banks of timber-framed louvre windows (added in 1972) now fill the large openings on the northeast, southeast, and southwest walls.
The space under the building is mostly open for play. Some recent enclosures create storage and offices. The floor is concrete. The brick supports are made of different coloured bricks. All recent enclosures under the building are not part of the heritage.
The verandah has a sloped timber ceiling. It has square timber posts and timber floors. The verandah wall is single-skin. It has exposed timber framing on the outside. The inside is lined with timber boards. Hinged ventilation boards are at the bottom of the verandah walls. At the ends of the verandah are former hat rooms. These have been enclosed to form a storeroom and an entry to a classroom. Modern floor coverings and added partitions are not part of the heritage.
The teachers' room is accessed from the verandah. It's a single room. The walls and flat ceiling are lined with timber boards. You can see where the original wall was before the 1972 extension.
The main inside area is divided into four classrooms by recent walls. It used to be two classrooms. The classrooms have curved ceilings lined with timber boards. They also have exposed metal rods and timber floors. Most walls are lined with timber boards. The lower parts of some walls are lined with flat sheeting. This shows where the former open sections were.
Original timber windows and doors are still in the building. This includes double-hung windows with opening fanlights. There are also high-level windows and casement windows in the teachers' room. Corrugated metal window hoods protect the teachers' room windows. A timber door to the teachers' room is also original.
Newer elements inside, like the partitions between classrooms, modern louvre windows, and carpet, are not part of the heritage.
World War I Memorial
A concrete and brick World War I (WWI) Memorial stands in the western corner of the school grounds. It's on a round concrete slab. The memorial is a square red brick pillar. It has a white concrete top and a metal flagpole. The top of the pillar says "IN LOVING MEMORY OF SCHOLARS WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR" in black letters. Marble tablets are fixed to the eastern and western sides of the pillar. They list the names of students who died in WWI. Stone laurel wreaths are on the northern and southern sides.
Low brick platforms extend from all four sides of the pillar. They are topped with concrete. A small concrete and sandstone plaque between two of the platforms is a recent addition. An open lawn area surrounds the memorial. Gardens and trees make it a nice setting.
School Grounds and Nature
The school grounds are well-established. They have mature trees and old retaining walls from before 1940. Because it's on high ground, the James Street side of the school has great views towards Brisbane City.
Several large fig trees (Ficus sp.) and camphor laurels (Cinnamomum camphora) stand near the open-air annexe and along Heal Street.
Retaining walls from before 1940 are made of concrete. These are located southeast of the Open Air Annexe, northeast of the main brick building, and along the Heal Street and James Street boundaries. Other retaining walls are made of cut stone, stone blocks, and concrete.
What's Not Heritage Listed
The swimming pool, the playing field, the preschool, and all other newer buildings, structures, and pathways within the school grounds are not considered part of the heritage listing.
Why New Farm State School is Special
New Farm State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 April 2017. This means it meets certain important criteria.
It shows how Queensland's history has changed. New Farm State School, started in 1901, shows how state education and school buildings have changed in Queensland. It has great examples of government designs. These designs show how ideas about education changed over time. It also has a war memorial, sports areas, old walls, and mature trees.
The main brick school building (1901, 1909) shows how architects tried to improve light, classroom size, and air flow. It also shows that brick schools became popular in growing city areas in the early 1900s.
The second floor added to the brick building in 1939 and the playground leveling around 1931 were part of government programs. These programs helped the economy and gave jobs to people during the Great Depression.
The open-air annexe (1919) shows old ideas about health and education. People believed fresh air and sunlight were very important. It also shows how open-air classrooms were added to existing schools. When the annexe was enclosed in the 1920s, it showed how these designs were changed to work better.
The World War I Memorial (1923) shows how the school community was involved in this big world event. War memorials are a way for communities to honour those who served and died. They are an important part of towns and cities across Queensland and Australia.
The large school site with mature trees and sports areas shows that play and a beautiful environment were important for children's education.
It shows the main features of its type of place. New Farm State School shows the main features of Queensland state schools, even with later changes. These include teaching buildings built to standard and unique designs. It also has large, landscaped grounds with mature trees, assembly areas, play spaces, retaining walls, and sports facilities.
The main brick school building is an excellent example of its kind. It shows the key features of a city brick school. These include its high-set shape, classrooms accessed by verandahs, and open play spaces underneath. It's made of strong brick. It has special roofs and decorative timber. City brick schools often have central courtyards. They are usually found in growing suburban areas.
The open-air annexe also shows the main features of its type. It still has its high timber structure on brick supports. It has its original classroom sizes and the western verandah (now enclosed). It also has its separate teachers' room.
It is beautiful to look at. The main brick school building at New Farm State School is very beautiful. It has a balanced design, high-quality materials, and a nice brick exterior. It also has elegant shapes and finely made timber work.
The school is on high ground above James Street. This gives it great views across nearby suburbs and to Brisbane City. The school buildings also look very attractive from the east.
It has a strong connection with the community. Schools have always been a big part of Queensland communities. They often have strong and lasting connections with former students, parents, and teachers. They are places for social events and volunteer work. They are a source of pride and show local progress.
New Farm State School has a strong and ongoing connection with the New Farm community. It started in 1901 because local people raised money. Generations of children have been taught there. The school is important for helping New Farm grow. It's a key meeting place for social and memorial events. The community strongly supports it.
Images for kids
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After the addition of the second storey, 1940
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War memorial, 1940
