Norman Park State School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Norman Park State School
Agnew St retaining walls and entrance stairs, 2016
Location	68–88 Agnew Street, Norman Park, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1900–1914 (Early 20th century)
Built	1900: urban brick school buildings, 1915: Open–air Annexe (enclosed 1922), 1934: Depression-era brick additions
Architect	Department of Public Works (Queensland)
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Norman Park State School
Type	state heritage
Designated	7 April 2017
Reference no.	650042
Type	Education, Research, Scientific Facility: School – state (primary)
Theme	Educating Queenslanders: Providing primary schooling
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Norman Park State School is a special school in Norman Park, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its important history. The school was designed by the Department of Public Works (Queensland) and first built in 1900. It has been teaching students continuously since it opened.

History of Norman Park State School

Norman Park State School opened in 1900. More people were moving to the Norman Park area, so a new school was needed. The school shows how state education and school buildings have changed over time.

In 2017, the school still had its main group of five buildings. These include two original brick buildings from 1900 (Blocks A and C). There is also an open-air annexe from 1915 (Block D). Two more brick buildings were added in 1934 (Blocks B and E). The school grounds also have old brick and concrete walls, stairs, and fences. There is a playing field and many old trees.

Early Days of Norman Park

The area around Norman Park was first settled for farming in the 1850s. It was also a popular picnic spot. In 1886, the land where the school now stands was bought and divided into smaller blocks. Even though land was sold, not many people lived in Norman Park at first. This changed in the 1930s when the area was improved.

Better transport helped the area grow. A railway line opened in 1889, and a tramline started in 1912. These made it easier for people to travel to and from Norman Park.

Why the School Was Built

By the late 1890s, enough people lived in Norman Park to need a school. The closest schools were too far away for many children. Building a school was seen as a key step for new communities. Schools became a central part of the community. They showed progress and were a source of pride.

A group of local people formed a committee in 1897 to ask for a state school. They suggested a site on a "dry ridge" between Hipwood and Agnew streets. In 1898, the government agreed to build the school if the land could be bought at a fair price. The land was bought in 1899 for a lower price. The landowners agreed because a new school would make the surrounding land more valuable.

Building the First School Blocks

The local committee asked for a brick school, which was unusual. Most schools at the time were made of timber. Brick schools were built in busy city areas with many people. They were designed to look grander than timber schools.

The first school building was designed by the Department of Public Works. It had two brick blocks (Blocks A and C today) joined at a right angle. Each block had a large classroom and wide verandahs. There was also a hat room and a teachers' room. The space under the building was used for play areas. The school could hold 305 students.

The outside walls were made of red bricks with lighter brick stripes. The verandahs were made of timber. Windows were designed to let in light and air. The roofs were made of corrugated iron.

The school opened on 7 July 1900. It was described as being "grandly situated on the summit of a hill." The total cost was £2723. Only 52 students enrolled at first, but this grew to 174 by September 1900.

School Grounds and Growth

In 1908, the school held an Arbor Day event. Students planted trees to make the school grounds more beautiful. This was a common practice in Queensland schools. It taught children about hard work and caring for nature.

By 1914, the school had bought more land in the middle of its property. Student numbers had reached 330.

The Open-Air Annexe

In 1915, an open-air annexe (Block D) was added for younger students. This type of building was popular then. Doctors believed that lots of fresh air and light were good for health. These annexes were timber buildings with one solid wall and three open sides. The open sides had canvas blinds that could be adjusted.

The open-air annexe at Norman Park was a standard design. It had one large classroom and a verandah. It opened on 16 October 1915. However, the canvas blinds did not work well in bad weather. So, around 1922, the blinds were replaced with sliding windows.

Changes During the Great Depression

By the 1920s, the school needed more play space. In 1929, more land was bought, and the toilets were moved. By 1925, almost 600 children attended the school.

The Great Depression started in 1929. It caused many people to lose their jobs. The Queensland Government started big building projects to create work. Many schools received funding for improvements.

At Norman Park State School, new toilets were built in 1932. Two new brick blocks (Blocks B and E) were added in 1934. These new blocks were designed to match the original brick buildings. Block B had classrooms on two levels. Block E had three classrooms that could be separated by folding walls.

The original classrooms in Blocks A and C were also changed. New hallways were added, and windows were changed to improve lighting. The school now had five connected blocks with 11 classrooms.

The school grounds were also improved. Brick walls and concrete steps were built in the 1930s. A high retaining wall was built along Agnew Street in 1935. This wall had a T-shaped set of entrance stairs.

World War II and Later Changes

During World War II, most building work stopped. In 1942, air raid shelters (trenches) were dug at Norman Park State School.

After the war, more improvements were made. In the 1950s, changes were made to improve lighting and add more classrooms. The old cloakroom became staff rooms. Verandahs were enclosed to create more space. Two new classrooms (Block F) were added around 1958.

A swimming pool was built in 1964. By 1969, student numbers had dropped. This was because Grade 8 moved to high school, and a new school opened nearby.

More verandahs were enclosed in the 1970s. Toilets were extended, and old toilets were turned into storage rooms.

After 1990, a mural was painted on the Agnew Street wall. Block D was updated in 1998. New buildings (Block G and a hall) were added in the 2000s.

The school celebrated its 100th birthday in 2000. A history book was published, and a Centenary Garden was created. Today, the school still uses its original classroom blocks and old walls. It is an important place for the community.

Norman Park State School Buildings

Site map, 2017

Norman Park State School covers a large area in Norman Park. It is about 4 km east of Brisbane city. The school is surrounded by streets and houses. The main school buildings are on a high point, offering great views. The school grounds also step down in levels with walls. A playing field is at the lower end of the site.

The main entrance is a formal stairway on Agnew Street. Other entrances are around the school. The school grounds have many old trees and features like the retaining walls.

The five main classroom blocks are close together. They are connected by verandahs and walkways. These blocks are:

• Block A (central block), original brick building (1900)
• Block C (southwest block), original brick building (1900)
• Block D (northeast block), timber open-air annexe (1915)
• Block B (southeast block), brick addition from the 1930s (1934)
• Block E (northwest block), brick addition from the 1930s (1934)

Blocks B and E were built to match the original brick buildings. Block D is the only timber building of the five. All blocks have two floors. Most have open play areas on the ground floor.

Block A: Original Brick Building (1900)

Southwest sides of blocks A (left) and B (right), 2016

Block A has two classrooms and a verandah. It also has two offices that were once a hat room and teachers' room. Stairs on either side lead to the first floor.

The walls are made of orange-red bricks. Some outside walls have supports called buttresses. The verandahs and floors are made of timber. Windows have stone or concrete sills.

The front of the building has two gables. These are the triangular parts of the wall under the roof. The windows on the first floor have timber hoods.

The ground floor has brick arches and piers. These support the classrooms above. The floor is covered with bitumen. There are two storage rooms under the offices. These rooms used to be toilets.

The verandah ceiling is lined with timber boards. The timber stairs have an original timber archway. The classrooms have high ceilings and timber walls.

Block C: Original Brick Building (1900)

Northeast side of Block C, 2016

Block C looks similar to Block A. It has two former classrooms with verandahs. You can enter from the verandah that connects to Block A.

The outside walls are made of face brick. The roof edges are open, showing the timber supports.

Like Block A, the windows are a mix of old and new. Some original windows have been bricked up but still show their arched tops.

The ground floor has brick arches and piers. Part of this area is used for staff toilets and a storage room. This storage room also used to be toilets.

Both verandahs have timber posts and ceilings lined with timber boards. Part of the southeast verandah has a timber railing. The northwest verandah is now enclosed with timber and windows.

The former classrooms have high ceilings. The walls are covered with plaster. Timber walls divide the two rooms.

Block D: Open-Air Annexe (1915)

Block D Teachers Room, 2016

Block D is made of timber and stands on brick piers. It has two large classrooms and an enclosed verandah. There is also a teachers' room. You can enter from the verandah that connects to Block A.

This building was designed to be open to the air. You can see the timber posts in the walls. The windows were changed in the 1920s.

The ground floor is partly enclosed for toilets. The walls here are timber. The play space has been changed with carpet and roller doors.

The verandah is now fully enclosed with timber and modern windows. The classrooms have timber walls. The original ceiling is hidden by a newer ceiling. The teachers' room has a metal ceiling and timber walls.

Block B: 1930s Brick Addition (1934)

Block B was built to match Block C. It has two classrooms on the first floor with enclosed verandahs. There is also a large classroom on the ground floor. The ground floor is lower than the other blocks. Stairs connect the different levels.

The building is made of dark red bricks. The verandahs are timber. The end walls have shallow supports. Windows in the brick walls have concrete sills.

The ground floor verandah is partly enclosed. It has a storage area and a staircase. The ground floor classroom has plaster walls and a flat ceiling.

Both first floor verandahs have high ceilings. The southeast verandah has two storage rooms. Large openings have been made in the classroom walls.

The classrooms are divided by timber walls. They have plaster walls and flat ceilings.

Block E: 1930s Brick Addition (1934)

Southeast side of Block E, 2016

Block E has two large classrooms on the first floor (it used to have three). It has an enclosed verandah and an open play area underneath. You can enter from the verandah that connects to Block A.

This block is made of the same dark red bricks as Block B. It has a simpler style. The verandah is timber and supported by concrete piers. A dormer window is in the middle of the roof.

The classrooms have timber windows. Some newer windows were added in the 1950s.

The ground floor has a concrete floor and wide brick piers. Some old timber seating remains. Part of this area has been enclosed to create a music room and a storage room.

The verandah has a high ceiling and brick walls. A former hat room is now a storage room.

The classrooms have plaster walls and flat ceilings.

Other Buildings and Grounds

Other newer buildings at the school include Block F, a swimming pool, Block G, and a hall. These are not part of the heritage listing.

The school grounds have many retaining walls and stairs. The walls along Agnew Street were built around 1935. They include a T-shaped entrance stairway. Another high wall separates the upper and lower playing fields.

The grounds also have old trees, like a large fig tree and camphor laurels. The playing field is a large, flat area. An old school bell is on a metal pole. There is also a plaque celebrating the school's 100th birthday.

Views from the School

Because the school is on a high hill, you can see far across the suburbs. You can even see the Brisbane city centre. The entrance on Agnew Street, with its trees and stairs, looks very impressive.

Why Norman Park State School is Special

Norman Park State School is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it is important for several reasons.

History of Education

The school shows how state education has changed in Queensland. It has great examples of government-designed buildings. These buildings show how ideas about classrooms, light, and air changed over time.

The original brick building (1900) shows how schools were designed in the early 1900s. The changes made to its windows in the 1930s show new ideas about lighting classrooms.

The open-air annexe (1915) shows how people believed in fresh air for health. Its later enclosure shows how designs were improved.

The additions from the 1930s (1934) and the walls and steps (1935) were part of government projects. These projects helped people find work during the Great Depression.

The large school grounds with trees and a playing field show that play and a nice environment were important for children's education.

School Design and Features

Norman Park State School shows the main features of a Queensland state school. These include large, landscaped grounds with trees and play areas. The buildings have open play spaces underneath, verandahs, and classrooms with lots of natural light. The school is a great example of a suburban school with buildings from 1900 to 1934.

The original brick building (Blocks A and C) is a good example of its type. It has a high design, classrooms with verandahs, and open play areas underneath. It also shows the architectural style of its time.

The open-air annexe (Block D) still has its timber frame and some of its original windows. It also has its teachers' room.

The 1930s additions (Blocks B and E) are brick classroom blocks. They were designed to match the older buildings. They show the features of schools built during the Depression era, like their two-story design and good quality materials.

Beautiful Design

The older part of Norman Park State School looks very beautiful. The buildings are well-designed and use similar materials. They are arranged in a balanced way, with the original brick building in the centre. The school grounds are made even more beautiful by the old trees and formal walls and stairs.

The school looks impressive from Agnew Street. It stands on a high site. The main entrance, with its trees and stairs, makes it a noticeable part of the area. You can also see great views of the surrounding suburbs and the city from the school grounds.

Community Connection

Schools have always been important to communities in Queensland. They connect former students, parents, and teachers. They are places for social events and volunteer work. They also show the progress and hopes of the local area.

Norman Park State School has a strong connection with its community. It was started in 1900 by local fundraising. Generations of children from Norman Park have gone to school there. It is a key part of the community.

Notable students

• Jesse Williams, professional football player

Images for kids

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  Agnew St retaining walls and entrance stairs, 2016

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  Southwest sides of blocks A (left) and B (right), 2016

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  Northeast side of Block C, 2016

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  Block D Teachers Room, 2016

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  Southeast side of Block E, 2016

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  Looking southeast across playing field, 2016