Numinbah Valley School of Arts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Numinbah Valley School of Arts |
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Numinbah Valley School of Arts, 2007
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| Location | Nerang–Murwillumbah Road, Numinbah Valley, City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia |
| Official name: Numinbah Valley School of Arts | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 7 December 2007 |
| Reference no. | 602419 |
| Significant period | 1925– |
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The Numinbah Valley School of Arts is a special old building in Numinbah Valley, Queensland, Australia. It's located on the Nerang–Murwillumbah Road. This building is listed as a heritage site, which means it's important to history. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 7 December 2007.
History of the School of Arts
A Special Place in the Valley
The Numinbah Valley School of Arts was built in 1925. It is a single-story timber building. It stands on stumps and has a metal roof. Over the years, parts of it were added in 1937, 1960, and 1981. When you enter Numinbah Valley, it's the first building you see on the right.
The Numinbah Valley is a beautiful area. It has cliffs, narrow ridges, and forests. The Nerang-Murwillumbah road runs along the valley floor. This area is known for its amazing scenery.
Early Settlers and Timber
People started settling here in the 1870s. They were looking for valuable red cedar trees. The Queensland Government opened up land for settlers. Timber was very important to the local economy. It helped support farms and sawmills.
Later, farming became important too. People raised dairy cows, grew bananas, and produced beef and pigs. The valley was quite isolated at first. It wasn't until the early 1900s that a road linked it to Nerang. Farmers needed better roads to get their goods to market quickly.
The Yaun family started a sawmill in Upper Nerang around 1909. This area was later called Numinbah. The sawmill provided jobs for local people. It operated until a fire destroyed it in 1944.
Building a Community Hall
In 1915, Lillian Mary Yaun asked the government for land. She wanted it for a community hall. After some talks, the community agreed to pay for a survey. This land would become the School of Arts reserve. In 1916, the land was officially set aside. Before this, people often used a farmer's barn for events.
In 1923, Yaun again asked if the land could be used for a public hall. The community really needed a place for social events, fun, and learning. In 1925, the community worked together to raise money. They held events and collected donations.
Local people even donated timber for the hall. The Yaun Bros. sawmill processed the timber for free. Cyril Duncan built the hall for about £100. This price included the roof and nails.
What is a School of Arts?
The first "Mechanics' Institutes" or "Schools of Arts" began in Britain in the early 1800s. They aimed to help people learn and grow. They offered lectures, discussions, and libraries. This was important because public libraries didn't exist yet. Books were also very expensive.
These places helped people get access to books. They provided an important way to learn and have fun. The first one in Australia was in Hobart in 1827. Soon, many more opened across the country.
In Queensland, the first School of Arts started in Brisbane in 1849. Its goal was to help the community learn about many subjects. As towns grew, more Schools of Arts were built. They became a main way for adults to learn. About 350 of these places were built in Queensland.
Most School of Arts buildings were made of timber. They usually had a hall and a few rooms. These rooms were used for libraries and meetings. Even though they varied, they were easy to spot in a town. They often had impressive fronts.
The Hall Opens
The Numinbah Valley School of Arts opened in September 1926. It was built without any debt. The new hall was 50 feet long and 25 feet wide. It had a metal gable roof. There was a stage at the back with a room on each side. The wooden floor was great for dancing. The walls were 12 feet high.
A School for Children
On 10 July 1926, people asked if the School of Arts could be used as a school. The Queensland Government was starting to focus on education. But many small communities had to set up their own schools.
On 7 February 1927, the Provisional Numinbah School opened in the School of Arts building. There were 16 students. The government helped a little with a teacher's salary and books. But the community had to provide the building. The school used the hall until a new school building opened in 1934.
Growing and Changing
By 1937, roads had improved, and banana farms were growing. The community decided to make the School of Arts bigger. They added a 25-foot extension to the back. This made more space for dancing and concerts. The front entrance was also changed. It got changing rooms on each side.
In the early 1960s, the hall was made even larger. A veranda was added on the southern side. This gave more seating and a supper area. The local Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) helped raise money. Electricity came to the valley in 1961. Kerosene lamps were replaced with electric lights. A kitchen was put in in 1962. The front entrance was changed again. One room became a ticket office, and the other a mother's room.
In September 1975, locals celebrated the hall's 50th birthday. An article mentioned the hall's green painted gable and fancy fretwork. It said the hall was used for weddings, dances, and church services.
In 1981, an open annex with a metal roof was added. It has been extended since then. In 1983, prison workers from the Numinbah Valley State Farm built a bar in the supper room. The next year, they repainted the hall. One prisoner painted Australian-themed pictures on the bar walls.
A fence surrounds a large open area next to the hall. This area goes from the Nerang River to the main road. It has been used for school sports, picnics, and other fun activities.
The Numinbah Valley School of Arts is a much-loved community building. It has been used for recreation, social events, and education since it was built.
What the School of Arts Looks Like
The Numinbah School of Arts is a timber building that stands on stumps. It has a double gabled roof made of metal. It faces the main road that connects Nerang to Murwillumbah.
The main part of the building is rectangular. There's a small entrance porch under a lower gable roof. On the left side, there's an enclosed veranda with a sloped roof. On the right side, there's an open annex. You enter the building through the front porch.
On the left side, there are two sets of steps leading to the supper room. Between them are pairs of windows. Both gables have decorative wooden trim called fretwork. The main gable has a lattice design. Above the entrance, a large sign says "Numinbah Valley School of Arts." Inside the entrance, there's a ticket office on the left and another room on the right. You'll find notice boards inside and outside the hall.
On the right side of the hall, there are two doors. Only the front door has steps. This side also has two pairs of windows with small roofs over them. An open annex runs along this side of the building. The space under the back of the building has been closed in. Large water tanks at the back provide water for the hall.
A timber fence runs from the back of the hall to the public toilets. On the northern side, the fence separates the open park-like area from the road. Near the hall, there's a flat area with simple wooden seating near the river. Beyond this, the land is gently rolling and has some trees. There's also a small pond near the road.
The public toilet block is a newer addition and not part of the original heritage listing.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Numinbah Valley School of Arts was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 7 December 2007 because it meets important criteria.
Showing Queensland's History
The Numinbah Valley School of Arts, built in 1925, is one of many "Schools of Arts" built across Queensland. By the 1900s, most towns had one. They showed how well a town was doing. This building helps us understand how Queensland's history developed.
It's a great example of a community-built School of Arts that is still mostly original. It has a strong connection to the Numinbah Valley area. It has been a place for fun and social events since 1925. It has hosted many activities like school classes, dance lessons, church services, movies, exercise classes, and school fundraisers. It has also been home to groups like the local QCWA and the Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade. The Numinbah Valley School of Arts is a very important part of the community's social life.
Showing Key Features of Its Type
The Numinbah Valley School of Arts shows the main features of a community hall built for the "School of Arts" movement in Queensland. Its original structure is still largely in place.
Its Beautiful Design
This building is important because of its simple and balanced design. It has pretty fretwork on the front. The open, park-like area next to it also adds to its beauty. It is a well-designed timber building that fits well into the Numinbah Valley's rural look. The building stands out in the small community because it's a large structure right on the main road.
