Petrie State School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Petrie State School
Petrie State School, Stanley building, 2014
Location	42 Dayboro Road (Brisbane Woodford Road), Petrie, City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia
Built	1878 (Stanley building),1888 (Ferguson building)
Architect	Francis Drummond Greville Stanley; Robert and John Ferguson
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Petrie State School; Pine River North State School; North Pine River Provisional School; North Pine State School
Type	state heritage
Designated	10 October 2014
Reference no.	602841
Type	Education, research, scientific facility: School-state
Theme	Educating Queenslanders: Providing primary schooling
Builders	Queensland Department of Public Works
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Petrie State School is a special old school in Petrie, Queensland, Australia. It's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its important history and unique buildings. The school was designed by famous architects like Francis Drummond Greville Stanley and the Ferguson brothers, Robert and John. It was built in 1878 and 1888. Over the years, it has been known by different names, including Pine River North State School.

The School's Beginning

Petrie State School first opened in 1879. It was called Pine River North State School back then. Before this, there were two smaller "half-time" schools. These schools started in 1874 and 1875.

Land Donation for the School

The land for the school was a gift from an early settler named Thomas (Tom) Petrie. He donated 2 acres (about 0.8 hectares) of land in 1877. The first school building was finished in 1878. It was designed by the Queensland Colonial Architect, FDG Stanley.

Growth and Changes

As more people moved to the area, the school grew. New buildings and features were added. An extension was designed by architects Robert and John Ferguson in 1888. The school has been open continuously since it started. It has always been a very important place for the local community. It's a place for learning and for social events.

Early Days of the Area

Before European settlers arrived, the Pine Rivers area was home to Indigenous groups. These included the Turrbal, Kabi, and Waka language groups. In the 1820s, people started cutting timber here. By the early 1840s, large farms called pastoral runs were set up.

Tom Petrie's Influence

In 1859, Tom Petrie started a large farm called Murrumba. It covered a huge area. Tom Petrie also worked in the timber industry. He used the river to float timber.

Developing the Township

In 1862, more land was sold for settlement. Tom Petrie bought land for his home. A coach route from Brisbane to Gympie started in 1868. It stopped at Petrie's Murrumba Homestead. A road bridge was built in 1877. The North Coast Railway line reached Caboolture by 1888. Tom Petrie divided some of his land in 1885. This became the North Pine Terminus Township. This town later became Petrie.

Education in Early Queensland

Providing education was very important to the early governments in Australia. In 1848, the New South Wales Government started National Schools. Queensland continued this after it became a separate colony in 1859.

The Education Act of 1875

The State Education Act of 1875 was a big step. It made primary education free, compulsory, and non-religious. The Department of Public Instruction was created to manage this. This helped make education the same across the colony. By 1900, most Queensland children could read and write.

Schools as Community Hubs

Building schools was key for new communities to grow. Local people often gave land and helped build the schools. The school community also helped with upkeep. Schools became central to social life. They were a symbol of progress and pride. Many events like fetes, markets, and sports were held at schools.

Provisional Schools

In the 1870s, the North Pine farming community wanted schools for their children. If there weren't enough students for a state school (at least 30), a "provisional school" could be opened. These schools needed fewer students, sometimes as few as 12.

How Provisional Schools Worked

Local committees helped set up these schools. They provided a building, often a simple hut. The government paid the teacher's salary. Provisional teachers might not have had much training. But these schools still provided basic education. If a town grew, provisional schools could become state schools. State schools had better buildings and more experienced teachers.

North Pine's Unique Schools

In 1874, the North Pine River Crossing Provisional School opened. It was in a rented room south of the river. Because there was no bridge, two half-time schools were planned. The teacher taught on the south side in the morning. Then, they taught on the north side in the afternoon. This was a very unusual setup. The northern school opened in 1875. It was a small hut with a shingle roof.

Combining the Schools

When a bridge was built in 1877, the two schools could combine. Tom Petrie donated 2 acres of land for the new school. It was located north of the river, near Dayboro Road. The community had to raise 20% of the building cost. The new school building and a teacher's house were built in 1878. The school opened in 1879 as Pine River North State School.

School Building Designs

From the 1860s to the 1960s, most school buildings were made of timber. This was because timber was easy to find. It also allowed for quick and cheap building. Schools across Queensland often looked similar. They usually had teaching buildings, a school yard, a sports oval, and a teacher's house.

Stanley's Designs

The 1878 school building was a standard design by Colonial Architect Francis Drummond Greville (FDG) Stanley. He designed many important government buildings. Stanley was the first to create standard school designs. His schools were usually low-set timber buildings. They had separate houses for teachers. They often had verandahs and central stairs. Stanley's designs also improved weather protection. Few of his original school buildings still exist today.

The 1878 Stanley Building

The 1878 building at North Pine was low-set and made of timber. It had a gable roof. There were verandahs on the south-west and north-east sides. It was close to Dayboro Road.

Ferguson's Designs

By 1887, the school was too crowded. A new building was added in 1888. It was designed by Robert and John Ferguson. This new building was connected to the Stanley building. Robert Ferguson became the Superintendent of Buildings in 1879. He improved school designs for better air flow and light. His designs had special roof vents. They also had more and larger windows.

The 1888 Ferguson Building

The Ferguson building was also low-set and timber-framed. It had a gable roof and a wide verandah. It included a coved ceiling and exposed timber roof supports. The windows were designed to let in lots of light without drafts.

Legacy of the Ferguson Brothers

Robert Ferguson's brother, John, took over in 1885. He continued to use his brother's designs. The Ferguson brothers' designs were very important for school buildings. They made schools better for learning.

School Changes Over Time

The building of the second classroom in 1888 happened as dairy farming grew in the area. The railway helped farmers send their cream to butter factories.

Renaming the School

In 1896, the school was renamed North Pine State School. It kept this name even after the town changed its name to Petrie in 1911. Over the years, a playshed was built in 1907. The teacher's house was also improved. By 1918, there were 112 children enrolled. A tennis court was finished in 1934.

Focus on Light and Air

After 1900, architects focused on getting lots of natural light and fresh air into classrooms. They tried different roof vents and larger windows. Windows were made bigger and lower. This allowed more light to enter. Desks were often arranged so light came from the left.

1937 Building Changes

In 1937, the windows in both the Stanley and Ferguson buildings were changed. This was to improve light and air flow. Windows were lowered and changed to casement windows. Fanlights were added above them.

Growth in the 1950s

The school had only 60 students in 1947. But the number grew in the 1950s. This was because the Australian Paper Manufacturers (APM) mill opened in Petrie in 1957.

Building Extensions

In 1954, the Stanley building was extended. It was divided into two classrooms. The Ferguson building was also divided into two classrooms. In 1956, the school was renamed Petrie State School. Around this time, a new classroom was built north of the Ferguson building. In 1962, another classroom was added between the two main buildings.

Continued Expansion

The number of people in the area kept growing in the 1960s and 1970s. More classroom blocks were built. By 1973, the Stanley building became a library. The Ferguson building was used for administration. More buildings were added in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. The school grounds also grew larger.

Recent Changes

By 1997, the Ferguson building was divided into three rooms. New doors and windows were added. A walkway was made between the Ferguson and Stanley buildings. Since 2007, the Stanley building has had more changes. Some verandahs were enclosed.

The School Today

In 2014, the 1878 Stanley building was used for the school's Special Education Program. The 1888 Ferguson building had a reading room, meeting room, and office. The school is still very important to Petrie. It has been teaching students since 1879. It remains a key place for community events.

School Buildings Today

Petrie State School is on the north side of Dayboro Road. The land slopes down from the road. Most school buildings are in the south-western part of the site. The original 1878 Stanley building and 1888 Ferguson building face Dayboro Road. They are surrounded by gardens and old trees.

Stanley and Ferguson Buildings

The Stanley and Ferguson sections are joined together. They form a T-shape. Both are rectangular timber buildings with gable roofs. The Stanley building is at the south-eastern end. The Ferguson building faces west. Because of the sloping land, the front sides are low-set. The back sides are high-set. The buildings are supported by concrete and metal posts. The outside walls are timber weatherboards. The roofs are made of corrugated metal.

Features of the Stanley Building

The Stanley building has a modern enclosed verandah on the south-west side. It also has an extension from 1954. The south-east wall has many timber-framed windows. These are tall casement windows with fanlights above. They have skillion-roofed hoods with decorative brackets. On the north-east side, a central timber staircase leads to the verandah. Part of this verandah is enclosed. Inside, the main room has a high coved ceiling. It is lined with timber boards. It has ventilation panels and exposed timber beams.

Ferguson building, 2014

Features of the Ferguson Building

The Ferguson building has tall windows on its main (south-west) side. These are casement windows with fanlights. They are covered by a timber skillion-roofed hood. At the top of the wall is a triangular ventilation panel with timber louvres. This is also on the opposite end of the building.

The north-west verandah has a raked ceiling. It has timber posts and a timber floor. Some parts of the balustrade are now bag racks. One old double door remains near the center of the verandah wall. It has tall fanlights above it.

Inside, the Ferguson building has been divided into three rooms. The southern room is the largest. It still has early horizontal timber boards on one wall.

Why Petrie State School is Important

Petrie State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 10 October 2014. This means it is a very important historical site.

Showing Queensland's History

The school shows how state education and school buildings have changed in Queensland. The 1878 Stanley building and the 1888 Ferguson building are early examples of standard government designs. These designs show the ideas about education at the time.

A Rare Example

The 1878 Stanley building is rare. It is one of only six known examples of this type of school building that still exist.

Typical School Features

Petrie State School shows the main features of early Queensland state schools. This includes the standard building designs used by the government.

The 1878 Stanley building still has many of its original design features. It is low-set and made of timber. It has a gable roof, verandahs, and tall windows.

The 1888 Ferguson building is also low-set and timber-framed. It has a gable roof, a wide verandah, and special ceiling vents. It also has tall windows with decorative timber brackets. It still has one early double door.

Changes to the buildings, like the windows and bag racks, show how ideas about education changed over time.

Strong Community Connection

Queensland schools have always been important to their communities. They connect former students, parents, and teachers. They are places for social events and volunteer work. They are a source of pride for the community. Petrie State School has a very strong connection with the Petrie community. It started in 1879 because of local efforts. It has taught many generations of Petrie children. The school is a key meeting place for social events in Petrie.

Images for kids

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  Petrie State School, Stanley building, 2014

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  Ferguson building, 2014