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 located at 42 Dayboro Road in Petrie, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by famous architects like Francis Drummond Greville Stanley and the brothers Robert and John Ferguson. The school buildings were constructed in 1878 and 1888.

This school has had a few different names over the years, including Pine River North State School, North Pine River Provisional School, and North Pine State School. Because of its important history, it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2014.

The Story of Petrie State School

Petrie State School first opened its doors in 1879. It was originally called Pine River North State School. This new school replaced two smaller, "half-time" schools that had started in 1874 and 1875.

The land for the school, about 2 acres, was given in 1877 by an early settler named Thomas (Tom) Petrie. The very first school building was designed by Queensland Colonial Architect FDG Stanley and built in 1878. As more people moved to the area, the school grew. An extension was added in 1888, designed by architects Robert and John Ferguson. The school has been open ever since and is a very important part of the local community.

Early Days in the Pine Rivers Area

Before European settlers arrived, the Pine Rivers area was home to different Aboriginal groups. These included the Turrbal, Kabi, and Waka language groups. In the 1820s, convicts came to the area to cut timber. By the early 1840s, large farms called pastoral runs were set up.

In 1859, Tom Petrie started his own large farm called Murrumba. It covered a huge area, stretching from Sideling Creek to Redcliffe Point. Tom Petrie also worked in the timber business. He used a special place at Sweeney's Reserve to raft timber.

How the Town Grew

More settlers started arriving in 1862. Tom Petrie bought land for his home and leased other nearby areas. A coach route from Brisbane to Gympie was set up in 1868 by Cobb & Co. This route had a stop at Tom Petrie's Murrumba Homestead.

A road bridge was built near Sweeney's Reserve in 1877. The North Coast Railway also came through the area by 1888. Tom Petrie used the railway to divide some of his land into a new town called North Pine Terminus Township in 1885. This became the main part of the town of North Pine. In 1877, Tom Petrie also gave land for the first state school.

Education in Queensland's Past

Providing schools was very important to the early governments in Australia. In 1848, the New South Wales Government started National Schools. After Queensland became its own colony in 1859, the Queensland Government continued this.

The Education Act of 1860 helped make schools more organized. It set up a board to manage education and started to make teaching and school buildings more standard. The State Education Act of 1875 made primary education free, compulsory, and non-religious. The Department of Public Instruction was created to manage all this. This helped many Queensland children learn to read and write by 1900.

Schools were very important for new communities. Local people often gave land and helped build the schools. The school became a central place for social events and a symbol of progress. Many community events, like fetes, sports days, and reunions, happened at the school.

Provisional Schools and Their Role

In the 1870s, the farmers in North Pine wanted schools for their children. If there weren't enough students (at least 30), a "provisional school" could be opened instead of a full national school. These provisional schools were a good way to provide basic education in rural areas.

A provisional school could open with as few as 15 students (later 12). The government helped pay for these schools, but the local community had to provide a building and find a teacher. These teachers were often not highly trained, but they still provided important education. If a town grew, provisional schools could become state schools, which had better buildings and more experienced teachers.

The First Schools at North Pine

In 1874, a provisional school called North Pine River Crossing Provisional School No.183 opened. It was in a rented room south of the North Pine River. Because there was no bridge, two "half-time" provisional schools were planned. The teacher would teach on the south side in the morning and on the north side in the afternoon.

The northern school (No.1831/2) opened in 1875 in a small hut. These schools became known as North Pine I (south side) and North Pine II (north side).

Building the State School

When the bridge at Sweeney's Reserve opened in 1877, the two provisional schools could combine. Tom Petrie donated 2 acres of land for the new school. The site was surveyed in 1877 and officially set aside for a school in 1878. The new school was located north of the river, on the north side of Dayboro Road.

The community had to raise 20% of the building cost. By November 1877, enough money was raised. The school classroom and a teacher's house were built in 1878. The school opened in 1879 as Pine River North State School.

School Building Designs Over Time

From the 1860s to the 1960s, most school buildings in Queensland were made of timber. This was because timber was easy to find and many builders knew how to use it. This made building schools affordable, even in remote areas. Schools across the state often looked similar because they followed standard designs.

The first building at Pine River North State School in 1878 was designed by Colonial Architect Francis Drummond Greville (FDG) Stanley. He was known for creating standard designs for schools. His designs were usually low-set timber buildings with separate houses for teachers. They had specific window styles and central stairs to the verandah. Stanley's designs also improved weather protection. Not many of his school buildings are still standing today.

The 1878 school building was a low-set, timber building with a gable roof. It had verandahs on the south-west and north-east sides.

The Ferguson Building Addition

By 1887, the school was getting too crowded. A new building was needed. In 1888, another low-set building was added. It was designed by Robert and John Ferguson. This new building was connected to the north-western end of the Stanley building.

In 1879, Robert Ferguson became the Superintendent of Buildings for government schools. He improved school designs, especially for ventilation and lighting. His designs often had special roof vents and large windows. His brother, John Ferguson, continued these designs until 1893. The Ferguson brothers' designs were very important for school architecture in Queensland.

The new classroom building helped the school as dairy farming became important in the area. The railway line through North Pine made it easier for farmers to send their cream to butter factories.

Changes and Growth Over the Years

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, and the teacher's house was improved. By 1918, there were 112 children enrolled. A tennis court was also built in 1934.

After 1900, architects focused on making sure classrooms had lots of natural light and good ventilation. They tried different window sizes and roof vents. Windows were made larger, and desks were arranged so light would fall on students' left sides.

In 1937, the windows in both the Stanley and Ferguson buildings were changed to improve light and air. More windows were added, and they were lowered.

The school had only 60 students in 1947. But in the 1950s, the population grew, especially after the Australian Paper Manufacturers (APM) Petrie Mill opened in 1957.

In 1954, the Stanley building was extended and divided into two classrooms. The Ferguson building was also divided. In 1956, the school was officially renamed Petrie State School. Around 1956, a new classroom building was added. More buildings were constructed in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The school grounds also grew larger.

By 1997, the Ferguson building had three rooms. A hallway was created between the Ferguson and Stanley buildings. Parts of the verandahs were enclosed.

In 2014, the 1878 Stanley building was used for the school's Special Education Program. The 1888 Ferguson building held a reading room, meeting room, and office. Petrie State School continues to be a vital part of the community, educating generations of students since 1879.

What the School Looks Like Today

Petrie State School is on the northern side of Dayboro Road in Petrie. The land slopes down from the road. Most of the 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.

The Stanley and Ferguson buildings are joined together, forming a T-shape. Both are rectangular timber buildings with gable roofs. The Stanley building is at the south-eastern end, and the Ferguson building faces west. Because the land slopes, the front (south-west) sides of the buildings are low to the ground, while the back (north-east) sides are higher.

The buildings are supported by concrete and metal posts. The space under the floor is covered by modern timber screens. The outside walls are made of timber weatherboards, and the roofs are covered with corrugated metal sheeting.

The Stanley Building

The Stanley building has a modern enclosed verandah on the south-west side. It also has an extension from 1954 on the south-east side. The north-east side has a partially enclosed verandah. The south-east wall has many timber-framed windows, some of which are very old. These windows are tall casements with rectangular fanlights above them. A timber hood with a skillion roof protects the windows.

Inside the Stanley building, the recently enclosed south-west verandah is a long space. The main room has a high coved ceiling made of timber boards. It also has two square lattice ventilation panels and exposed timber beams. The walls are lined with timber boards.

The Ferguson Building

Ferguson building, 2014

The Ferguson building has two main visible sides. One is a gable end wall with tall windows on the main (south-west) side. The other is a verandah along the north-west side. The windows on the gable end wall are tall, timber-framed casements with fanlights above. A timber hood with a skillion roof covers these windows. At the very top of the wall is a triangular ventilation panel with fixed timber louvres.

The north-west verandah has a sloped ceiling made of timber boards. It has timber posts and a timber floor. Some changes were made around the 1950s, including part of the balustrade being used as bag racks. One old double door remains near the center of the verandah wall.

Inside the Ferguson building, partitions from after the 1950s have divided it into three rooms. The roof frame is hidden by a flat ceiling. The southern room is the largest and still has some of its original horizontal timber boards on the south-east wall.

Why Petrie State School is Important

Petrie State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2014 for several reasons:

• Shows How Education Changed: The school shows how state education and school buildings have changed in Queensland over time. The 1878 Stanley building and the 1888 Ferguson building are early examples of standard government designs.
• Rare Old Building: The 1878 Stanley building is rare because it's one of only six known examples of this type of school building that still exist.
• Typical Old School: Petrie State School shows the main features of early Queensland state schools, including standard building designs. The Stanley building still has its original low-set timber frame, gable roof, and verandahs. The Ferguson building also keeps its low-set timber frame, gable roof, wide verandah, and special ventilation panels. Changes made to the windows and the addition of bag racks show how ideas about school design changed over time.
• Important to the Community: Schools in Queensland have always been important to their communities. They connect former students, parents, and teachers. They are places for social events and volunteer work, and they represent local progress. Petrie State School has a strong and ongoing connection with the Petrie community. It has educated generations of children and is a key gathering place for social events.