Presbyterian High School, Maitland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Presbyterian High School |
|
|---|---|
Presbyterian High School Maitland
|
|
| Location | 12–14 Free Church Street, Maitland, City of Maitland, New South Wales, Australia |
| Owner | Roman Catholic Church Trustees |
| Official name: Presbyterian High School/Manse (former); Presbyterian High School/Manse | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 577 |
| Type | historic site |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Presbyterian High School was an important old school building in Maitland, Australia. It's also known as the Presbyterian High School/Manse because it was also used as a home for a church minister. Today, this historic building is owned by the Roman Catholic Church Trustees. It was officially recognized as a special heritage site on 2 April 1999, meaning it's protected because of its history.
Contents
A Look Back: The School's Story
How the School Started
The Presbyterian High School was first opened by a man named William McIntyre. He was the pastor, or minister, of the West Maitland Presbyterian Church. The school was built right where the church's minister lived.
The first stone for the school was laid by William McIntyre on 25 September 1855. His brother, Allan McIntyre, became the first principal, or head teacher, of the school.
Famous Students
Some very important people went to this school. One was Samuel Griffith, who later became the Premier of Queensland. A Premier is like the leader of a state government. Samuel Griffith also became the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, which is the highest court in the country.
Another student was Charles Pilcher. He later became a local Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is someone elected to represent people in government. He also became a King's Counsel, which is a special title for a very experienced lawyer.
Changes Over Time
The Presbyterian High School did not stay open for a very long time. After it closed, a woman named Mrs. Johnson ran a private high school for girls there. This was during the 1870s and 1880s.
Later, in 1884, the building became the first home for the West Maitland State High School for Girls. The new headmistress, Mary Olsen, said the building needed a lot of repairs. She also mentioned that the bathrooms were not in good condition. The school stayed there until 1893.
Moving to a New Place
In 1893, there were big floods in the area. Because of the floods, the school moved to a new, safer location called Grossmann House. This new site was less likely to be affected by floods.
By 1929, the old school building was being used as a home for a church minister again.
Protecting the Building
In the 1980s, there was a plan to tear down the building. But people wanted to save it because of its history. So, in 1989, it was officially protected as a heritage site.
Today, the old Presbyterian High School building is part of All Saints' College.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Presbyterian High School was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means it's recognized as a very important historical place in New South Wales. It is protected so future generations can learn from its past.
See also
