Redland Bay State School Residence facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Redland Bay State School Residence |
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Redland Bay State School Residence, 1995
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| Location | Gordon Road, Redland Bay, City of Redland, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1885 |
| Architect | Robert Ferguson |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Redland Bay State School Residence | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 4 August 1997 |
| Reference no. | 601369 |
| Significant period | 1880s (historical) 1880s-1900s (fabric) |
| Significant components | residential accommodation - headmaster's house |
| Builders | Patrick Horisk |
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The Redland Bay State School Residence is a special old house located on Gordon Road in Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by an architect named Robert Ferguson and built in 1885 by Patrick Horisk. This building is important because it's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's protected for its historical value.
Contents
A Look Back: The School's Early Days
This timber building was built in 1885. It was the home for the very first full-time principal of Redland Bay School. The school itself opened in January 1886. Patrick Horisk, who built the house, was also a local leader. He built other important buildings in the area too.
Starting School in Redland Bay
People started farming in the Redland Bay area in the late 1860s. They grew crops like rice and cotton. Later, some farmers tried growing sugar cane. Fruit crops, like bananas, oranges, and pineapples, also became popular.
Because more families were moving to the area, people wanted a school. In 1881, a group of local people met and decided to ask for a "half-time" school. This meant one teacher would teach at Redland Bay for part of the week and at another school, Victoria Point, for the rest of the week.
The half-time school opened in Redland Bay in December 1881. The teacher was George Glenlyon. Soon, the Victoria Point school became full-time, and the Redland Bay half-time school closed. But the community didn't give up!
In 1884, another meeting was held. The community asked again for a full-time state school in Redland Bay. William Dart, a local resident, even offered some land for the school.
Building the School and Home
From 1879 to 1885, all school buildings in Queensland were designed by architect Robert Ferguson. He was in charge of school buildings for the government. His usual school design was a simple timber building with a gabled roof and wide verandahs.
The government also had a rule that they would build homes for teachers in country areas. This was to help teachers find a place to live in rural towns. These homes were usually timber houses with five rooms and a hipped or gabled roof.
Patrick Horisk's company won the job to build the Redland Bay State School and the teacher's house. The buildings were finished by December 1885. The school officially started classes in January 1886, with William Nuptial as the first principal.
Changes Over the Years
The teacher's house had some improvements over time. In 1888 and 1889, the kitchen ceiling was added, and the walls were lined. In 1898, the sitting room was made bigger. More additions and repairs happened in 1914, extending the building on the eastern side.
From Home to School Space
The building was used as a home for the school principal until 1993. After that, it became part of the school itself. Today, it's used for school resources, storage, and teaching areas.
Exploring the Residence: What It Looks Like Today
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The Redland Bay State School Residence is one of several old timber buildings at the school. It sits on raised timber stumps, with a decorative timber screen around the bottom. The house has a square shape, with verandahs on the south and east sides. Inside, there are eight rooms, showing how the building grew over the years.
Outside the Building
The outside walls of the house are covered with timber boards called chamfered weatherboards. The windows are simple framed ones. The roof is made of corrugated iron and has a double gable shape. A separate gabled roof covers the old kitchen area. There's also an old brick chimney with an oven on the western side of the kitchen.
You can enter the main part of the house from the eastern verandah. There's a simple timber staircase leading up to the front door. The front door has four panels and windows on either side. The verandah has square timber posts and a simple railing.
Inside the Residence
Inside, the house is divided into eight rooms by timber walls. The timber lining on the walls is different in various rooms, showing the different times they were built. Some rooms have horizontal timber boards, while others have vertical ones. Some of the newer rooms on the east side have decorative ceiling roses.
The internal doors have four panels and small windows above them that can be opened. The bathroom was created by enclosing part of the verandah. The timber floors throughout the house are now covered with carpet.
Why This Building is Special: Heritage Listing
The Redland Bay State School Residence was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on August 4, 1997. This means it's recognized as an important historical place for several reasons.
A Piece of Queensland's History
This building, built in 1885, shows how education grew in Queensland. It's proof that the government worked to provide schools for small communities. It also shows a past government rule: building homes for teachers in country areas to encourage them to work in rural schools.
A Rare Survivor
Many teacher's homes were built back then, but not many are still standing in their original spot. The Redland Bay State School Residence is special because it's one of these rare surviving examples.
Showing How Schools Were Designed
The house is a great example of the standard designs used by the government for school residences in the late 1800s. It shows the typical style and features created under architect Robert Ferguson's direction.
Important to the Community
This residence has a strong connection to the Redland Bay community. The local people worked hard to get the school built and supported its growth. This shows how much they valued education for their children.
