Saint Ignatius School, Wentworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Ignatius School, Wentworth |
|
|---|---|
The former Saint Ignatius School, in 2009
|
|
| Location | 30 Caddell Street, Wentworth, Wentworth Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1911–1912 |
| Official name: St. Ignatius School | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 1 March 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1507 |
| Type | School - Private |
| Category | Education |
| Builders | Ducan McLean |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Saint Ignatius School, also called St Ignatius School, is a very old building in Wentworth, Australia. It used to be a Catholic school for young children. Today, it is a museum and an office for the National Trust of Australia. The school was built between 1911 and 1912 by Ducan McLean. This special building was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on March 1, 2002.
Contents
History of Saint Ignatius School
Wentworth is a town located where the Murray and Darling rivers meet. It was settled in 1840 and became a town in 1858. Around the year 1900, Wentworth was a very busy river port. Up to 100 paddle steamers, which are boats powered by large wheels, would visit each month.
The Sisters of Mercy, a group of nuns, opened St Ignatius High School in 1892. It was known as a "select" school. In 1898, a boarding school for girls opened at the convent, which is where the nuns lived. Students came from nearby areas to attend the school every day. They often traveled for many days by horse and buggy or by riverboat.
A new school building was constructed in 1911. It was a tall, wooden structure next to the convent. The nuns taught many different subjects there. These included languages, bookkeeping, painting, wax modeling, art, needlework, singing, and playing the piano and violin.
What the School Looks Like
The school building has a unique and balanced design. It is made of weatherboard, which are wooden boards that overlap. The building has one main room. The entrance is in the middle of the northern side, under a small porch.
The main roof is shaped like a gambrel, which means it has two different slopes on each side. It is covered with corrugated iron sheets. The small roof over the porch has simple wooden decorations. The building stands on timber posts that are set into the ground. There is a curved, decorated iron cover over the window on the northern porch.
Inside the old school room, the ceiling is made of wooden boards. Many of the original wooden parts, like door frames, are still there. The large main windows look like they slide up and down, but they actually open outwards like doors. The building has been fixed up and looks good. The brick fireplace and chimney on the western side were replaced with new ones that look like the originals. The building has also been repainted in its first two-tone colors.
Condition of the Building
As of June 29, 2000, the school building was in excellent condition. This was after a lot of repair work done between 1988 and 1989. The building still looks very much like it did when it was first built. No big changes have been made to its original design from the early 1900s. Because it is so well-preserved, it is recognized as an important historical place.
Repairs and Changes Over Time
Restoration work was done on the school between January 1988 and April 1989. This work was for the National Trust. R. Howard was the architect, and Denis J. Wynne was the builder.
- The roof was repaired, using some of the old sheets.
- The gutters were replaced.
- The brick fireplace and chimney were rebuilt to look like the original design.
- Windows and floors were repaired or restored.
- The steps at the front and back entrances were fixed.
- The inside and outside of the building were repainted in the original colors.
Why Saint Ignatius School is Important
As of July 3, 2000, Saint Ignatius School is considered important for several reasons. It is a small, unusual wooden schoolhouse with many original details. It even has its early color scheme. The building is important for both its architecture and its history in the town of Wentworth. It also played a big part in educating children from faraway areas.
Saint Ignatius School was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on March 1, 2002. This means it meets certain important standards:
- It shows how history unfolded in New South Wales.
Saint Ignatius School is an example of a "select" school in a town that was once a major trading center.
- It shows great design or technical skill.
It is a very unusual and beautifully designed building made of wooden weatherboards. The fact that it is still so complete adds to its beauty. Its church-like design reminds us of its connection to religion, as it was a Catholic school.
- It has a strong connection to a community or group.
The school shows the dedicated work of the Sisters of Mercy in Wentworth. Its long history of providing schooling has made it a recognized part of the community.
- It can teach us about the past.
Saint Ignatius School is valuable for education. It lets students see the kinds of materials used for learning in the early 1900s.
- It is rare or uncommon.
The school is rare because of its unique design as a small schoolhouse. It also has a special social and historical background that started in the early 1900s.
