School of Musketry, Enoggera facts for kids

The School of Musketry is a special old military building located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's found at Gallipoli Barracks in Enoggera. This building is on the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List, which means it's an important historical place that needs to be protected.

Built in 1910, the School of Musketry is one of the oldest buildings at Gallipoli Barracks. It was first used to teach soldiers how to use small weapons and military tactics. Over the years, it also served as a supply place, homes for officers, and even apartments for married soldiers. Today, it is an Army chapel called the All Saints Chapel.

History of the Barracks

The area known as Gallipoli Barracks has a long history with the military. It was first used for training soldiers way back in 1855. British troops used to train here, and later, local groups like the Queensland Rifle Association also used the rifle ranges. Many Queensland soldiers who fought in the Second Boer War in the 1890s trained here too.

Commonwealth Takes Over

After Australia became a federation in 1901, the Australian Government became responsible for defence. To train and house its soldiers, the government started buying large areas of land. The land at Enoggera was bought in 1908. It combined four different properties, making a large training area. The first big improvement was building a new rifle range.

Early Buildings at the Site

After the rifle range, many other important buildings were constructed. The School of Musketry and the Small Arms Magazine Store were built in 1910 and 1911. Other buildings for explosives and a cavalry barracks (for soldiers on horseback) followed in the years up to 1915. Later, hospital buildings were also added.

Over time, the site has grown and changed to meet the Army's needs. However, many of the first buildings, like the School of Musketry, are still standing and look much like they did when they were new.

About the School of Musketry

The School of Musketry and the Small Arms Magazine were the first major buildings constructed at the site in 1910. They were designed by Thomas Pye, a talented architect from the Queensland Public Works Department. His office designed many important public buildings for both the Queensland and Australian Governments during this time.

What the School Was Used For

The School of Musketry was built to teach new soldiers how to handle weapons, shoot, and learn military tactics. It was used for this purpose until 1939, when World War II began. Then, it became the Northern Command Training School, teaching special military tactics to soldiers of all ranks.

After the war, the building was used as a supply depot. Later, it was changed into a home for a senior Army officer. By the late 1960s, it became apartments for married soldiers. This continued until 1982, when the building was turned into a chapel for all religions and renamed All Saints Chapel.

Building Design

The former School of Musketry is built in a style called Federation Free. It's a single-story building made of red brick. It has a special roof that slopes down on all sides, with a pointed part at the front entrance. A covered porch, called a verandah, wraps around two-thirds of the front part of the building.

One cool feature is a decorative pointy spire on top of the roof. This spire is connected to vents in each main room, helping air flow through the building.

Inside the Building

The building has a balanced layout. There's a main lecture hall in the middle, with two wings on either side. The left wing had offices, including a pay office. The right wing was for the armoury, where weapons were stored.

The design of the building was also smart for the warm climate. Each main room had a door that opened to the outside. The roof and verandah provided shade, keeping the rooms cooler.

Changes Over Time

The building's use has changed many times, so some parts have been modified. For example, when it was turned into a home, new walls were added to create bedrooms. The back courtyard was also enclosed, and a kitchen and laundry were put in.

However, when it became All Saints Chapel in 1982, many of these changes were reversed. The extra walls were removed. The kitchen is still there, and the laundry was changed into toilets. Many of the original doors, windows, and decorative frames are still in place.

Building Condition

The School of Musketry building is in very good condition. Some small changes have been made to the outside windows. Inside, there were changes in the 1960s to make it into married quarters, like adding a bathroom, kitchen, and toilet. However, most of the original building parts are still there.

Why It's Important

The former School of Musketry is important for several reasons:

• It's one of the two oldest main buildings at the former Enoggera Army Base.
• It shows how the Australian Government developed its defence forces in the early 1900s.
• It was a key training place for soldiers in World War I and World War II.
• It's a great example of the Federation Free style of architecture, designed for military use.
• The building's design, with its special ventilation, was well-suited for its original purpose and the local climate.
• It's an example of the excellent work done by Queensland's Deputy Government Architect, Thomas Pye, and his team during that time.