Southport State High School Buildings facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Southport State High School Buildings
Hawksley Prefabricated School Building, Block B, and covered ways, from south-west, 2016
Location	75 Smith Street, Southport, Gold Coast City, Queensland, Australia
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Southport State High School
Type	state heritage
Designated	14 October 2016
Reference no.	650034
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The Southport State High School Buildings are a group of special buildings. They are part of Southport State High School in Southport, Australia. The school opened in 1955. Before that, older students went to Southport State School, which had a special section for high schoolers called a 'high top'.

The school is important because it shows how much high school education grew in Queensland during the 1950s. New schools were built with more facilities. Southport High still has two special Hawksley buildings. These buildings were made in parts somewhere else and then put together here. They are quite rare! The school also has covered walkways, retaining walls, and sports areas. It has been teaching students since it first opened.

History of Southport State High School

Early Days of Southport

Southport started as a holiday spot in 1874. People bought land there in 1875. Soon, many places to stay opened up. Visitors could reach Southport by coach or boat. By the 1880s, about 230 people lived there all the time. This was enough for a primary school, which opened in 1880.

The Queensland Government helped build schools. Schools were important for new communities. They showed how towns were growing. The government's ideas about education changed over time.

Southport kept growing as a beach holiday town. It became Queensland's main seaside resort. More people visited after the railway opened in 1889. By 1901, Southport had 1230 permanent residents. This number tripled during holidays.

High School Education in Queensland

For a long time, the Queensland government did not focus on state high schools. They thought it was not very important. In 1860, a law allowed smart students to get scholarships. These helped them go to special grammar schools.

It was not until 1912 that the government started a high school system. Separate high schools were built in big towns. If a town was too small, a primary school would add a "high top". This meant older students could get high school lessons. It was a cheaper way to offer more education.

Southport Gets a High Top

By 1914, people in Southport wanted their own high school. They asked the Minister for Education to start high school classes. In 1916, 30 students were allowed to join a "High School Top". Classes began in rented rooms. By the next year, they moved into the primary school building.

Between World War I and World War II, Southport grew a lot. It was known as a popular resort. It also became a place for good schools. By 1925, over 6000 people lived there. Southport had modern hotels and good services.

Post-War Growth and New Schools

After World War II, Southport kept expanding. More people wanted to visit the South Coast. In 1949, Southport joined with other towns. This created the Town of South Coast. It was later renamed the Gold Coast in 1958. Southport became the main centre.

The government was not ready for how many new students there would be. This was because of immigration and the "baby boom". Schools became very crowded. Many new buildings were needed. The government wanted to build schools quickly and cheaply.

A New High School for Southport

In the 1950s, Southport needed a proper high school. In 1953, 99 students were in the high school section. Many came from outside Southport. The school did not teach science. This meant students could not go to university for science.

So, the Minister for Public Instruction decided to build a new high school. He approved £61,831 for the new Southport State High School. High schools became much more common in Queensland after World War II. They had large grounds for sports. They also had special rooms for science, cooking, and workshops.

Architects started planning schools differently in the 1950s. They wanted buildings to fit the land. They also wanted them to be easy to expand. Buildings were placed to get the best sunlight and breezes. This made school layouts more open and natural.

Building the New School

Plans for the new Southport State High School were approved in 1954. The buildings were placed to suit the land's shape. They also made the most of the wind. Construction started soon after.

The first buildings were three Hawksley prefabricated school buildings. These were imported from Britain. They were called Block A, Block B, and Block C. They were all built by July 1955. Teaching started there in August 1955.

Hawksley buildings were made from aluminium parts. They were built in a factory. Then, they were shipped to Queensland. This helped with building material shortages. Between 1952 and 1958, 27 Hawksley school buildings came to Queensland. They were used for high schools and primary schools. Many of these buildings have since been taken down.

Hawksley buildings looked industrial. They had aluminium walls and windows. They could be high or low. They usually had a verandah for walking along. Classrooms were wide, about 7.3 metres (24 feet). The parts were easy to put together quickly.

The Department of Public Works added things like stairs and railings. They tried to keep the light feel of the buildings.

• Block A was used for cooking classes. It was low and had a gable roof.
• Block B was high up on brick walls. It had a gable roof and aluminium walls. It had verandahs on both levels. It contained classrooms, an office, a science lab, and toilets.
• Block C was for manual training. It was low and had a gable roof.

Covered walkways were also built in 1954-55. These connected Blocks A, B, and C. They had concrete paths and metal roofs. They surrounded an assembly area near Block B.

In 1955, a newspaper wrote about the new school. It said the school was modern. It also talked about how ideas about education had changed. More money was given for building in 1955-56. Another Hawksley building (Block D) was built after December 1955.

Southport State High School officially opened on 26 October 1957. The Minister for Education, Jack Pizzey, unveiled a plaque. Students showed off their work. There was an art show and a fete.

School Growth and Changes

More students meant more buildings. A fifth Hawksley building (Block E) was built in 1957-58. It was high up on brick walls, like Block B. It had a gable roof and aluminium walls. It had verandahs on both levels. It contained classrooms, a physics lab, and toilets.

More additions came in the early 1960s. Block F was added in 1961. It was a two-storey building. It was connected to Block E by a covered walkway. Another walkway connected Block B and Block E.

With Block F, a parade ground was created. This was a formal space for students to gather. Other improvements included tennis courts and a sports oval. The school grounds grew to 13.44 hectares (33.2 acres).

Even though more high schools were built on the Gold Coast, Southport High kept growing. By 1980, it had 14 teaching buildings. It also had a hall and sports facilities.

Some changes have been made to the older buildings. Block E was changed in 1988-89. Its layout was updated. In 2001, Block E's lower level became a multi-media room. Block B also had changes in 2001. It got computer labs and new windows. In 2012, a ramp was added to Block B for disabled access.

By 2000, the school had 16 teaching buildings. It also had a swimming pool. Some buildings have been removed since then. In 2011, Blocks A, C, and D were taken down. But their covered walkways from the 1950s are still there.

The two Hawksley buildings at Southport High are very rare. Only a few are left in Queensland. They are the only known examples of their specific types (F and H) in Queensland.

The school is very important to the community. In 1991, it celebrated its 75th anniversary. In 2016, it had its 100th anniversary. Many former students attended.

Sadly, on 4 October 2019, Block B was destroyed by a fire.

Southport State High School still operates today. It has about 1600 students. The school is a big part of the Gold Coast community.

School Buildings and Features

Site map, 2016

Southport State High School is on a large, gently sloping site. It is in a mostly residential area. The main entrance is on Smith Street. The school has two two-storey Hawksley buildings from the 1950s. These are Block B (1955) and Block E (1957-58). They are near the elevated southwest corner of the site. Block B is slightly angled. It was connected to Block E by a covered walkway. Ground floor covered walkways also connect Blocks B and E to an empty area. This area used to have three other Hawksley buildings.

Another two-storey building, Block F (1961), is also important. It helps form the eastern side of the parade ground.

Hawksley Buildings

Blocks B and E are long, two-storey buildings. They have gable roofs. They also have verandahs on both levels that face north. The lower levels are made of brick. The upper levels are made of aluminium. The eaves and verandah ceilings are also aluminium. The top parts of the gable ends are flat. They have square vents.

The first floor has many aluminium windows. These are on the north and south walls. The ground floor has mostly timber windows. Some windows have security screens. Some have been replaced by air conditioning units. Doors along the verandahs are mostly new.

Stairs lead from the lower to the upper verandahs. These stairs are made of concrete. The verandahs have metal railings. Some parts of the railings have been replaced with bag racks. The ground floor verandahs have concrete floors.

Block B (Before the Fire)

Before the fire in 2019, Block B was a Hawksley "type H". Its upper level was supported by concrete piers and metal posts.

The ground floor had a staff room and classrooms. It also had toilets and a store room. A large central room was used for special education. The walls were smooth. The ceilings were flat.

The first floor had five classrooms and a staff room. The walls and ceilings were lined with flat aluminium sheets. Block B still had some old doors with glass tops.

Block E

Block E, 2016

Block E is a Hawksley "type F". Its upper level uses metal trusses. These reduce the need for many support posts.

Some windows on the first floor have been replaced.

The ground floor has two large classrooms and toilets. The walls are smooth. The ceilings are flat, showing the metal trusses. There is a small kitchen at one end of the verandah.

The first floor has two classrooms and a dance studio. These used to be four classrooms. The walls and ceilings are lined with flat aluminium sheets. One old partition is still there. It has an angled blackboard mount.

Brick and Timber Building (Block F)

Block F is a long, two-storey building. It is made of brick and timber. It has an open space underneath. The upper level uses metal trusses. These are supported by concrete columns. The building has brick walls at its ends. These match the other school buildings. It has verandahs on the west side. It also has many windows.

The first floor verandah has a timber floor. It has timber posts and bag racks. The walls and ceiling are flat. Part of this verandah has been closed in with modern windows. The ground floor verandah has a concrete floor.

The first floor has five classrooms and a staff room. The ground floor has toilets. It also has offices. The open space underneath has a tuckshop.

Covered Walkways

The elevated covered walkways connect the first floor verandahs. They are between Blocks B and E, and Blocks E and F. They have exposed metal trusses. They have timber floors and metal railings. The ceilings are flat.

The ground floor covered walkways have round metal posts. They have flat ceilings. They have metal roofs. They have concrete paths. There are also metal-framed timber bench seats.

School Grounds

The school grounds are well-established. The buildings are at the western end. Sports facilities are at the eastern end. These include tennis courts, basketball courts, and a large sports oval. There are many shade trees around the oval.

The Hawksley buildings and covered walkways are set back from Smith Street. There is an open lawn in front. Concrete paths run along the south sides of Blocks B and E. These paths connect to the ground floor covered walkways. Several old trees are near the corner of Smith Street and Brooke Avenue.

A paved parade ground is south of Block E. It has a flagpole. It also has several modern memorial plaques.

Why Southport State High School is Special

Southport State High School Buildings were added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2016. This means they are important to Queensland's history.

• Shows How Education Changed: The school shows how state education and school buildings grew in Queensland. It has good examples of school buildings from the 1950s. It also has well-planned grounds with sports areas. It shows how high school education expanded in the 1950s.
• Rare Buildings: The two Hawksley buildings are very rare. They are special examples of buildings imported after World War II. They are the only known examples of their specific types (F and H) in Queensland.
• Typical High School Features: Southport State High School shows what a Queensland state high school was like in the 1950s. It has long, narrow buildings. These are linked around open courtyard spaces. It has large, landscaped grounds with trees and sports areas. The Hawksley buildings are great examples of their type. They show different layouts and support designs. They have their original aluminium frames and walls. They have gable roofs and verandahs. Their classrooms are wide. They have many aluminium windows for natural light.
• Important to the Community: Schools are always important to their communities. They connect with former students, parents, and teachers. They are a place for social events and volunteering. They show local pride and hopes. Southport State High School has a strong connection with the Southport community. It has taught generations of students. It is important for education on the Gold Coast.

See also

• History of state education in Queensland
• List of schools in Gold Coast, Queensland