St Stephens School, Brisbane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Stephens School, Brisbane |
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Former St Stephen's School, 2014
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| Location | 172 Charlotte Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1892 |
| Architect | John Ibler |
| Official name: St Stephens School | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600106 |
| Significant period | 1892–1965 (historical) 1890s (fabric) 1890s–1960s (social) |
| Significant components | school/school room, fence/wall – perimeter |
| Builders | Thomas Rees |
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St Stephens School is a historic building in Brisbane City, Australia. It used to be a Roman Catholic school. The building was designed by architect John Ibler and built in 1892 by Thomas Rees. Today, it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register as an important heritage site.
History of St Stephens School
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The land where St Stephens School stands was set aside for church use in 1847. It was officially given to the Catholic Church in 1849. The very first church-run school in Brisbane was started by the Catholic Church in 1845. This shows how important education was to the Catholic Church from early on.
The Catholic Church wanted to have its own schools. This was because the government schools offered "secular" education. This meant they did not teach about religion. So, the church decided to build its own schools whenever possible. St Stephens School was built as part of this effort.
Before this building, classes had been held in other older buildings since 1845. But on March 20, 1892, Archbishop Robert Dunne laid the first stone for this new, purpose-built school. A small metal box with copies of local newspapers was placed under the stone. John Ibler, the architect, and Thomas Rees, the builder, were both there.
The school was built quite quickly. On September 25, 1892, Cardinal Patrick Francis Moran officially blessed the new school. Many people came to see the ceremony. Cardinal Moran was very impressed with the building. He hoped that people in other parts of Australia would build similar great schools. The Cardinal was in Brisbane for several important church events. These included opening new churches and blessing the new school.
The school was run by the Sisters of Mercy. They taught primary school girls there until it closed in 1965. After that, the building was changed and used as church offices starting in 1967. Some parts added in the 1960s were later removed during a big project for St Stephens Cathedral in the late 1980s.
Design and Features
This school building has three floors and is built in the Gothic Revival style. This style often uses pointed arches and decorative details, similar to old cathedrals. The building looks like a "T" from above. The front part faces the street, and the longer part extends back.
The front of the building looks the same on both sides. Most of the windows have pointed arches, which is typical for Gothic style. There are three large windows on the ground floor. The first and upper floors each have six smaller windows. The middle part of the building is taller than the sides. It has a triangular top section called a gable, which holds a small round window called a rose window.
The building is made of brick. It has decorative plaster around the windows and as horizontal lines. The main entrance is in the middle, inside a fancy porch. There are covered walkways, called verandahs, along both sides of the central brick part. A new verandah was also added to the back of the building. The front fence is made of brick and cast iron. It has similar designs to the school building and was likely built at the same time.
Inside, the building has been changed over the years. The original staircase is still there, but its wooden parts have been painted. On the top floor, you can see large supports, called brackets, that hold up the roof structure. However, the ceiling on this floor is not the original one. On the ground floor, a suspended ceiling has been added, which hangs below the top of the windows.
Why St Stephens School is Important
St Stephens School was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it is recognized as an important part of Queensland's history and heritage.
Shows Queensland's History St Stephens School is important because it shows how determined the Catholic Church was to create its own education system. They wanted to do this rather than just accept the government's non-religious education policies.
Beautiful Design The school building is a great example of the impressive architectural style used for church schools in the late 1800s. It is a good example of a Gothic Revival style school in the city. It also helps make Charlotte Street look special, along with other church buildings nearby.
Community Connection St Stephens School is important because of its strong connection to the Sisters of Mercy. They made a big contribution to Catholic education in Queensland. The building is also highly valued by the Catholic community and the wider public in Brisbane.
