Stafford State School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stafford State School
Stafford Road entrance, 2015
Location	314 Stafford Road, Stafford, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1940s–1960s (post-World War II)
Built	1948–1955
Architect	Queensland Department of Public Works
Architectural style(s)	Classicism
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Stafford State School
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	26 February 1999
Reference no.	601667
Significant period	1940s (historical) 1940s–1950s (fabric) 1948 ongoing (social)
Significant components	school/school room
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Stafford State School is a special school in Stafford, Australia. It's listed as a heritage site, meaning it's an important historical place. The school was designed by the Queensland Department of Public Works. It was built between 1948 and 1955. It became a heritage site on February 26, 1999.

A Look Back: The History of Stafford State School

Stafford State School is a large, three-storey brick building. It sits on a big site, about 5.138 hectares (12.7 acres). The school is located at the corner of Stafford and Webster Roads. It faces Stafford Road. This main building was finished in 1949. It was built to provide primary education for children in the Stafford area. The school also has nice gardens and large playing fields. These were created at the same time as the main school building.

How Stafford Got Its Name

The area now called Stafford was first known as Happy Valley. This was until 1886. A government official thought Happy Valley wasn't a serious enough name for a new school. So, the area was renamed Stafford. It's one of the few places in Queensland named after its school. Happy Valley used to include areas like Everton Park and Stafford. It stayed a quiet, country-like area for a long time. Local businesses included leather factories and dairy farms. In 1886, a simple wooden school building was built. There was also a house for the teacher. This original site later became the Stafford State Pre-school.

Growth and Changes After World War II

In 1940, the tram line from Red Hill was extended to Stafford Road. This made it easier for people to live closer to the city. During World War Two, new houses were built in the area. More housing was added after the war too. Many changes happened in Australia after the war. Soldiers returned home, and there was a "baby boom." Many new people also moved to Australia from Europe. These changes led to more people needing schools.

The Importance of Physical Education

In 1947, a large 12-acre site was bought for the new school. During World War Two, physical education became very important in schools. Special training for physical education teachers started in Queensland in 1941. By 1944, the Director General of Education wanted schools to have bigger grounds. This was to make space for sports and games. Organized games, focusing on fair play and teamwork, became part of school lessons.

To support this, the Department of Public Instruction bought bigger school sites. Stafford State School was designed with two full playing fields. These fields were used for football, cricket, basketball, and other sports. Later, a swimming pool and grandstand were added.

Building the School: Design and Construction

The school building was designed by Frederick Thomas Wylie Warren. He worked for the Queensland Department of Public Works. The first part of the school was finished in 1948. A second part was completed in 1955. It followed the same original design. The building's style was like older brick school buildings. Some people at the time thought it looked too plain or like a military building. From the 1950s, school designs started to change.

The school was built using brick and concrete. It had 16 classrooms on the first and second floors. There was also a room for the head teacher. Rooms for male and female teachers were included. A library, reading room, and medical inspection room were also part of the design. Hat and cloak rooms were provided too. Some classrooms had folding walls. A kindergarten room was on the first floor. Toilets were on the ground floor. The rest of the ground floor was used as play areas.

In 1953, a separate infants (young children's) school was created. It had three buildings. These buildings are now empty. Later, the infants school became part of the main school again. This happened as fewer students enrolled. The school still teaches primary students today.

Exploring Stafford State School's Design

Webster Road view, 2015

Stafford State School is a large, three-storey brick building. It's on a 5.138 hectare (12.7 acre) site. The school is located at the corner of Stafford and Webster Roads. It faces Stafford Road. The site also has large open spaces. These are mainly used as playing fields. They are located behind the school buildings.

The Main Building's Look

Stafford State School has a U-shape and looks the same on both sides. The main entrance is in the middle of the front. It sticks out a bit. There are also two smaller entrances near each end. The roof is sloped and covered with red tiles. The front of the building has two sections that stick out. These show the building's long shape.

The top two floors are made of face brick. The classrooms have groups of windows. These windows have small awning lights above them. The ground floor has a smooth, rendered base. It has arched walkways and smaller windows. The building is three storeys tall. Its balanced design makes it stand out from both Stafford and Webster Roads.

Inside the School Building

The main entrance is special. It has a triangular roof section and a fancy door frame. There are also double stairways leading up to it. A large arched window is above the main entrance. It has 16 glass panes. The first and second floors have many classrooms. These classrooms open onto a hallway. This hallway runs along the front of the building. The classrooms have wooden doors with small windows above them. They also have double-hung windows.

The east and west parts of the building each have two classrooms. They also have former cloakrooms. The high ceilings and many windows let in lots of natural light. They also allow air to flow through the building. There are two stairways near each end of the building. They have steel railings and wooden handrails. A third stairway is in the middle of the building. The central part of the building holds smaller rooms. These are used as offices and staff rooms. The tuckshop, toilets, and storage areas are located on the ground floor.

School Grounds and Facilities

In front of the main school building, there are lawns and pathways. There are also established plants. To the west of the main building are the tennis courts. Another school building is located behind the main one. It's a two-storey building made of timber and corrugated iron. Between the two buildings is a paved area. This area is used for ball games and school parades. Simple covered walkways connect the two buildings. There's also a covered eating area to the east.

Behind the school buildings is a green area. It has native plants and small grassy spots with wooden benches. A sign calls this area Centenary Grove. The playing fields are behind Centenary Grove. They are large, flat, grassy areas. They include two cricket pitches. A row of pine trees marks the southern edge of the school. On the western side of the playing fields, there's a car park. This was built in 1998. A 25-meter swimming pool and grandstand are on the eastern side of the playing fields. There's also a small group of plants in the south-eastern corner.

Why Stafford State School is a Heritage Site

Stafford State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on February 26, 1999. It met the following important rules:

Showing Queensland's History

Stafford State School is a big brick and tile building from 1948. Its playing fields and gardens are also important. It shows how the suburb of Stafford grew after World War II. The large size of Stafford State School shows how confident the government was. They believed Queensland would be stable and grow after the war.

A Special Type of School Building

The main building at Stafford State School is one of the last of its kind. Its design is similar to schools built during the time of the Unemployment Relief Scheme. This means it shows the features of a specific type of Queensland school. The main school building is well-designed. Its surrounding gardens and plants make it even better. The school's grounds show how important physical education became. It was seen as a key part of a child's learning. Stafford State School's open playing fields, swimming pool, and gardens show how important specialist physical education was added to primary school lessons.

Its Beautiful Look and Feel

The combination of the impressive building and the large open spaces makes the school a landmark. It stands out in the local area.

See also

• List of schools in Greater Brisbane
• History of state education in Queensland