Toowoomba East State School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Toowoomba East State School |
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Block A, north elevation
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| Location | Corner of Arthur and Mary Streets, East Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919–1930s (Interwar period) |
| Built | 1935–1936, Block A |
| Official name: Toowoomba East State School | |
| Type | state heritage |
| Designated | 28 July 2017 |
| Reference no. | 650050 |
| Type | Education, Research, Scientific Facility: School – state (primary) |
| Theme | Educating Queenslanders: Providing primary schooling |
| Builders | Department of Public Works |
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Toowoomba East State School is a historic school located in East Toowoomba. It stands at the corner of Arthur and Mary Streets. This school was built between 1935 and 1936 by the Queensland Department of Public Works. It was first known as Queen's Park State School. The school was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 July 2017.
Contents
A Look Back at Toowoomba East State School
Toowoomba East State School first opened its doors on 17 January 1887. It was built on its current site, which is east of Queens Park. The school was needed because more families were moving into East Toowoomba. This school shows how state education and school buildings have changed over time.
The school still has a special brick building from the Depression era (Block A, built in 1936). It is surrounded by nice gardens, sports areas, and old trees. Toowoomba East State School has been open continuously since it started.
How Toowoomba Grew
The land around Toowoomba was originally home to the Giabal and Jarowair people. European settlers arrived in 1840. A small town called Drayton started in 1842. It was a stop for people traveling through the Main Range. About six kilometres away was an area called "The Swamp," which later became Toowoomba.
Toowoomba grew quickly because it had good land and water. It also had support from landowners. In 1855, a new road made it easier to get to Brisbane. Toowoomba became a town in July 1860. By 1861, it was bigger than Drayton. The railway arrived in 1867. This helped Toowoomba's economy grow. It became a city in 1904.
Schools in Queensland
Toowoomba was an early place for education. The first National School opened in 1865. Building schools was very important for new communities. Local people often gave land and helped build the schools. Schools became a central part of the community. They showed progress and were a source of pride.
The Queensland Government created standard plans for school buildings. This helped make sure schools were consistent and affordable. From the 1860s to the 1960s, most Queensland school buildings were made of timber. This was an easy and cheap way to build schools, even in faraway places. These standard designs were improved over time. They were good at controlling climate, light, and air.
Toowoomba East State School opened on 17 January 1887. It was built on land set aside for a school in 1872. Local people wanted a school from 1876. They started raising money. By October 1885, the government approved the school. The community had raised £200 of the £290 needed. The total cost was £1433. The school was also called Queen's Park State School. It had a timber building with two classrooms. It could hold 250 students. By February 1887, 235 students had joined.
Growing Pains and New Buildings
The number of students kept growing. By 1927, there were 778 students. This meant the school needed more buildings. By 1913, there were three timber buildings. A fourth wing for younger children was added in 1928. A fifth wing was built in 1932. A house for the school principal was built in 1889. It was in the southeast corner of the school grounds. A school bell was also put up that year.
The school also needed more land. In 1926, about half a hectare of land was added.
The school grounds were also made more beautiful. Trees were planted from 1888. This included trees along the west side and along Arthur and Mary Streets. School grounds were important for play-based learning. They had outdoor play spaces and sports areas. Trees and gardens were planted for shade and beauty. Arbor Day celebrations started in Queensland in 1890. Twelve camphor laurel trees were planted in 1898. They gave shelter from the wind. By 1922, the school had "large camphor and other ornamental and shade trees."
Building During the Great Depression
The timber buildings were still not enough for all the students. In the mid-1930s, a new brick school building was approved. The Great Depression started in 1929. It caused a big slowdown in building work. The Queensland Government started projects to help people find jobs. They also began an important building program to boost the economy.
Even before the stock market crash in 1929, the government started a plan to help unemployed people. This included painting and fixing school buildings. By mid-1930, men were working on school grounds.
In June 1932, the Forgan Smith Labor Government came to power. They promised to spend more government money to fight the Depression. They started a large public building program. This program aimed to hire local skilled workers and buy local building materials. It also created strong, low-maintenance buildings for the state. Many large brick school buildings were built in growing areas during the 1930s. These buildings showed the government's effort to help with unemployment.
Features of Depression-Era Schools
Brick school buildings from the Depression era have many similar features. Most were designed in a classic style. This was to show stability and hope. They often had two floors above an open ground level. They could hold up to 1000 students. They usually had a balanced design with a main entrance in the middle. The layout was similar to timber buildings. Classrooms were usually one room deep. They were accessed by a long hallway. Classrooms often had folding timber walls. This allowed them to be opened up into larger rooms. The ground level was used for play, storage, and bathrooms.
Each Depression-era brick school building was designed by a government architect. This meant they had different styles and decorations. Over time, the size, decorations, and climate features changed.
The brick school building at Toowoomba East State School (now Block A) was built in 1935–36. It cost £16,326. The new building faced Arthur Street. The old timber buildings were moved. The new building was designed for 640 students. But by the time it opened on 8 May 1937, there were 1000 students. So, at least four of the old timber buildings had to stay. They were moved behind the new brick building. The school principal's house was removed around c. 1936.
Block A has three levels. It has an open ground level (undercroft) and two floors with eight classrooms each. This makes a total of 16 classrooms. The undercroft had play areas with concrete floors. It also had drinking fountains. It had openings leading outside with wide concrete stairs. The first and second floors had similar layouts. They had a long section of six classrooms. A central staircase divided them. The three classrooms on the east side had connecting doors. The three classrooms on the west side had folding walls. These could be opened to make a large assembly room.
Each classroom was set up so students faced a blackboard on the west wall. They had large windows on the south side. This gave good natural light for students. A hallway ran along the north side of the classrooms. It provided access. A central entrance block stuck out from the hallway. On the first floor, this block had an entry hall. It was reached by stairs from the front garden. The head teacher's room and male teachers' room were on either side of the hall. On the second floor, this block had a female teachers' room and a cloak room. At each end of the long building was a short wing. This wing had a stairwell, a hallway, a cloak room, and another classroom. This classroom had north-facing windows.
The walls of the three floors looked different. The ground level had painted cement. The first floor had exposed brick. The second floor had painted cement up to the roof. Sun hoods with large timber brackets shaded all the windows. The roof was covered with asbestos cement shingles. A large vent (fleche) was on top of the roof above the entrance.
Later Changes and Additions
More additions were made to the school in the 1950s. In 1955, more land was added to the west side. By 2012, the school grounds covered 3.4 hectares. By 1956, a new brick building (Block B) was built. It had two classrooms. It was attached to the west end of Block A. This building was updated around c. 2016. Its verandas were enclosed. Walls were removed to make bigger teaching areas.
Block A also had changes. In 1966, a cloak room became a Health Services room. Around c. 1974, some classrooms became staff rooms or the principal's office. Other rooms were divided. Around c. 1979, the undercroft was partly enclosed with glass. The northern hallways were enclosed by 1997. Around c. 1997, the middle part of the building was changed. Hallways were partitioned to create learning areas. Doors were changed. Walls between classrooms were removed to make two larger classrooms out of three. Ceilings were relined for fire safety.
Since the 1960s, new facilities have included:
- A school swimming pool (1966)
- New classroom buildings (1969–71)
- A new library and a dental clinic (1973)
- Two pre-school buildings (by 1978)
- A Centenary Hall
- Covered walkways
- A new administration building (1991)
Three of the early timber school buildings were removed in the 1970s. The last early building, the 1928 Infants building, was removed between 2009 and 2011. In 2015, 807 students were enrolled. Students use sports fields in Queens Park and the Clive Berghofer Stadium.
Toowoomba East State School still operates from its original site in 2017. Its Depression-era brick school building is a local landmark. The school is important to the area. It is a focus for the community. Generations of students have learned there.
School Design and Features
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Toowoomba East State School is on a large, 3.37-hectare site. It faces Arthur Street to the north and Mary Street to the east. Block A, a large brick building from the Depression era, stands at the front. It is surrounded by old trees and gardens. The school has nice views. It stands out because of its beautiful design, open fields, and impressive old trees.
Block A (1936)
Block A is a balanced, two-storey building. It sits high on an open ground level. It has a hipped and gabled roof covered with tiles. At the center of the roof is a tall metal vent (fleche) with a round cupola. You can see it from the nearby homes. The building looks simple and strong. It uses nice, simple materials that are easy to care for. These include dark bricks and smooth concrete. It has simple, regular windows.
The building has an open ground level (undercroft) for play. Above it are two floors of classrooms. The outside walls have three different materials. The undercroft has smooth, lined masonry. The first floor has facebrick. The top part has painted roughcast render. The building has a long section of classrooms with a central staircase. A long hallway across the front (north) leads to the rooms. This hallway has simple railings. It has square openings on the first floor and arched openings on the second floor. These openings have been enclosed with glass later on.
A central entrance block sticks out from the hallway. It mainly holds teachers' rooms. At each end of the long building is a short wing. This wing has a classroom, a former cloak room, and a stairwell. The central entrance block and the end wings have front-facing gable roofs with timber details. They have many multi-paned timber-framed casement windows with fanlights. Window hoods supported by large timber brackets shade the windows. At the center of the entrance block is a branching concrete stair. It leads up to the front arched doorway. This doorway is next to narrow windows. It is shaded by a window hood with a triangular pediment.
The building's layout is mostly original. The undercroft still has its original seats around the edges. It has metal grilles at the openings and rounded corners on the brick pillars. Some new walls have been added for storage. The undercroft play area connects to outdoor play areas. These are in front and behind the building.
The first floor has a short entrance hall. Teachers' rooms are on either side. This leads to the hallway and classrooms behind. The wall between the hallway and classrooms still has tall, double-hung timber windows. It also has French doors with fanlights. Some French doors have been replaced, but the fanlights remain. The walls between classrooms in the middle section have been removed. This created larger classrooms. New walls have been added in some classrooms and cloak rooms.
The first and second floors have very similar layouts. They have similar changes to walls.
On both levels, the classrooms have lots of natural light. They have simple timber details and high ceilings. The hallways, cloak rooms, and stairwells have smooth concrete ceilings. This is how they were originally. The classrooms in the end wings have original sheet and batten ceilings. But those in the middle section have newer flat ceilings. The stairwells have simple iron railings with timber handrails and concrete stairs.
At the central stairwell, between the first and second floors, there is a small balcony. It has timber-framed, glass French doors. It looks out over a parade ground behind the building. This balcony is small, holding only one or two people. It is the main focus of the building's south side. It has a small projecting bay with a triangular pediment at the roofline. This pediment has "1936" written on it. The balcony is supported by decorative brackets. It has a simple metal railing and a flagpole. It adds decoration to an otherwise simple building. It is centered under the tall roof vent.
Block B, a one-storey classroom building, is attached to the west end of Block A. It was built by 1956. It is not heritage-listed. A doorway was cut into Block A to connect to Block B.
School Grounds
The school grounds are mostly flat. They have open play areas and other school buildings. The edges of the school have old trees. These include camphor laurels and jacarandas.
The main entrance to the school has a metal arch. It says "EAST STATE SCHOOL" in metal letters. It is over a concrete path with stone-edged garden beds. This entrance lines up with the center of Block A.
Other stone-edged garden beds are around the base of Block A.
Behind Block A is a large, open, paved parade ground. This area is simple and plain. It gives a clear view of Block A. It is also a flexible space for playing and school gatherings.
An old metal school bell stands on a tall post. It is in the parade ground, close to the south wall of Block A.
You can see Block A from the nearby homes. Toowoomba East State School is a nice and important part of the area.
Why It's Special
Toowoomba East State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 July 2017. It meets certain standards to be listed.
It shows how Queensland's history has changed. Toowoomba East State School (started in 1887) shows how state education and school buildings have grown in Queensland. The school has a great example of a government-designed building. This building shows the government's ideas about education at the time.
The brick school building from the Depression era (1936) is a result of government programs. These programs helped the economy and gave jobs to people during the Great Depression.
It shows the main features of its type. Toowoomba East State School shows the main features of a Queensland state school built during the Depression era. These include:
- A large brick school building
- Landscaped grounds with old shade trees
- Areas for assembly, play, and sports
The Depression-era brick school building is an excellent and complete example of its kind. Its main features are:
- A handsome building at the front of the school
- A balanced two-storey design with classrooms and teachers' rooms above open play spaces
- A linear layout with rooms accessed by hallways
- Strong masonry construction
- A prominent central entrance
- High-quality design for good learning environments with lots of natural light and air
It also shows the style of its time. This includes its roof, woodwork, and decorations.
It is beautiful. The Depression-era brick school building is important for its beauty. It is in a noticeable spot at the front of the school. It is large and tall. It has a balanced and elegant design. It uses decoration simply and has good craftsmanship. The government wanted its public buildings to show progress and lasting quality.
The building also makes the street look better. With its old trees, it is an attractive and important part of the area.
It has a strong connection to the community. Schools have always been important to Queensland communities. They often have strong and lasting connections with former students, parents, and teachers. They are places for social events and volunteer work. They are a source of pride. They show local progress and hopes.
Toowoomba East State School has a strong and ongoing connection with the community. It started in 1887 because local people raised money. Generations of Toowoomba children have been taught there. The school has helped with education in Toowoomba. It is an important community center.
Famous Students
- Don Featherstone, a filmmaker
- John Row, a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly (a politician)
See also
- History of state education in Queensland
- List of schools in Darling Downs
