Townsville Central State School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Townsville Central State School |
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Townsville Central State School
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| Location | 4–6 Warburton Street, North Ward, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1877–1880 |
| Architect | Francis Drummond Greville Stanley |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Townsville Central State School, Former Townsville Gaol & Residence Police Inspector | |
| Type | state heritage (archaeological, landscape, built) |
| Designated | 1 October 2003 |
| Reference no. | 601162 |
| Significant period | 1870s–1890s (historical gaol) 1950s (historical school) 1870s–1890s (fabric) 1950s–ongoing (socia |
| Significant components | office/administration building, garden/grounds, other – law/order, immigration, customs, quarantine: component |
| Builders | J Rooney |
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Townsville Central State School is a special place in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It's a school today, but it used to be the city's first prison. The school is located at 4–6 Warburton Street in North Ward.
This historic site was designed by a famous architect named Francis Drummond Greville Stanley. It was built between 1877 and 1880 by a company called J Rooney. Because of its interesting past, it's also known as the former Townsville Gaol and the home of the Police Inspector. The school was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 1, 2003, which means it's a protected historical site.
Contents
The History of Townsville Central State School
The Townsville Central State School started as the National School in 1869. It moved to its current location on Warburton Street in 1955. This new location included parts of the very first Townsville prison. The prison was built in 1878 and later moved to Stuart Creek in 1891. Today, it's known as the Townsville Correctional Centre.
Why Was a Prison Built in Townsville?
Townsville became an official town in 1865, with about 100 people living there. By 1870, it was a major port in North Queensland. The town needed more buildings and services as its population grew.
When gold was discovered in places like Charters Towers and Ravenshoe, Townsville grew even faster. With more people, there were also more problems, and the small wooden police lock-up wasn't big enough. A new, larger prison was needed to keep the town safe and orderly.
Designing the New Gaol
Plans for the new prison were drawn up by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley. He was a well-known architect who designed many important buildings in Townsville. These included the Queensland National Bank, the first Post Office, the Magistrates Court, and the Hospital.
Stanley wanted to build a prison that would be large enough for the northern part of Queensland for many years. He designed it in a "radiating" way, like spokes on a wheel. This design made it easier and more efficient to manage the entire prison.
What Was Inside the Gaol?
When the prison was finished, it had space for many people:
- One large ward for 140 male prisoners.
- Another ward for 60 female prisoners.
- A kitchen for prisoners with a storage area.
- Living quarters for the main gaoler (the person in charge).
- Rooms for the turnkeys (prison guards) near the entrance.
- Underground water tanks to provide enough water for everyone.
The prison buildings were two stories high. This was cheaper to build and took up less space inside the prison walls. It left more room for exercise yards and workshops.
The Gaol's Strong Walls
The entire prison was surrounded by a strong brick wall about 16 feet (4.9 meters) tall. Inside, brick walls about 10 feet (3 meters) high separated the different prisoner yards. There was also a wide roadway between the inner yards and the outer wall. This extra space helped with security and allowed for inspections.
J Rooney, a major builder in Queensland, won the contract to build the new prison. In May 1877, Stanley marked out the site for the prison. It was built at the foot of Castle Hill. The walls and cells were ready by October 1878, and the gatehouse and gaoler's house were finished in 1880.
The prison quickly became too crowded. In 1891, a new prison was built at Stuart's Creek, and all male prisoners moved there. Female prisoners moved in 1896. After that, the old prison was given to the Police Department. It was changed many times until 1955, when the Townsville Central State School moved to the site.
Townsville Central State School: A New Beginning
The first official school in Townsville, the National School, opened in March 1869. It was in a building that used to be a hospital on The Strand. The school started with 48 students.
The school grew quickly. In 1873, a girls' school was added, and a new building for it was built in 1874. An infant school for younger children opened in 1876, with its own new building in 1879. By 1878, over 200 girls were attending the school.
A new boys' school was built in 1889. The two schools then became known as the Townsville Central Schools. The school buildings were damaged by cyclones in 1896 and 1903. Records show that the school often needed repairs.
In 1930, people thought about combining the two Central schools. They were very close to each other, so it seemed easy. At that time, there were 214 boys and 316 girls enrolled. The Education Department said no at first, but they agreed in 1936. The two schools closed and reopened four days later, on June 30, as the combined Townsville Central State School.
A request for a new brick boys' school was made in 1938. The old boys' school building was in bad shape. Approval for a new school to replace both the Boys' and Girls' Schools was given in 1940.
Building the Modern School
Work on the new school was delayed by World War II. After the war, many more children needed schools because of the "baby boom." New school designs were more open and fit better with the natural land. For Townsville Central State School, the existing buildings and layout were also considered.
Construction of the new school began in 1954, and students started using it in 1955. The new buildings were thought to be very nice, with great lighting and airflow. The school became a "show" school for the area. Only the old gaoler's and turnkey's quarters from the prison remained. A big project to improve the school grounds started the next year.
In 1957, the remaining prison boundary wall was made shorter. Walkways were cut into it for easier access. The women's cell block was taken down, leaving only its concrete floor. The old gaoler's and turnkey's quarters, which had been the police superintendent's office, became the school's administration building.
The ground floor had offices for the head teacher, deputy head teacher, male staff, and typists. The first floor had a female staff room, toilets, and a library. A room upstairs was also set aside for a speech teacher. Outside, roof vents were removed, windows were replaced, and a balcony was added to one side. Brick flower boxes were placed near the entrance.
The number of students kept growing, so more classrooms were built in 1960. Lawns were planted along the front of the school, and many trees were added.
A new library opened in 1978. The school residence, a house next to the school, was moved in 1981. An adventure playground was built in 1993 with money raised by the Parents & Citizens Association.
Exploring the School's Design
The school is on Warburton Street in North Ward. It's a flat area at the foot of Castle Hill. A brick fence with iron railings along Warburton Street is hidden by a hedge and shaded by old trees. The school grounds have play equipment, mature trees, garden beds, and seating areas.
The school is next to a residential area on Gregory Street. There's also a car park for the Dental Clinic, which is next to the school. The Botanical Gardens are on the western side, and a day care center and preschool are on the northern side.
Key Buildings and Their Layout
The school has several main buildings, often called "blocks."
- C' Block is where the former men's cell block used to be.
- B' Block is parallel to 'C' Block.
- Both 'B' and 'C' Blocks are connected to 'A' Block by a covered walkway on the first floor.
- D' Block is designed to curve, following the shape of the old prison wall.
- The library is a rectangular building also near the old wall.
A large open space called a quadrangle is kept between these buildings. It's used for school assemblies and other activities.
'A' Block: The Administration Hub
'A' Block used to be the Gaoler's and Turnkey's quarters. Later, it was the Police Superintendent's office. Now, it's the school's main administration building. The ground floor has offices, and the first floor has staff rooms and some teaching areas.
This building is two stories tall and made of brick with a corrugated iron roof. It has a balanced design with a large entrance hall that was once the prison's check gate. Strong masonry brackets support the floor above. French doors and special windows with small panes are found in arched openings. The outside has horizontal brick lines. Windows on the ground floor have round arches, while first-floor windows are square.
'B' and 'C' Blocks: Classrooms
'B' Block and 'C' Block are tall school buildings. They are similar in design to other prefabricated timber school buildings. Both are made of brick with corrugated asbestos cement roofs. They have concrete walls that support the verandahs.
These buildings have classrooms with large timber windows that open outwards. These windows go from the floor to the ceiling on the west side. Louvres (slanted slats) are on the inside verandah wall to the east. 'B' Block has one floor of classrooms, while 'C' Block is larger with two floors of classrooms. The ground floor of both buildings has toilets, and the rest is used for undercover play and lunch areas.
'D' Block and the Library
'D' Block was built after 1976. It's a single-story brick building with a sloped corrugated iron roof. This classroom building is built next to the old prison wall, and its curved shape matches the wall's curve.
The library, finished in 1980, is also a single-story brick building with a sloped roof. It has a rectangular shape and is located at the back of the quadrangle, next to the old prison wall.
Remaining Parts of the Old Gaol
The curved wall from the old prison still stands around the site. Its height changes, but it's about 1200 mm (almost 4 feet) tall on average. East of 'C' Block, a long part of the concrete base, about 600 mm (2 feet) high, still exists. Part of the wall was removed to make space for 'C' Block. The wall continues along 'D' Block, with two small openings for access to the dental clinic and playgrounds. The concrete base for a sentry tower (a guard's lookout) is near 'D' Block.
The concrete floor slab of the female cell block also remains in the quadrangle. You can clearly see the outlines of each cell on the slab. White lines are painted on it, and it's used as a handball court. Basketball courts and a pond are also in the quadrangle. Outside this central area, there's a rainforest, a beach volleyball court, an adventure playground, a preschool, a tennis court, an oval, a cricket pitch, a tractor shed, and a bush tucker garden.
Why is This Place Important?
Townsville Central State School is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it meets several important criteria:
- It shows how Queensland's history developed.
* As the site of Townsville's first prison from 1878, it shows how Townsville grew as a government center in northern Queensland. * The old Gaoler's and Turnkey's quarters and the boundary wall show early use of brick in Townsville. * It's an example of the work of famous architect FDG Stanley and the early work of the J & J Rooney building company.
- It can teach us more about Queensland's history.
* The remaining parts of the prison and its unique "radiating" design can help us understand how it worked. * As an archaeological site, it might reveal more information about the prison's past.
- It shows the main features of a special type of place.
* It's important for showing the key features of a new style of tropical school architecture and planning.
- It has a special beauty.
* The school's design cleverly uses the old prison features. * Its beautiful location and old shade trees at the foot of Castle Hill make the school and the town look very nice.
- It shows great creative or technical skill.
* By combining the old prison features into the school's design, it shows creative planning. * Its setting and mature trees add to its beauty and the town's look.
- It has a strong connection to the community.
* Townsville Central State School is a "show" school. The community values it as an important part of their cultural heritage.
Images for kids
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The old Townsville Central State School, around 1890.
