Townsville West State School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Townsville West State School |
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Townsville West State School, 1998
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| Location | 29 Ingham Road, West End, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1921 - 1939 |
| Official name: Townsville and District Education Centre and Memorial Gates, Townsville West State School | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 5 October 1998 |
| Reference no. | 602049 |
| Significant period | 1920s-1930s (historical) 1940s (historical) 1920s (fabric gates) 1930s-1940s (fabric school) |
| Significant components | roof/ridge ventilator/s / fleche/s, bell - school, memorial - gate/s, school/school room |
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Townsville West State School is an old school building in West End, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was built between 1921 and 1939. This building is also known as the Townsville and District Education Centre and has special Memorial Gates. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 5, 1998, which means it's officially recognized as a place of historical importance.
A Look Back: The School's History
The former Townsville West State School building, designed by the Queensland Government Architects Office, first opened its doors on June 10, 1939. It cost a lot of money, about £28,200. This school was built during the Great Depression. Local workers were hired through a special program called the Unemployment Relief Scheme. This 1937-1939 school building was actually the second of three Townsville West State Schools built on the same land. The first one, built in 1886-1887, was one of Townsville's very first public schools.
West End Grows: Why a School Was Needed
Early Townsville started near the beach and along Ross Creek. As the town grew, people began to settle southwest along the road to the countryside. This area became known as West End. By 1868, the West End Cemetery was already there. Soon, businesses like the Carrier Arms Hotel, a soap factory, and a brewery opened in this new suburb.
More people moved to West End in the early 1880s when new railway facilities were built. Some old buildings from this time, like the West End Hotel (1885) and St Mary's Catholic Church (1888), are still standing today.
Because more families were moving in, there was a big need for a school in West End. On April 22, 1884, the Mayor of Townsville, Henry Barbenson le Touzel Hubert, asked for land to be set aside for a school. A four-acre area was chosen, with some land coming from the nearby cemetery. It was thought the school would need to hold 400 students.
By January 11, 1886, plans were made to build a timber school, other small buildings, and a house for the head teacher. Townsville West State School was built with money from the government. The local community also helped by paying one-fifth of the cost, as required by the State Education Act of 1875. The school officially opened on March 21, 1887.
A Big School: Students and Famous Faces
By 1919, Townsville West was one of the largest schools in Queensland. It had 1150 students and 33 teachers!
Gladys Moncrieff, a very famous Australian singer, went to this school in the early 1900s. The school still has a special award named after her for singing at the Townsville Juvenile Eisteddfod.
Remembering Heroes: War Memorials
The school also honored students and teachers who fought and sometimes died in World War I. They put up special honor boards in the entrance hall. In 1921, the school community decided to build something more lasting: War Memorial Gates. These gates stand at the main school entrance on Ingham Road.
To pay for the gates, a fete (a type of fair) was held, raising £542. Of this, £430 was used to build the gates. Two hundred names are carved on marble tablets attached to the arched gateway. The memorial was officially opened on December 9, 1921. Even today, around ANZAC Day, the school holds a ceremony to remember past students who served in wars.
A New School Building: The 1930s
By the 1930s, the West End area had grown so much that the original school building was too small. It was also thought to be poorly lit and not well-ventilated. So, the decision was made to build the current, larger building.
Some parts of the old school were taken down. The timber from these buildings was used to build hospitals on Palm Island and Fantome Island. The head teacher's house was sold and moved to a different street. The kindergarten building was given to the Townsville Grammar School.
On September 18, 1937, which was the 50th anniversary (Jubilee Year) of Townsville West State School, the foundation stone for the new school was laid. Plans were drawn up by the Queensland Government's Department of Public Works. The new building cost £28,200 and was opened on June 10, 1939.
This new school was one of thirty brick schools built in Queensland during the Depression. The Queensland Government started these building projects to help the economy and create jobs.
Inside the New School
The new school was built with brick and concrete. The ground floor, hallways, cloakrooms, and staircases were all made of concrete. Other floors were made of strong hardwood. The building had 21 classrooms on the first and second floors, which could hold 832 students.
There was also a woodwork room and a dressmaking classroom, each for 20 students. A head teacher's room, two staff rooms, and hat and cloak rooms were also included. Some classrooms had folding walls, so they could be opened up to make bigger spaces. Toilets and storage rooms were on the ground floor. The rest of the ground floor was used as a play area.
World War II and Beyond
In early 1942, during World War II, Townsville became a military zone. Many soldiers were stationed there. Townsville West State School, like many other schools, was taken over by the military. A first aid station and a recovery ward for sick soldiers were set up on the first floor.
Classes for volunteers (VADs), dressmaking for the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF), and first aid classes were held there. The school also hosted meetings for the community and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). In September 1942, soldiers even camped in the school grounds under the fig trees.
By 1943, the medical facilities moved out of the school. Some school classes started again in August, and all classes were back by October 1943. However, the Australian Army didn't completely leave the site until March 31, 1946.
After the war, student numbers reached about 1000, but then started to go down. In 1963, Grade Eight moved from primary to secondary school, which also reduced numbers. To help with this, the school began accepting students with physical and intellectual disabilities after 1957. The school's special facilities for domestic science and manual arts were helpful for these students.
Later, all students and most school activities moved to newer buildings on Wilson Street, behind the 1939 building.
When the Townsville Teachers College opened in 1969, West End State School was used as a "Demonstration School." This meant student teachers could practice teaching there.
Surviving a Cyclone and Helping the Community
The building was strong enough to survive Cyclone Althea, a powerful storm that hit Townsville on December 24, 1971. After the cyclone, the Home Science room was opened to the community so people could cook meals. The Salvation Army also used the school as a relief center, providing bread, milk, and ice for several weeks.
In 1975, the Townsville and District Education Centre (TADEC) started in one room of the school. By 1981, it had grown to use half the building. TADEC is still there today and helps teachers, parents, and community groups with education in North Queensland.
In 1977, students and teachers created an environmental study area in the school grounds. This area won many awards, including a Greening of Australia Project award in 1987. The school grounds also have many trees, like large banyans, figs, and blackbeans, some with small plaques. The fig trees were there before the 1920s and mark where the WWII military camp was. Two large trees near the Memorial Gates might be from the first Arbor Day.
The first floor hallway has old photographs, including pictures of the memorial gates, a gathering of past students for the 50-year Jubilee in 1937, and an award-winning choir. The original school bell, which is over 100 years old, still hangs above the main entrance gates.
Today, the building is used by the Townsville and District Education Centre, a library, conference rooms, a creche (daycare) and kindergarten, and facilities for manual arts and home science. It's also a place for a community playgroup.
What the School Looks Like
The former Townsville West State School is a large, rectangular brick building with three stories. It's located where Ingham Road and Sturt Street meet, about two kilometers from the city center. The building faces south towards Ingham Road.
The Memorial Gates
The Memorial Gates are set into a special spot in the Ingham Road fence. They are a free-standing archway made of stone with a pair of wrought iron gates below. The archway has a curved top and decorative details. The words "Their name liveth for ever" are carved on the top, with the dates "1914" and "1919" on each side. The ironwork on the gates spells out "Soldiers Memorial Gate of Honour." Inside the archway are two white marble tablets called "Honour Roll, Townsville West State School." Each tablet has about 100 names, some marked with letters like "D," "K," "P," and "W" (likely for Died, Killed, Prisoner, Wounded). Behind the gates are two large trees, possibly blackbeans.
The Building's Design
The former Townsville West State School building is very balanced and even on both sides. It has a long, straight shape. The main entrance is in the middle of the front (south) side, sticking out a bit. There are also two smaller entrances near each end. The roof is sloped and covered with painted corrugated material, with a timber spire in the center. The back (north) side also has two sections that stick out, showing its long, three-story design. Its size and classic style make it stand out in the neighborhood.
The outside walls of the top two floors are made of brick. They have decorative columns with special tops and bottoms, and a decorative ledge. Between these columns are windows that open outwards, with smaller windows above them. The two upper levels sit on a rendered (smooth plaster) base on the ground floor, which has arched walkways and smaller windows.
The central part of the front of the building is the main entrance. It has a triangular roof section, a decorative door frame, and a double staircase. The school bell is also mounted above the main entrance door.
Inside, on the First Floor, there are brass plaques. These remember the building's opening in 1939 and the school's 100th birthday in 1987. In the hallway near the entrance, there are two large wooden honor boards. They are called "Roll of Honour, Teachers and Pupils who fought for the Empire in the Great War." Each board has about 100 names, some marked with "K" and "W." This hallway also has several old photographs of the school.
The First and Second Floors have many classrooms that open onto a long hallway on the south side. The classrooms have wooden doors with windows above them, and windows that slide up and down. The high ceilings and many windows let in a lot of natural light and fresh air. The classroom floors are wood, while the hallways, stairs, and utility areas are concrete. The two staircases, near each end of the building, have steel railings and wooden handrails.
Many classrooms on the top two levels can be divided by folding wooden walls. The four classrooms in the middle of the first floor can all be opened up to create a small hall with a stage. At the far eastern end of that floor is the home science room. The ground floor has covered play areas, toilets, storage rooms, and a workshop.
The area in front of the school building has lawns, paths, and a car park. You can get to it from Wilson Street. To the west of the building, facing Ingham Road, there's a small area with native plants. The building is separated from the current school (which is made of timber buildings) by a grassy area. To the west of the school playground is the West End Cemetery.
Why This Place Is Important
Townsville West State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 5, 1998, because it meets several important criteria.
Showing Queensland's History
The school, opened in 1939, shows how the government tried to help people find jobs during the Great Depression. They did this through programs like the Unemployment Relief Scheme. This school is one of only four intact schools from that time in North Queensland.
The Memorial Gates, built in 1921, are a special type of memorial. War memorials are important because they show how communities across Queensland remembered soldiers, especially after World War I. They represent a time of strong Australian pride and patriotism. Two wooden honor boards inside the school also list the names of former students and teachers who served in WWI.
A Unique Part of History
The Memorial Gates are a rare example of this type of war memorial.
A Great Example of School Design
The building is a wonderful example of a two-story brick school built between the World Wars.
Beautiful and Important
Because of its size and design, the building is a landmark in the neighborhood. It shows the Queensland Government's goal in the 1930s to make primary schools look important and well-designed.
Special to the Community
The building has a strong connection to the local community. For over a century, this land has been used for public education in West End and Townsville. The building has also been a center for many community activities. During World War II, it was used as a military camp and a hospital ward. It also hosted community meetings and classes. After Cyclone Althea in 1971, the building became a community relief center, helping people in need.
