Urangan Point State School, Block D facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Urangan Point State School, D block |
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Block D, 1994
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| Location | Miller Street, Urangan, Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1914–1919 (World War I) |
| Built | 1916–1928 |
| Architect | Department of Public Works (Queensland) |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Urangan Point State School, Block D | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 3 October 1994 |
| Reference no. | 601375 |
| Significant period | 1910s (historical) 1916–1928 (fabric) |
| Significant components | school/school room |
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Block D at the Urangan Point State School is a special old school building in Urangan, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by the Queensland Department of Public Works and built between 1916 and 1928. This building is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 3 October 1994.
History of the School Building
This single-story wooden building was first built in 1916. It was the very first Urangan Point State School. It was designed as a "Type 1 (open-air)" school. This meant it had special features to let in lots of fresh air.
Open-Air School Design
Open-air schools were a new idea in the early 1900s. They were popular in places like England and Germany. In Queensland, they were promoted to help students stay healthy. These schools were cheaper to build. They were often used in small towns or temporary communities.
The Urangan Point school building was one of 138 open-air schools built in Queensland between 1914 and 1922. It is one of the few that are still used today. It is also one of the most complete examples of these old buildings.
Early Days of Urangan
People started settling in the Urangan area in the 1860s. At first, it was mainly for timber cutting. Later, in the late 1800s, a small fishing industry started. The town really grew when a railway line was built in 1913. A large deep-water jetty was also built between 1913 and 1917. Urangan became known as a seaside resort.
A New School for the Community
In August 1915, people living in Urangan Point asked for a state school. They had help from local groups and a politician named Edward Corser. He offered to sell some land for the school.
Many children from Urangan were going to the Torquay School. This school was very crowded. It had more than twice the number of students it was designed for. An inspector suggested that a new school in Urangan would help ease the crowding at Torquay. The land for the school was officially bought in July 1916.
Building the First School
Because Urangan Point was a small town, an inexpensive open-air school was chosen. The building had one room, about 6.4 meters by 4.3 meters. It could fit 30 students. Instead of regular windows, it had canvas blinds. It also had two large canvas doors. There were no verandahs (porches) around the building.
Challenges of Open-Air Schools
After a few years, people realized open-air schools had problems. When the canvas blinds were closed for rain or wind, the room became dark and stuffy. This made it hard to teach. The canvas blinds also got damaged easily. They didn't keep out animals or intruders.
Because of these problems, most open-air schools were changed. In the early 1920s, they were given proper sliding windows, wooden walls, and wooden doors.
Construction and Changes
Work on the Urangan Point school began in May 1916. A contractor named Christy Hansen built it for £183. The school opened to students on 9 October 1916. The next year, a fence was built around the school grounds.
By 1918, the canvas blinds were already causing problems. In 1924, they were replaced with the sliding windows you see today. The large canvas door at the front was replaced with wood. A new wooden entrance door was added on the side of the building.
In 1928, the school committee asked for a shelter shed or verandah. This was so children wouldn't have to stand in the rain while waiting for the teacher. A small awning was added later that year.
Growing Pains and Expansion
By 1931, the school was very crowded. It was designed for 30 students, but often had over 40. A new, larger building was urgently needed. This second building was finished in February 1932. It was about 6.4 meters by 5.5 meters and had verandahs. Younger students stayed in the first building, and older students moved to the new one. This second school building was taken down in 1977.
By the early 1960s, Urangan Point State School had three classroom buildings. The very first school building became the school library. In 1977, it was moved to a different spot on the school grounds. The roof has been replaced, and an old vent on the roof was removed. Today, this historic building is used as a music room.
What the Building Looks Like
Block D at Urangan Point State School is a single-room, single-story building. It is made of timber and has a corrugated iron roof. The building is set back from Miller Street. There is a car park to the south and other school buildings nearby.
The inside of the building has wooden ceilings. The walls are made of single wooden boards. Some parts of the walls have sliding timber windows. The main entrance door is on the northern side, with wooden steps leading up to it. There is a small storage room on the western side.
Inside, the ceilings are angled up to the roof beams. There are some old wooden shelves in one corner. The blackboard is in the middle of the western wall.
Why It's a Heritage Site
Block D of the Urangan Point State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 3 October 1994. This means it's a very important historical place.
Showing Queensland's History
This building is important because it shows how schools changed in Queensland. It is a good example of a small, rural school from the early 1900s. You can still see clues of its original open-air design. For example, the sliding windows were put in to replace the old canvas blinds in 1924.
A Special Example of a School Type
The building is also important because it is one of the most complete open-air schools still left in Queensland. It helps us understand what these unique schools were like.
