Ventnor State School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ventnor State School |
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Ventnor State School, 2002
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| Location | 1877 Yarrol Road, Ventnor, North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900–1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1914–1917 |
| Official name: Ventnor State School, Yarrol State School | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600727 |
| Significant period | 1910s (fabric 1917 school) 1910s (historical) 1914–1950s (social) |
| Significant components | school/school room, play shed |
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Ventnor State School is a special old school building located at 1877 Yarrol Road in Ventnor, Australia. It's in the North Burnett Region of Queensland. This building was constructed between 1914 and 1917. It's also known as Yarrol Road State School. The school is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
The School's Journey
The Ventnor State School building has a very interesting past. It started its life as an "open-air school" in 1914. This was in Maryborough, specifically at Teddington Road in Tinana. It first opened its doors on November 11, 1914.
What is an Open-Air School?
Open-air schools were an experiment by the Department of Works in 1914. The idea was to have school buildings with lots of fresh air. People thought this would be healthier for students. These schools were built for only a short time. They didn't become a common design because they had more problems than benefits. By 1922, regular school designs were used again.
Moving the School Building
In 1917, a new school building was built for the students in Tinana. The old open-air school was then used as a play shed. But its journey wasn't over!
In 1929, the old open-air school building was moved again. This time, it went to a place called Wongalee. School started there on September 21, 1929. Later, in 1932, a play shed was added. It's thought that the open-air school building was enclosed (had walls added) around this time. A small roofed area called a skillion-roofed verandah was also likely added.
Finding a Home in Ventnor
In April 1945, people in the Yarrol Road area wanted a school. The idea was approved. Tim Maloney, who owned land nearby, gave three acres for the new school site in September 1945.
The school building that had been at Wongalee was moved one more time. It came to its current spot at Yarrol Road, Ventnor. Classes at the Yarrol Road State School began on June 3, 1946. Doreen Turner was the first teacher. In July 1948, the school was renamed Ventnor State School. It continued to teach students until April 22, 1960, when it closed because not enough students were enrolled.
What Happened Next?
In 1963, people living nearby offered to buy the school building. The Ventnor Progress Association bought the property on March 15, 1963. Since then, the school has been used for many community activities. It's a meeting place for the progress association, religious groups, farming groups, and fire control teams. It's also often used as a place for people to vote. The Ventnor Progress Association still owns and takes care of the school today.
School Features
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The former Ventnor State School is on Yarrol Road in Ventnor. The school area includes:
- A single school building with a verandah.
- A play shed.
- Separate toilets for girls and boys.
- Parts of an old swing set.
- A flagpole.
The land is flat and surrounded by a fence in a bush setting. New plants along the front fence are memorials to people who have helped the Progress Association.
The School Building
The school building is a simple wooden structure. It has a corrugated iron hipped roof. A skillion-roofed verandah is attached to its western side. The building sits on low wooden stumps. A small set of stairs on the eastern side leads into the classroom.
The walls are made of timber planks that fit together, called tongue-and-groove vertical joints. The classroom has sliding windows with six panes on three of its walls. Inside, the ceiling is curved timber with a central vent. A large wooden beam runs across the room. The room still has some of its original desks and chairs from 1946. There are also other old items, like framed embroidery made by former students.
A doorway from the classroom leads to the verandah on the western side. You can still see hooks on the verandah walls where students used to hang their school bags. There's also a small storeroom at the front of the verandah.
Play Shed and Toilets
The play shed is next to the school building, on the verandah side. It's made of poles with a corrugated iron roof and two walls. The floor is dirt. Inside, the play shed still has the original wooden bar. This bar was used to hold the students' saddles during the school day, as many students rode horses to school!
The two toilets are in opposite corners on the western side of the school area. They are wooden structures with corrugated iron roofs. Each toilet has a cubicle and an entry area.
Why is it a Heritage Site?
Ventnor State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's considered very important for its history and features.
Queensland's History
The school shows how Queensland's state education system grew. It especially highlights how schools met the needs of small country communities in the early 1900s.
Unique School Design
The former Ventnor State School shows what a school complex looked like in the early 20th century. It includes the play shed, toilets, and the single classroom building. Even though the school building has been changed, it's important because it's one of the few remaining examples of an original open-air school. These open-air schools were a special design used in Queensland from about 1914 to 1922. They were built to let in lots of fresh air and were part of experiments to create the best school environments for children in Queensland.
Beautiful Setting
The school has a special beauty because it's a well-kept, small group of buildings in a bush setting. The buildings look good together because of their size and shape.
Community Connection
The former Ventnor State School is very important to the local community. It has been a place for education and community gatherings since 1946. It also has a special link to past school communities from Tinana and Wongalee, as the building served as a state primary school in both those places before moving to Ventnor.
