Virginia State School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Virginia State School |
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Blocks C and D from the north-east, 2015
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| Location | 1690 Sandgate Road, Virginia, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919–1930s (Interwar period) |
| Built | 1920–1933 Sectional School Building (comprising 3 wings) – Blocks B, 1920–1987, 1925, 1952–1958 |
| Architect | Queensland Department of Public Works |
| Official name: Virginia State School | |
| Type | state heritage |
| Designated | 28 August 2015 |
| Reference no. | 602860 |
| Type | Education, research, scientific facility: School-state |
| Theme | Educating Queenslanders: Providing primary schooling |
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Virginia State School is a special school with a long history. It is located at 1690 Sandgate Road in Virginia, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia. The school was designed by the Queensland Department of Public Works. It was built between 1920 and 1933. This school is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 August 2015.
Contents
About Virginia State School
Virginia State School opened in 1920. It was built to serve the growing number of families in the Virginia area. Over the years, more buildings were added as the school got bigger.
The school has a unique three-wing building. This building was constructed in five steps between 1920 and 1933. The school also has beautiful grounds with old shade trees, special tree plots, and sports fields. Virginia State School has been open continuously since it started. It is a very important place for the local community. Many social and cultural events happen here.
How Schools Started in Queensland
Providing education was very important to the early governments in Australia. After Queensland became a separate colony in 1859, schools grew quickly. By 1875, there were 230 schools. The Education Act of 1875 made primary education free and required for all children. This helped most Queensland children learn to read and write by 1900.
Starting a school was a big step for any community. Local people often gave land or helped build the school. Schools became a symbol of progress and a source of pride. People who went to the school, their parents, and teachers often stayed connected.
The Queensland Government created standard plans for school buildings. This helped make sure schools were built consistently and affordably. From the 1860s to the 1960s, most Queensland schools were made of timber. These designs were updated over time. Queensland schools were known for their smart ways to control climate, light, and air.
Virginia's Early Days
The land where Virginia State School stands was originally home to the Turrbal people. The area became known as "Virginia" after a railway station opened in 1888. The railway made it easier to get to the area, which helped it grow. By 1911, about 167 people lived there.
In 1909, the community asked for a state school. By 1915, a spot was set aside for the school. The government approved building the school in 1918. The school land was made larger to 3.37 hectares.
The school officially opened on January 31, 1920. Teaching began on February 2. The first building had three classrooms. It was a high-set timber building with a verandah facing north. There was also a room for teachers.
The Sectional School Design
In 1920, a new school design called the "Sectional School" was created. This design was high-set and made of timber. It brought together the best ideas for a good learning environment. This design was very successful and used for many years. It was practical, affordable, and met the needs for education and climate. It also allowed schools to easily grow over time.
Older school buildings were often built facing the street. But by 1914, experts realized that classrooms needed lots of natural light. The Sectional School design had many windows on its southern side. Verandahs were usually on the north side. The end walls could be removed. This meant that as the school grew, new sections could be easily added. This is why they were called "sectional" schools. This led to long buildings with many classrooms.
Growing Bigger
Virginia State School grew very fast. Student numbers went from 165 in 1920 to 252 by December 1921. Because of this, two classrooms were added to the building in 1922.
In January 1924, a big storm damaged the school. The building was almost split in half. The Department of Public Works rebuilt and made the school even bigger. They added a new wing with three classrooms. This new wing was connected to the older part of the school. Another teachers' room was also added.
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The school continued to grow. By 1927, there were 530 students, but only enough room for 320. Children even had to learn on the verandahs! In 1927–28, three more classrooms were added to the western wing.
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The most western wing (Block D) was added in 1933. This wing had four classrooms and two teachers' rooms. It was built on tall concrete posts. The area underneath was concreted, creating more space. This addition made the school building more balanced. It could now hold a total of 560 students.
Fun in the School Grounds
School grounds were also very important. Schools had outdoor play areas and sports fields like ovals and tennis courts. Trees and gardens were planted to make schools beautiful and provide shade. Arbor Day, a day for planting trees, started in Queensland in 1890.
The Virginia State School community worked hard to improve the grounds. Trees were planted along Sandgate Road in the 1920s. A tennis court was finished in 1925. Community members helped with working bees to improve the grounds. The school even held a "balloon carnival" in 1930 to raise money for improvements.
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After World War II, many more children started school. This was due to the "baby boom." Schools became very crowded. Many new buildings were constructed, and old ones were made larger. At Virginia State School, more buildings were added in the 1950s.
By 1958, a second tennis court was added. Rows of pine trees were planted north of the oval in the 1950s. In 1959, the school grounds became even larger. The school's swimming pool was built in the mid-1960s.
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School Forestry Plots
As of 2015, the school still has three special "forestry plots." These plots are areas where trees are grown in neat rows. They are located near the tennis courts and along the sports oval. Forestry plots were part of after-school agricultural clubs. These clubs taught students about farming and the importance of trees. The government wanted to teach children about how important trees are for the economy and the environment. These plots also helped test different tree types in various soils and climates. Selling the timber from these plots also helped schools earn money. Virginia State School had a forestry plot by 1952.
Virginia State School continues to operate on its original site today. It still has the historic sectional school building. The school grounds have tennis courts, a sports oval, old shade trees, and forestry plots. The school is a key part of the community. It has been a place of learning and social events for many generations.
School Buildings and Grounds
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Virginia State School covers a large area of 4.72 hectares. It is located at the corner of Sandgate Road and Jefferis Street. The school buildings are mostly at the southern end of the site. The oldest building, the sectional school, is in the middle of the group. The school also has a sports oval, a tennis court from 1925, and many old trees. These trees are mostly along the edges of the school and around the sports oval. The school and its large, green grounds stand out in the area.
The Sectional School Building (Blocks B, C, and D)
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This main school building is set back from Jefferis Street. It runs from southeast to northwest. It has three parts: Block B (east), Block C (center), and Block D (west). These parts were built at different times between 1920 and 1933.
The building is high-set, meaning it's raised off the ground. It's made of timber with a weatherboard outside. The roofs are made of corrugated metal. The building stands on tall brick or concrete posts. The three parts of the building are connected by verandahs that face northeast. Stairs lead up to the verandahs. Teachers' rooms are attached to the verandahs of the east and west parts.
The space under the building is partly enclosed. It has toilets, a tuckshop, storage, and some classrooms. These newer parts are not considered historically important. Many original timber windows are still there. These include large groups of casement windows on the southwest walls. Most doors are new, but some still have their original fanlights above them.
The walls inside the verandahs are single-layer. They have vertical timber boards. The verandahs have square timber posts and sloped ceilings. Bag racks have replaced most of the old timber railings.
Inside, the original walls and ceilings are made of timber boards. Most classrooms still have their original curved ceilings. They also have exposed metal rods and square ceiling vents. The teachers' rooms also keep their original curved ceilings and timber walls. Their old windows are still there.
Eastern Wing (Block B)
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This part of the building has a gabled roof. The end wall on the southeast has a row of high windows. These windows are protected by a wide metal hood with decorative timber supports. An old timber door leads from the verandah to the easternmost classroom. The lowest part of the verandah wall in the classrooms can be opened for air. The ends of the verandah have been enclosed to make more classroom or storage space.
Inside, this wing is now divided into three large classrooms. Originally, it had five. Some original walls have been removed, but you can still see where they were.
Central Wing (Block C)
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This central part also has a gabled roof. Its southeast end has a row of high windows. These are also protected by a metal hood with timber supports. Part of the verandah has been enclosed with modern louvres.
The inside is divided into three spaces: an eastern classroom, a western classroom, and a large central performance area. You can still see parts of the original walls. These show that it used to have six rooms. There are rare, old timber folding doors with glass insets that divide the western classroom and the central space.
Western Wing (Block D)
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This wing has a gabled roof. The verandah still has an old hatroom at its southeast end. This hatroom has exposed timber and metal hooks. The northwest end is enclosed with a timber wall that has casement windows.
The inside is divided into three classrooms. The walls have been moved from their original spots. However, the ceiling vents and window locations show where the original four rooms were.
School Grounds and Trees
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The school grounds are well-established with many large, old trees. These include fig trees, camphor laurels, pine trees, and poincianas. The big sports oval north of the school buildings, with its old shade trees, makes the school look beautiful. It also makes the school stand out in the area.
The tennis court is still in its original spot in the southwest corner.
Forestry plots are located along the north side of the sports oval and near the tennis courts. In these areas, pine trees are planted in neat rows. Some of them have timber log seating around them.
The school grounds are made beautiful by old trees planted along the edges of the property. A large fig tree near Jefferis Street has timber seating around it.
Many old shade trees are planted throughout the school. There are large camphor laurel trees and a beautiful Hong Kong orchid tree.
A plaque celebrating the school's opening is located north of the main building.
Heritage Listing
Virginia State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 August 2015 because it meets several important criteria.
It shows how Queensland's history has changed. Virginia State School (started in 1920) is important because it shows how state education and school buildings have changed in Queensland. The school has a great example of a standard government-designed school building. This building shows how architectural designs responded to educational ideas at the time.
The sectional school building, with its three parts (1920–33), shows how the Department of Public Works designed timber schools. They focused on good lighting and ventilation, keeping both education and climate in mind.
The large school site with old trees, landscaping, and sports areas shows that the Queensland education system believed in the importance of play and beauty for children's learning.
It shows the main features of this type of place. Virginia State School shows the main features of a Queensland state school, even with later changes. This includes a high-set timber teaching building with play areas underneath. It has verandahs and classrooms with lots of natural light and air. All this is on a large, landscaped site with old shade trees, play areas, and sports fields.
The sectional school building (1920–33) is very well preserved. It shows the main features of this type of building. These include its high-set shape, gabled roofs, blank end walls, northern verandahs, large windows facing south, teachers' rooms, hat-room enclosures, single-layer verandah walls, old windows and doors, curved ceilings, and original inside walls.
The forestry plots at Virginia are good examples of their kind. They have pine trees planted in neat rows.
The old camphor laurels, tipuanas, poincianas, paper-bark tea-trees, and fig trees are great examples of the shade trees often planted in Queensland school grounds.
It has a strong connection to the community. Schools have always been a big part of Queensland communities. They often have strong and lasting connections with former students, parents, and teachers. They are places for social events and volunteer work. Schools are a source of pride and show how a local area is growing.
Virginia State School has a strong and ongoing connection with the Virginia community. It was started in 1920 thanks to the community's fundraising efforts. Generations of children from Virginia have learned there. The school is important for helping the area grow through education. It is a key meeting place for social and special events, with wide community support.
Notable Students
- Des Frawley, a member of the Queensland Parliament.
- Tim Harris, a Roman Catholic Bishop.
See also
- History of state education in Queensland
- List of schools in Greater Brisbane
