Warwick Central State School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Warwick Central State School |
|
|---|---|
,_Warwick,_Queensland,_2015.JPG)
Warwick Central State School, eastern elevation with lancet windows, 2015
|
|
| Location | 55B Guy Street, Warwick, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1874–1875 |
| Official name: Warwick West Boys School, Girls School and Infants School, Warwick West School | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 6 February 2006 |
| Reference no. | 602497 |
| Significant period | 1870s (historical) 1870s–1910s (fabric) 1875–ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | school/school room, play shed |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Warwick Central State School is a historic school building located at 55B Guy Street in Warwick, Australia. It was built between 1874 and 1875. This school is also known by its older names: Warwick West Boys School, Girls School and Infants School, and Warwick West School. It was officially added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 6 February 2006, recognizing its importance.
Contents
Discovering the School's Past
The Warwick Central State School is a special stone building that opened in 1875. It was the second school in Warwick and one of the very first government-run schools in Queensland.
How Education Began in Queensland
Before government schools, education in Australia was mostly provided by churches or small private groups. In 1848, a group called the New South Wales Board of National Education was created. Their goal was to offer public, non-religious education through "National Schools."
When Queensland became its own colony in December 1859, two National Schools already existed there. The first one was in Warwick, built in 1850.
The new Queensland government quickly passed the Education Act of 1860. This law set up a Board of General Education. It created a system of primary schools that received money from the government. However, families still had to pay fees for their children to attend.
In 1860, the Board took over four schools. By 1868, 73 schools were open, and by 1874, there were 203 schools across Queensland. Many early schools were built simply, like the first Warwick school which was made of timber slabs.
Why a New School Was Needed
Warwick grew quickly and became an important town. The first school, the Warwick National School (later called Warwick East State School), became too crowded. Also, as Warwick expanded west, the old school was no longer in the center of town.
In 1873, people started collecting money for a new school. In August, three pieces of land at the corner of Guy and Percy Streets were bought for £150. The architecture firm Suter and Voysey submitted plans for the new school in September 1873. The estimated cost was £1800.
The Architect Behind the Design
Architect Richard George Suter worked for Benjamin Backhouse, who had created a model plan for country schools in 1864. While working there, Suter designed school buildings. Later, the Board of Education hired Suter to design many timber schools and homes for teachers.
From 1868 to 1875, Suter designed almost all of the Board's school projects, including about 30 National Schools. He said his plans for the Warwick school were made with "the strictest view to economy." This meant the school would have large classrooms with tiered seating, where several classes could be taught at once by different teachers.
Building the School
The Mayor of Warwick laid the foundation stone for the new school on 25 June 1874. About 2000 people attended the ceremony. John McCulloch was hired to do the stonework for £1055. John Keleher built the timber parts and did the joinery. The roof was originally made of wooden shingles.
The school was finished by March 1875 and was called the Warwick Central School. The old Warwick National School was then renamed Warwick East School. The next year, a fence was built to separate the girls' and boys' sections of the school.
In November 1875, architect Richard Gailey reviewed the school. He thought the lighting and ventilation were poor and that the windows didn't fit well. He suggested building playground shelter sheds. Parents usually paid one-fifth of the cost for these sheds. Money was collected, and Keleher built two sheds for £140 each, finishing them by February 1878.
In 1884, Johann Guntz gave land next to the school. More land was added in 1892 from Carl Brell's estate.
Changes Over Time
For many years, the Warwick West School was divided by gender. The Girls and Infants School and the Boys School were in identical parts of the building, separated by walls and a fence in the school grounds. This separation lasted until 1 January 1933, when the two schools finally joined to become the Warwick Central State School.
In 1909, both the main school building and the toilet block needed new roofs. In 1910, a timber addition was built on the north side of the main building. Reports at the time also mentioned the poor lighting inside. In 1914, new dormer windows were added to the main building to improve light.
In 1919, an open-air annexe (an extra room) was built for £1167. While it helped with overcrowding, its open design caused some concerns as a classroom.
In 1929, Bert Mitchell planted a Bunya pine tree at the front of the school. He did this to honor his son, Walter, who started school there at age five.
In 1939, the school and playsheds were reported to be in bad condition. The Education Department suggested replacing the main building with a new brick one, but this plan never happened.
In 1956 and 1961, two new schools were built in Warwick. This helped reduce the overcrowding at Warwick Central State School.
In 1959, a new wing with six classrooms was built. Two more classrooms were added in 1968–1969. When these new classrooms were ready, the original stone school building was changed to be used for administration, a library, and music rooms.
Exploring the School's Design
The old West Warwick School is surrounded by well-kept gardens. Its main entrance faces Guy Street.
The Main School Building
The original school is a single-story building shaped like a "T." It is built from brown sandstone blocks. The roof has a pointed "gable" shape and is covered with corrugated iron. It also has pairs of dormer windows on each side, which are windows that stick out from the roof. Each dormer window has four small glass panes.
The front (eastern) side of the building has a part that sticks out with a gable roof. This part features two tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. Above them is a small arched window and a round air vent in the center. A similar design is found at the back (western) end of the building. On the northern and southern ends, there are sets of three narrow lancet windows, each with a small arched window above.
The eastern side also has five large square windows on both the northern and southern wings, on either side of the main entrance porch. Open verandahs (covered walkways) run along both sides of each wing. The southwestern part of the building has been enclosed and includes a timber extension, which is now used as a tuck shop.
Inside, the building is divided into four large rooms. The front gabled entrance leads to the southern wing, which is now used for school offices. The northern wing holds the library. The western wing is split into two rooms, used for music and storage.
The administration wing has walls covered with fibrous cement sheeting. The library is an open space. The rooms in the western wing still have their original layout, though the dividing walls were likely removed when the boys' and girls' schools joined together.
The ceiling in the main building is covered with pressed metal. Recently, modern stained glass windows have been added to the lancet windows on the northern wall of the library wing.
The Playshed
One of the original playground shelter sheds is still standing on the southern side of the school grounds. It has a timber frame and a gabled roof covered with corrugated iron. The lower half of the back and end walls are screened. A part of the western end has been enclosed and is used for storage.
Why This School is Important
Warwick Central State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 6 February 2006 because it meets several important criteria.
It shows how Queensland's history has changed. As a large and early government primary school, the former Warwick West School helps us understand how the education system grew in Queensland. It was built in 1874–75, a time when many new schools were being constructed. It's also an early example of a stone school building designed by the famous architect RG Suter, who designed many schools in Queensland during the late 1860s and early 1870s.
It shows rare or special parts of Queensland's heritage. The school is unique because it's an early school building that is still mostly in its original condition. It's also special because it's made of local stone, unlike most schools that were built with brick or timber later on.
It shows the main features of this type of place. The building clearly shows what early schools were like. For example, it has large classrooms designed for the "Lancastrian system" of teaching, where many students learned at once. It also shows the old practice of separating boys and girls in their classrooms and play areas.
It has great aesthetic value. The Warwick Central State School is beautiful because it's an early example of Gothic revival style architecture for schools. It's also located in a prominent spot and its pleasing shape and materials make Guy Street look much nicer.
It has a strong connection to the community. Warwick Central State School has provided primary education to many generations of children in Warwick. It continues to be highly valued by the community for its role in education.
It is connected to important people or groups in Queensland's history. The school is important because it shows the work of the influential architect Richard Suter, who greatly contributed to school design in Queensland. It is the only stone State school building he designed in Queensland.
Images for kids
-
Architectural plans for the Warwick Central State School, 1874
