Warwick State High School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Warwick State High School |
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Warwick High School, 2017
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| Location | Palmerin Street, Warwick, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900–1914 (Early 20th century) |
| Built | 1914–1915, Block A, 1914, Block B, 1932, Block C, 1958, South connecting wing, two–storey concrete, 1959, North connecting wing, 1963, former plumbing workshop, 1968–1969, Science and toilet block extension |
| Architect | Thomas Pye |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Warwick State High School; Warwick Technical College / Warwick Intermediate School | |
| Type | state heritage |
| Designated | 28 June 2018 |
| Reference no. | 650062 |
| Type | Education, Research, Scientific Facility: School – state (high) |
| Theme | Educating Queenslanders: Providing secondary education |
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Warwick State High School is an old and important school in Warwick, Queensland, Australia. It is located on Palmerin Street. The school was designed by Thomas Pye. Its first main building, Block A, was built between 1914 and 1915. This school was also known as Warwick Technical College and Warwick Intermediate School. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2018 because of its special history and buildings.
School History
Warwick State High School first opened on this spot in 1914. It started as the Warwick Technical College and High School. Before this, it was in a different location on Guy Street. The school grew over time. In 1929, it became home to Queensland's first "intermediate school." New buildings were added in the 1950s and 1960s as more students joined.
The buildings were specially designed by the Department of Public Works. They form a nice group of school buildings from the early to mid-1900s. These include:
- The Main Building, Block A (built 1915)
- The Workshops Block, Block B (built 1914)
- The Intermediate School Building, Block C (built 1932)
- Newer High School Buildings:
- South Connecting Wing (built 1958)
- North Connecting Wing (built 1959)
- Block F (built 1963)
- Block D (built 1968/69)
Early Warwick and Technical Education
Before Europeans arrived, the Darling Downs area was cared for by Aboriginal people. They used controlled fires to keep the land open for animals. British settlers began arriving in 1840. The town of Warwick was planned in 1849. It quickly became an important business center.
In the 1800s, people learned trades like building or making things at "schools of arts." These were like community centers. As more people needed skilled jobs, special technical colleges were built. Queensland's first purpose-built technical college opened in Ipswich in 1901. Warwick's technical college opened in 1906.
The Queensland Government started to get more involved in technical education in the early 1900s. This was because the manufacturing industry was growing. More skilled workers were needed. In 1908, a law allowed the government to take over technical colleges.
Technical education in Warwick began in 1895 at the School of Arts. Soon, a new building was needed. A new technical college building opened in 1906 on Guy Street.
Warwick Technical High School Opens
In 1910, high school education started at the Warwick technical college. This was called a "Day School." Warwick was the first regional town in Queensland to have a technical high school run by the government. The Warwick Technical High School officially opened in August 1910.
More space was quickly needed for the growing school. In 1913, land was taken from Cunningham Park for a new, larger school. This park was originally set aside for public use in 1855.
In the early 1900s, Queensland was doing well. This allowed the government to build many large public buildings, including schools. Brick school buildings were often built in busy towns. These schools were designed individually and had generous budgets. They looked grand and were important landmarks.
Queensland Government Architect Thomas Pye designed the new Warwick Technical College and High School buildings. Construction began in 1914. The main building, Block A, was finished in 1915. It was a two-story brick building with a tiled roof. It had a carved stone coat of arms above the entrance. This showed the school's motto: "Virtute et Labore," meaning "by hard work and excellence."
A separate two-story Workshops Block, Block B, was finished earlier in May 1914. It had workshops for blacksmithing, plumbing, carpentry, and drawing. Both buildings had gas heating, electricity, and synchronized clocks. They were officially opened in October 1915.
Growth and New Schools
Warwick became known as a "school town." Many private boarding and day schools opened from 1912 onwards. These included Our Lady of the Assumption College and St Joseph's Christian Brothers College.
Charles Astley (1869-1929) was the art master at Warwick Technical College from 1908. He was a talented artist and musician. He taught woodcarving and started pottery classes. Warwick got a pottery kiln in 1918. This was before Brisbane's main technical college had one. Astley's students' pottery was shown in exhibitions. He even won a medal at the British Empire Exhibition in London in 1924. Astley was a very important person in Warwick's cultural life.
Intermediate School and Further Expansion
In the late 1920s, "intermediate schools" were introduced in Queensland. These schools helped students move from primary to secondary school. They taught vocational subjects and prepared students for higher certificates.
Warwick Technical College and High School opened Queensland's first intermediate school in February 1929. The students were first housed in the workshops block. A new, purpose-built Intermediate School building, Block C, was built in 1932. It was designed to match the other buildings. This two-story building had classrooms, drawing rooms, and science rooms. It was officially opened in October 1932.
In the late 1950s, two new connecting wings were built. The South Connecting Wing (1958) linked Block A and Block C. It had science labs and classrooms. The North Connecting Wing (1959) linked Block A and Block B. It had classrooms, art rooms, and dressmaking rooms. These wings helped connect the buildings and provided more space.
Cunningham Park, next to the school, was used for sports. The school built a tennis court and cricket pitch there. In 1964, the park became part of the school's land.
More buildings were added in the 1960s. A plumbing workshop, Block F, was completed in 1963. It had large workshop rooms for metalwork and plumbing. In 1964, a new Science and Toilet Block extension, Block D, was built. It had toilets and showers on the ground floor and science labs upstairs.
Modern Era
In 1977, the school gained more land. A new Great Hall was completed in 1977, and a First Year Centre in 1978. These new buildings changed the view of Block C from the street. The school grounds were also made more beautiful in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Warwick State High School continued to offer evening classes for tradesmen until 1988. That's when the Warwick TAFE College was established. The upper floor of Block B was turned into a drama theatre in the 1980s. A new library building was completed in 1986.
The school celebrated its 100th birthday in 2002. In 2016, there were 893 students. In 2018, Warwick State High School still used its original buildings. It remains the only state high school in Warwick. It is an important part of the community, teaching generations of students for over a century.
School Buildings
Warwick State High School is on a large piece of land. It faces Palmerin Street and is surrounded by other streets and buildings.
The school has seven important buildings:
- Block A: The main classroom building, facing Palmerin Street.
- Block B: The old workshops building, behind Block A.
- North Connecting Wing: Links Block A and B.
- Block C: The old intermediate school building, south of Block A.
- South Connecting Wing: Links Block A and C.
- Block D: Extends west from Block C.
- Block F: The old plumbing workshop building, north of Block D.
These buildings look similar because they use the same materials and style. They are arranged around an open courtyard. This courtyard helps with air flow and light for the buildings. It also provides space for students to move around.
The school buildings look nice from Palmerin and Victoria Streets. They are an important landmark in Warwick. The front garden on Palmerin Street is well-kept. It has paths, garden beds, and cypress trees.
Block A: Main Classroom Building (1915)
Block A is a two-story brick building. It has a granite base and a tiled roof. It has many large timber windows. The front entrance has fancy stone decorations and a carved school emblem. Inside, there's a wide entrance hall with a concrete staircase. This building had rooms for business classes, chemistry, and a lecture hall.
A two-story toilet block is behind Block A. It is connected by a walkway on the first floor. This toilet block has brick walls and a tiled roof.
Block B: Workshops Building (1914)
Block B is a two-story brick building that used to be for workshops. It has a tiled roof and many windows. The ground floor was for blacksmithing and plumbing. The first floor was for carpentry and drawing. It has a chimney and a crane on the roof.
A small brick room, the former kiln room, is attached to the west side. This is where pottery was fired.
Block C: Intermediate School Building (1932)
Block C is a two-story brick building with a tiled roof. It has a granite base and large windows. The building faces north. The ground floor had four classrooms that could be opened up for assemblies. The first floor had classrooms, a drawing room, and a science room. The classrooms have large windows for light and fresh air.
South Connecting Wing (1958)
This two-story building connects Block A and Block C. It has a tiled roof. The building has brick walls and many windows. Inside, there were science labs on the ground floor and classrooms on the first floor. A verandah runs along the inside of the building.
North Connecting Wing (1959)
This two-story building connects Block A and Block B. It has a metal roof and many windows. The building faces Victoria Street. It had classrooms on the ground floor. Art, drawing, and dressmaking rooms were on the first floor.
Block D: Science and Toilet Block Extension (1968/69)
Block D is a two-story building that extends from Block C. It has a metal roof. The ground floor has an open play area and a large toilet and shower block. The first floor has a verandah and science classrooms. The classrooms have large windows for light.
Block F: Former Plumbing Workshop (1963)
Block F is a one-story brick building. It has a concrete floor and a metal roof. It has large double doors and many windows. This building had two large workshop rooms, one for metalwork and one for plumbing. It still has its original work benches.
Why Warwick State High School is Special
Warwick State High School is important for several reasons:
Showing Queensland's History
The school shows how state and technical education has changed in Queensland. Its buildings are great examples of government designs from different times. Warwick State High School was one of the first important government schools in the region. It led the way in secondary and technical education.
The older buildings (Block A, Block B, and Block C) show how schools were designed in the early 1900s. The newer buildings (South and North Connecting Wings, Block F, and Block D) show how architects tried to make classrooms better with more light and fresh air.
Unique School Features
Warwick State High School shows what a Queensland state high school and technical college looked like from the early to mid-1900s. It has high-quality buildings designed by the Public Works Department. It has separate buildings for different subjects and vocational training. Classrooms have lots of natural light and ventilation. The school also has nice gardens near the town center.
Each main block (A, B, C, F) shows special features of its type of school building. For example, Block A has a grand design for a main teaching building. Block B was built separately to reduce noise from workshops. Block C has classrooms designed for lots of southern light. Block F has large workshop spaces for vocational training.
Beautiful Design
The school buildings (Blocks A, B, C, and the connecting wings) are very well-preserved and beautiful. They look harmonious together with their similar style and materials. They are arranged around an open courtyard. Blocks A and C have tall roof spires that stand out.
The design of the buildings shows a sense of progress and strength. They add to the beauty of Palmerin and Victoria Streets. The school is a well-known landmark in Warwick. Many photos have been taken of its beautiful brick buildings.
Strong Community Connection
Schools are always important to communities. They connect former students, parents, and teachers. They are a place for social events and volunteer work. Schools often symbolize a town's pride and hopes for the future.
Warwick State High School has been a leader in education in Queensland since 1895. Local people helped raise money to build the new school in 1914-1915. This made Warwick an even more important education center for the region.
The school has taught many generations of students from Warwick and nearby areas for over 100 years. It is still a very important part of the community.
Association with Charles Astley
Warwick State High School has a special connection to the famous artist Charles Astley (1869-1929). He was the Art Master at the school from 1908 to 1925. He was a pioneer in teaching pottery in Queensland. Astley carved the stone emblem above the entrance to Block A. He also helped set up the kiln room in Block B.
