West End State School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids West End State School
West End State School, 2018
Location	24 Vulture Street, West End, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1919–1930s (Interwar period)
Built	1891–1960, 1929–1931, 1930–1947, 1930–1947, 1930, 1936
Architectural style(s)	Classicism
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: West End State School
Type	state heritage
Designated	24 April 2018
Reference no.	650061
Type	Education, Research, Scientific Facility: School – state (primary)
Theme	Creating social and cultural institutions: Commemorating significant events; Educating Queenslanders: Providing primary schooling
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West End State School is a historic school located at 24 Vulture Street in West End, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was built between 1891 and 1960. This important school is officially listed on the Queensland Heritage Register since April 24, 2018, recognizing its special history and architecture.

Discovering West End State School's Past

West End State School opened its doors on August 16, 1875. It is located in the inner Brisbane suburb of West End, about 1.2 kilometers southwest of the city center. The school is important because it shows how state education and school buildings have changed over time in Queensland.

The school still has a special brick building from the 1930s. This building was extended in 1976 and 1984. The school grounds also feature a Memorial Fountain from 1930, old trees, and stone walls. The school has always been a very important part of its local community.

From Cemetery to Classroom: The School's Beginnings

The land where West End State School stands today was traditionally part of the Turrbal and Jagera people's country. In the 1840s, the Queensland government began selling land in this area. A map from 1844 even shows the school's site as a cemetery.

By the early 1860s, the West End area was being divided into housing lots. The unused 5-acre cemetery site was then set aside for a state school. A newspaper article from 1864 mentioned that only one person was buried in the West End Cemetery before it closed around 1865.

Starting a school was a key step for new communities to grow and succeed. Schools became a central point for the community. People helped maintain and develop them, and they became a symbol of progress. West End State School welcomed 236 students when it first opened. It had a brick schoolhouse that served girls, boys, and infants. The building was designed by architect Richard Suter.

Growing Pains and New Buildings

By the 1880s, more homes were built in West End, causing the school to become very crowded. In 1884, a new timber school building was built for the West End State School for Boys. This new building opened in August 1885. The original brick school building then became the West End Girls and Infants School. A large fence was built through the school grounds to keep the two schools separate. In 1892, a timber addition was built on the western side of the Girls and Infants School.

Green Spaces and Arbor Day

School grounds were always an important part of Queensland state schools. Playing outside was seen as very important, especially for primary school children. So, schools had outdoor play areas and sports fields. Trees and gardens were also planted to provide shade and make schools look nicer.

In the 1870s, a school inspector named William Boyd suggested planting shade trees in playgrounds. Because of this, Arbor Day was celebrated in Queensland starting in 1890. On August 1, 1890, the first Arbor Day at West End Boys, Girls and Infants School saw 12 trees planted by the boys. These included bamboo, silky oaks, and Moreton Bay figs. Even though some trees didn't survive, many more were planted in the following years.

West End's Growth and School Expansion

Even after the 1893 Brisbane floods affected West End, the area and the school continued to grow. West End became a popular place to live because it was close to the Brisbane CBD, had local jobs, and good transport. Trains started running from South Brisbane railway station in 1884. Electric trams also began running along Vulture and Hardgrave Streets in 1898, making it easy for most people to get around.

West End State School kept growing as the suburb developed. Around 1924, timber rooms for teachers were added to the Girls and Infants Building. The 1884 Boys School was also extended to form an "L" shape.

Remembering Heroes: The Memorial Fountain

In 1930, three special black terrazzo memorial drinking fountains were given to the West End State School by the Kurilpa Ladies' War Memorial Committee. These fountains honored those who lost their lives in World War I. They were officially unveiled on April 24, 1930, to mark the 15th anniversary of Anzac Day.

Building During Hard Times: The Great Depression

The Great Depression, which started in 1929, caused a lot of unemployment. To help people find work, the Queensland Government started a big building program. This included painting and repairing school buildings. At West End State School, unemployed workers helped turn the school grounds into "suitable sport areas" between 1930 and 1931.

In 1932, the government decided to spend even more on public buildings to create jobs. They built many large brick school buildings in growing areas. These buildings were designed to be strong, easy to maintain, and a long-term asset for the state.

West End State School was very crowded, with 885 students by the early 1930s. So, in 1934, the government approved a "Rebuilding Scheme" for the school.

The New Brick School Building

Plans for the new brick building were drawn in 1934–35. This building was designed to have 17 classrooms for 730 students. It had an open ground floor (undercroft) with toilets and play areas, a first floor with classrooms and offices, and a second floor with more classrooms. Some classrooms had folding walls that could open up to create larger assembly rooms.

This new building, now called the Main Admin Building, was finished in 1936. It replaced the old 1875 brick building. It was officially opened on November 28, 1936.

These Depression-era brick school buildings were often designed in a classical style. This was to show that the government was strong and hopeful during tough times. They were usually two stories tall, with an open space underneath, and could hold up to 1000 students.

School Life and Wartime Efforts

In 1937, two older school buildings were renovated to offer domestic science (like cooking and sewing) and manual arts (like woodworking) classes for the first time.

During World War II, many schools, including West End State School, were closed for a short time in 1942 due to fears of a Japanese invasion. When they reopened, attending school was optional. Slit trenches were dug in the playgrounds to protect students from air raids. Parents, former students, and even United States soldiers helped dig trenches at West End State School.

Schools also played a role in the war effort. Students and staff grew food for hospitals and raised money for Australian soldiers. Air Raid Precautions (ARP) meetings were held at the school.

After World War II, the school grounds were improved. Concrete walls were built in 1947, along with new fences.

A Diverse Community and Modern Changes

After World War II, West End State School continued to grow. The area became very multicultural as more people from overseas moved to West End. By 1950, West End was known as "Little Athens" because of its large Greek population. Later, in the 1980s, more Vietnamese migrants and people from other countries like Cyprus, Lebanon, and Turkey also made West End their home.

The main brick school building was extended in 1976 and again in 1983–1984. These additions followed the original plans for future extensions. The 1976 extension added a library and music room. The 1983–1984 extension added more teaching areas. A tuckshop was added in 1992, and kitchen areas were installed in 2000.

In 1995, the West End Primary School and West End Infants School joined together to become one school again, the West End State School. The fence that divided them was removed.

A swimming pool opened in 1990, and a pool stadium was built in 2000. Today, only one fig tree planted before World War II remains in the school grounds.

Throughout its history, the school has been a place for community events and celebrations. School anniversaries and fetes have been held to raise money for school facilities. In 1975, the school celebrated its 100th anniversary, and in 2000, it published a history book for its 125th anniversary.

West End State School still operates from its original site today. It keeps its historic brick building, memorial fountain, and landscaped grounds. The school is very important to the West End community as a central place for learning and social events.

Exploring the School's Design

West End State School covers about 1.9 hectares. It takes up an entire block, with Vulture Street at the front, Jane Street to the north, Horan Street to the east, and Hardgrave Road to the west.

The large brick school building from 1936 stands at the front of the school grounds. It is easy to spot because of its beautiful design and big size. The school grounds have been leveled, with stone and concrete retaining walls around the edges. The school also has old trees, a WWI memorial drinking fountain, and a big grass playing field.

The Depression-era Brick School Building (1936)

The Depression-era brick school building is a two-story building with an open space underneath (undercroft). It has an "E" shape when viewed from above. The longest part faces Vulture Street, and its center lines up with the main entrance. It has a hipped roof covered with metal sheets. At the very top of the roof, there is a tall metal ventilation fleche with a round cupola, which can be seen from far away.

The building looks simple but attractive, using strong and easy-to-care-for materials. It has a lot of red bricks that stand out against smooth concrete parts. The windows are plain and regular. The ground floor (undercroft) is made of smooth concrete, while the first and second floors are brick. The bricks are mid-red with white lines between them. The building's eaves (the parts of the roof that hang over the walls) are lined with sheets. The classrooms have timber floors, and the hallways have concrete floors.

The building has a long main section with shorter sections sticking out at each end towards the north. These shorter sections have been extended even further north. A long open verandah runs along the back (north) of the building and around the ends of the side sections, providing access to the rooms.

The front of the building has a central entrance portico with four tall concrete columns. These columns support a deep top section with "WEST END STATE SCHOOL" written in raised letters. Large, regular groups of timber-framed casement windows with small windows above them (fanlights) run along the front. The windows on the first floor are protected by a continuous concrete hood with decorative supports. The main entrance has two tall timber doors with glass fanlights above them.

The sides of the original building are mostly plain, with windows only for cloakrooms and stairwells. The back of the building has a central section that holds teachers' rooms and a stairwell with a tall, arched window.

The extensions added to the ends of the building in 1974 (west) and 1984 (east) match the original style but have some differences. Their roofs continue smoothly from the original building. They also have a concrete ground floor and brick upper floors, with sections marked by tall dark brick pilasters. These extensions have aluminum-framed casement windows with fanlights and metal hoods. Part of the open ground floor of the 1984 extension was later enclosed with brick to create a tuckshop in 1992.

The hallways on the first and second floors have concrete floors. The ceilings are lined with sheets. The walls between the hallways and rooms have timber doors and windows. Some of these have been replaced over time.

The first and second floors contain classrooms, teachers' rooms, and former hat and cloak rooms that are now used for storage or more teachers' rooms. The rooms have smooth walls. The original door and window handles are still there. The ceilings have a square timber trim, and the second-floor ceilings still have a central timber lattice panel for ventilation.

Three stairwells help people move between floors. They have fixed windows, though some have been replaced with glass blocks. The stairs are concrete and have decorative iron balustrades with a timber handrail.

The undercroft (ground floor) was originally open play spaces with toilets. Now, it has been divided into storage and workshop rooms using fences and brick walls. The floor is concrete, and the walls are smooth. Low timber seats are attached to the walls. The toilet areas have been updated, but a small part of the original timber partitions remains in one toilet. All windows in the undercroft have been replaced with glass louvres.

WWI Memorial Drinking Fountain (1930)

At the front entrance of the school, there is a WWI memorial drinking fountain. It is a round pedestal made of white stone and black cement terrazzo. It no longer has a faucet or drain and does not flow. Two identical plaques on the fountain read: "this fountain was erected by the residents of Kurilpa in memory of those who gave their lives in the Great War, 1914-1918. Unveiled 24.4.30 by J P Fry, Esq. M.L.A., Member for Kurilpa". One of these plaques was added later, likely from one of the two other fountains that were built at the same time.

School Grounds and Greenery

A stone wall stands along the Vulture, Horan, and Jane street boundaries of the school.

A concrete stair with a wrought iron double gate and concrete pillars is at the center of the Vulture Street front. This is the main entrance for people walking into the front garden.

Another concrete wall from 1947 is on the school boundary, wrapping around the corner of Hardgrave Road and Vulture Street.

A large grass playing field is in the northern part (back) of the school site. It is surrounded by trees. This field and the trees create a nice open green space in the busy inner city area. Old jacaranda trees stand along the Jane Street boundary.

A mature fig tree stands near the corner of Vulture Street and Hardgrave Road.

Why West End State School is Important

West End State School is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it meets several important criteria.

It shows how Queensland's history has changed. West End State School, started in 1875, shows how state education and school buildings have developed in Queensland. The school has a great example of a brick building from the Great Depression era. This building was a special architectural response to the government's ideas about education at the time. The school also has well-kept grounds with play areas, sports facilities, and old trees.

The brick building (1936) and the creation of the school playing field were part of the Queensland Government's efforts to create jobs during the Great Depression. The extensions added to the 1936 building in 1976 and 1984 followed the original plans. However, they also show newer ideas about education, with larger classrooms and more natural light.

The World War I Memorial Fountain (1930) shows how the school community remembered a major world event. War memorials are important tributes from communities to those who served and died.

It shows the main features of a special type of historic place. West End State School shows the main features of a Queensland state school. These include: school buildings built to standard designs, and a large, landscaped site with old trees, play areas, and sports facilities. The school is a good example of a complete suburban school complex, with its Depression-era brick building and later additions.

The brick school building and its extensions are excellent examples of their type. They show important features like: a grand building at the front of the school; a symmetrical two-story design with classrooms above open play spaces; a linear layout with rooms accessed by hallways; strong brick construction; a prominent central entrance; and high-quality design that provides lots of natural light and fresh air. It also shows the architectural styles of its time, seen in its roof, windows, and decorations.

It is beautiful and important for its looks. The brick school building at West End State School is very well-preserved. Its elegant design, large size, and materials make it beautiful. It shows how the Department of Public Works wanted to convey ideas of progress and permanence through its architecture.

The building also looks great from the street. Surrounded by old trees, its strong shape, classical design, and elegant look make it a dignified and attractive feature in the neighborhood.

It has a strong connection with the community. Schools have always been a vital part of Queensland communities. They often have strong and lasting connections with former students, parents, and teachers. They also provide a place for social gatherings and volunteer work, and they are a source of pride, showing local progress and hopes.

West End State School has a strong and ongoing connection with the West End community. It was started in 1875 thanks to the fundraising efforts of local people. Generations of West End children have learned there. The school is important for helping education grow in West End, and it is a key community gathering place for social and commemorative events.