Wilston State School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wilston State School
Wilston State School, 2009
Location	Primrose Street, Grange, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1914–1919 (World War I)
Built	1920–1954
Architect	Arthur Gordon Femister Greenway, Blackburne and Gzell
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Wilston State School
Type	state heritage
Designated	12 June 2015
Reference no.	602855
Type	Education, research, scientific facility: school-state
Theme	Educating Queenslanders: Providing primary schooling
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Wilston State School is a special school located on Primrose Street in Grange, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It has a rich history, with buildings dating back to 1920. The school was designed by famous architects like Arthur Gordon Femister Greenway. It is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on June 12, 2015. This means it's a protected historical site.

The School's Story: How Wilston State School Began

Wilston State School first opened its doors on August 14, 1920. It was built in the Brisbane area of Wilston, which is now part of Grange. The school was needed because more and more families were moving into the area. Over the years, as the community grew, new buildings were added. Wilston State School has many timber and brick buildings from the 1920s to the 1950s. These are set in beautiful, well-kept grounds. The school has been open non-stop since it started. It has always been a central place for the local community. Many important social and cultural events have happened here.

Why Schools Were Important in Queensland

Providing education was very important to the early governments in Australia. In Queensland, the Education Act of 1860 helped to set up schools. It also started to make school lessons and teacher training the same everywhere. Public schools grew quickly after this. The State 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.

Building schools was a key step for new communities to grow and succeed. Local people often gave land and helped build the schools. The school community also helped with upkeep and improvements. Schools became a symbol of progress and a source of pride. People who went to the school, their parents, and teachers often felt a strong connection to it. War memorials and community halls at schools also helped bring people together. They provided places for many community events.

How School Buildings Were Designed

To make sure schools were built well and didn't cost too much, the Queensland Government created standard plans. From the 1860s to the 1960s, most Queensland school buildings were made of timber. This was an easy and cheap way to build. It also allowed the government to build schools in faraway places. The standard designs were always being improved. This was done to meet new needs and ideas about education. Queensland school buildings were very good at controlling temperature, light, and fresh air. Because of these standard designs, schools across Queensland looked quite similar.

The Wilston Area: From Farms to Suburbs

The area around Wilston State School was first settled by Europeans when William Wilson bought land around 1876. He built a stone house and called it "Wilston." The suburb later took its name from his house. In the 1800s, Wilston was mostly farmland.

More people started moving to the area when the railway reached nearby Newmarket in 1897. In 1899, the Ferny Grove railway line was extended. The area became part of the Town of Windsor in 1904. Wilston was first seen as an outer part of Newmarket. It was used for grazing animals, tanneries, and dairies. The train line had a stop at Wilston. People then started to settle on the higher parts of Eildon Hill. The number of people in Wilston grew even more when the Grange electric tramway started running in 1928.

Building the School: Community Effort

People in Wilston started asking for a new school in 1912. Nearby schools, like Bowen Bridge State School (now Windsor State School) and Newmarket State School, were against it. They worried that a new school would take away resources from them. In 1914, people tried again to get a school built. They pointed out that the area was very hilly, which was hard for small children. Crossing the railway tracks and passing cattle yards were also dangerous. By 1917, two possible spots for the new school were chosen. After parents voted, Coronation Park, a recreation area, was picked.

Block C, the school's first building, from Primrose Street, 2009

Wilston State School officially opened on August 14, 1920. It had one main timber school building (now called Block C) on 1.62 hectares of land. This building was placed in the middle of the higher ground near Primrose Street. A newspaper said the building was made of timber on brick supports. It had an asbestos slate roof. It also had 8 classrooms with verandahs and two rooms for teachers. The report noted the good lighting and fresh air. The concrete area under the building was used for play. Toilets were also conveniently located nearby. The school started with 320 students. This number grew as the area developed.

Walter Collings: A Head Teacher Who Made a Difference

The school became known for its success in arts and music. This was largely thanks to the first head teacher, Walter Collings. He played a big part in how the school and its grounds developed. He was known for being against corporal punishment (physical punishment) in schools. Wilston was supposedly the first school in Queensland to ban it. By the late 1920s, the school even had its own orchestra! In 1923, a statue of William Shakespeare was put in a garden bed near the 1920 building. The Queensland Governor, Sir Matthew Nathan, officially revealed it.

Walter Collings, head teacher from 1920 to 1939

Mr. Collings also encouraged sports. One of the first swimming pools at a state school in Queensland was built at Wilston State School in 1923. It was located in the southwest part of the school grounds. The school committee raised the money for it. MR Hornibrook built the pool. It opened on November 10, 1923, at a big public event. The concrete pool was 23 meters long and 7.6 meters wide. It was between 1 and 2.1 meters deep. Other schools had opened pools earlier. In 1915, the Minister for Public Instruction, Herbert Hardacre, said swimming was "better than other physical exercise during the hot summer months." He wanted to see a swimming pool at every school. A year later, he stressed how good swimming was for children's bodies. Learning to swim was also important for water safety. In 1924, a long timber dressing shed was built next to the pool. In 1929, tennis courts were also officially opened.

Beautiful Grounds and Smart Designs

Having outdoor play areas was important. The Department of Public Instruction believed in play-based learning, especially for primary school kids. Trees and gardens were planted to make schools look nicer. In the 1870s, a school inspector named William Boyd said tropical schools needed more shade trees. Also, Arbor Day celebrations started in Queensland in 1890. Gardens and Arbor Days were thought to teach kids hard work and good taste. They also encouraged people to stay on the land. After Wilston State School was built, its grounds were leveled into terraces. Gardens with bush houses were also created. Principal Collings said in 1932 that "a beautiful garden was better than the best teacher." Shade trees, like Fig trees and Camphor Laurels, were planted around the school boundaries.

To make classrooms better, designers focused on light and fresh air. This led to the "sectional school" type in 1920. This was a high-set timber building. It brought together the best ideas from earlier designs. It was practical, cheap, and met both educational and climate needs. Most importantly, it allowed schools to grow easily over time. Before this, buildings were often placed based on the street, which could mean poor lighting. The sectional school had only one verandah, usually on the north side. This left the south wall open for many windows. The west wall could be removed. As the school grew, this wall could be taken off, and the building extended. This is why it was called "sectional." This design led to long, narrow buildings with many classrooms, which is a common sight at Queensland schools.

Opening of the kindergarten, 1926

In 1926, another sectional school building (Block A) was built. It was located northwest of the original 1920 building. This was a kindergarten wing. It had three regular classrooms and one double-sized classroom. It was meant for 300 children. Like other sectional schools, it was high-set with solid end walls. It had a north-facing verandah and large windows on the south wall. It also had a projecting teachers' room.

Special Buildings and More Improvements

Principal Collings' love for music and arts likely led to a new, special building. This building was not a standard government design. It was a multi-purpose classroom and concert hall. Architect AGF Greenaway designed it in 1933. Greenaway worked for the Department of Public Works.

The Governor of Queensland, Sir Leslie Wilson, opened this new building (now Block D) on September 23, 1933. It was located northeast of the 1920 building. It looked more like a church hall than a school. It had a porch at the west end. Inside, there were two double classrooms separated by a wall. There was also a classroom on a raised area at the east end. This building had no verandahs. The roof was gabled, and windows were standard school windows. The classrooms were 12.1 meters wide with a special roof structure.

Primrose Street entrance with pergola, 2015

During the 1930s, the school grounds also changed. Around 1934, new toilets were built under the 1920 building and the 1926 infants' wing. In 1937, two acres of land from Coronation Park were bought for a sports oval. Landscaping work happened in 1932. This included a terraced lawn, concrete stairs, garden beds, and a pergola at the main entrance on Primrose Street. A statue of Captain Cook, made by James Arthur Watts, was also revealed in a garden bed. In 1933, a concrete wall and railing were added around the parade area north of the 1920 building. In 1935, special gates were built on the Thomas Street boundary. These gates had concrete pillars, iron gates, and an archway. They were opened on September 21, 1935. In the same year, art deco-style railings were added to walls north of the infants' wing.

Growing After World War II

After World War II, many Brisbane suburbs grew quickly. This led to a "baby boom" and more students in schools, including Wilston State School. After the war, the Department of Public Instruction needed to build schools fast and cheaply. Queensland schools were very crowded. There weren't enough resources because the government gave education a low budget. Also, skilled workers and materials were hard to find.

Around 1949, two sectional buildings from Kelvin Grove Boys School were moved to Wilston State School. These buildings (now Blocks B and E) helped with the growing number of students. Each had two classrooms with an L-shaped verandah. They were placed west and east of the 1920 building (Block C). Around 1953, the eastern building (Block E) was made longer.

In 1954, another special building (now Block G) was built near Primrose Street. This was a Visual Education Centre and Library. The school had started raising money for it in 1941. Half the cost was paid by the school's fundraising. The other half was paid by the Queensland Government. Brisbane architects Blackburne and Gzell designed it. It was a two-story timber building with a terracotta roof. It had a two-story brick entrance porch. The Queensland Premier, Vince Gair, officially opened it in 1954.

From the 1950s onwards, more changes and additions happened. In 1956, the 1920 building (Block C) got more toilets. A high-set classroom building (Block H) was built next to the pool in 1970. The 1933 special building (Block D) became a library in 1983.

In 1970, for the school's Jubilee (50th anniversary), the swimming pool was made wider and longer. It became 25 meters long with six lanes. This project was paid for by the Wilston State School P&C (Parents and Citizens) and the Queensland Government.

In the 1990s, several buildings were updated. In 1993, the central part of the 1920 building (Block C) was changed for administration offices. In 1997, parts of the verandahs of the 1920 and 1926 buildings were enclosed.

Changes were also made to the school grounds. Stone walls were built in different places from the 1950s. A bell tower with the school bell was added near Block A before 1939. Pathways and gardens near the main entrance were changed in the 1990s.

The school has always been very important to the local community. Parents have helped with buildings and making the grounds beautiful. Many generations of local families have attended the school.

In 2015, Wilston State School was still operating from its original site. It still has its original and special timber and brick buildings from 1920 to the 1950s. The school is a key gathering place for the community. Its grounds and buildings have hosted many social events.

What Wilston State School Looks Like Today

Site map, 2015

Wilston State School covers a large area of 2.84 hectares in The Grange. The school is surrounded by Primrose Street, Inglis Street, Thomas Street, and Carberry Street. It has many buildings on a sloping site. The oldest buildings are on the higher ground at the south end. Newer buildings are in the middle. The playing fields are on the lower ground at the north end. Besides the old buildings, there are entrance gates on Thomas Street (from 1935) and a swimming pool (1923) with a dressing shed (1924). Other features include statues of historical figures, walls, pathways, and old trees.

The six most important buildings at the school are all made of timber. They are all lined with weatherboards and face east-west. These buildings are:

• Block C - the original 1920 suburban timber school building
• Block A - a 1926 sectional school building
• Block D - a 1933 special classroom and hall building
• Block B - a 1922 sectional school building (moved here around 1950)
• Block E - a 1922 sectional school building (moved here around 1950, extended around 1953)
• Block G - a 1954 building that used to be a Visual Education Centre and Library.

The early plan of the school grounds is still visible. All the important buildings (except Block G) are placed evenly around Block C. Block C is the original 1920 building and is in the middle of the southern school grounds. Blocks A and D are to the northwest and northeast of Block C. Blocks B and E are in line with Block C. Block G is to the southeast of Block C.

Most of the important school buildings (except Block G) are covered in weatherboard siding. They are high-set on brick or concrete supports. They have corrugated metal roofs. Blocks C, A, B, and E are rectangular. They have north-facing verandahs. They also have many windows on their south sides to let in lots of natural light. They have old timber window frames and doors. Inside, they have timber floors and simple timber skirtings. The walls and ceilings are usually lined with timber boards. Some 1950s classrooms have flat sheeting. Blocks C, A, B, and the middle of Block E have curved ceilings. Things like modern carpets, new walls, and aluminum windows are not part of the original historical design.

Block C: The Original 1920 Building

Projecting teachers' room, Block C, 2015

Block C is a large building with a balanced design. It has a central part (once 4 classrooms, now offices). It also has two end parts, each with 2 classrooms. A teachers' room sticks out on the north side of the central part. Verandahs run along the north sides of all parts. Some parts of the verandahs are now enclosed. The building has gambrel roofs. Four sets of stairs and a modern lift lead to the verandahs. A new covered staircase is on the south side.

The south walls of all parts have many windows. The bottom row has casement windows. The top row has windows that pivot horizontally. The east and west ends still have a top row of small windows that open outwards. Each end wall has three small, high windows. The teachers' room has modern aluminum windows.

The central verandah has a two-rail wooden railing. It has curved timber arches between the posts. The ceiling is sloped. The verandahs on the east and west parts have been partly enclosed with weatherboards. Inside, large openings have been cut into the verandah walls.

Classrooms in the east and west parts are separated by original timber walls with fixed glass. The walls have picture rails. Many new walls have been added to the central part. The teachers' room has a flat ceiling.

The area under the building has a concrete floor. It is partly enclosed by timber screens and brick walls. The supports are brown glazed bricks with rounded edges. This area has several toilet blocks from the 1930s and 1950s. These have brick outer walls and timber dividing walls. Under the west part, a large room and two storage rooms have been built.

Block A: The 1926 Sectional School Building

Block A is a long building with a teachers' room that sticks out from the verandah. It has a gable roof with vertical timber infill. The east and west walls have no windows. Two timber staircases lead to the verandah.

The verandah has a timber, two-rail railing. It has a sloped ceiling and a single-layer verandah wall. Old hat room enclosures are still at both ends. Bag hooks are on the verandah wall.

The building still has many of its original timber windows and doors. The south wall has five sets of casement windows with smaller windows above them. The teachers' room has pairs of casement windows with smaller windows above. The verandah wall has five sets of double doors with smaller windows above. It also has five pairs of three-light sash windows with smaller windows above.

Inside, there are two large classrooms and one smaller classroom. Two single-layer dividing walls are still there. The old teachers' room has been made bigger.

The area under the building has a concrete floor. It is partly enclosed by timber screens and brick walls. The supports are brown glazed bricks with rounded edges. A 1930s/50s toilet block is at the east end. The west end has been enclosed for storage rooms.

Block D: The 1933 Hall and Classroom Building

Former hall and classrooms, 2015

The 1933 building, Block D, stands on brick supports and walls. It is rectangular. It has a central porch on the west side. It also has stair landings at the east end of the north and south sides. The building and porch have gable roofs with vertical timber ends. A tall, pointed spire (called a fleche) and spaced eaves let air into the roof space. Most windows are timber-framed casements with fixed smaller windows above. They are protected by corrugated metal hoods with timber brackets. There are four sets of timber stairs.

Inside, there is a large central space. It has an enclosed western porch. There is also an eastern raised stage and a small kitchen area. Most walls and ceilings are lined with timber boards. Beams in the central space are visible. Ceiling vents are still in their original spots. High timber picture rails run around the room. Original timber doors with smaller windows above lead to the teachers' rooms and hallways.

The area under the building has rounded brick supports, brick walls, and a concrete floor. There is an old timber door to the space under the western porch. Old windows include timber-framed sash windows.

Block B: The 1922 Sectional School Building (Moved Here Around 1950)

Block B has an L-shaped verandah on the north and east sides. The east side is now enclosed. It has a gable roof with vertical timber infill. The building stands on concrete supports. The area under the building is enclosed with timber screens. A staircase leads to the north verandah. A new lift connects the verandah to the pool area.

The verandah has a timber, two-rail railing. It has a sloped ceiling and a single-layer verandah wall with bag hooks. Parts of a former hat room have been included in the verandah enclosure.

Old windows include timber sash windows with smaller windows above them in the verandah wall. There are also two large sets of timber-framed windows on the south wall. These have casement windows at the bottom, horizontally pivoting windows in the middle, and smaller windows at the top. Doors in the verandah wall each have two tall, horizontally pivoting windows above them. A double door at the west end of the verandah is an old door.

Inside, there are two classrooms separated by a single-layer wall. The enclosed verandah has a modern kitchen area and office.

Block E: The 1922 Sectional School Building (Extended Around 1953)

Block E, a 1922 sectional school building with extensions from 1953, stands on concrete and steel supports. It has a gable roof with timber infills. The windows on the south wall are from different times. The central 1922 part has tall, timber-framed sash windows and horizontally pivoting windows with smaller windows above. The 1953 end parts have pairs of timber-framed casement windows with awning windows above.

The verandah has a sloped ceiling and a single-layer verandah wall with bag racks. Part of the ceiling is flat over the 1953 verandahs. A line in the ceiling shows where the original verandah roof ended. The west end of the verandah has a hat room enclosure. A small part of the old two-rail railing is still at the east end. Verandah windows are double-hung with timber sashes and awning windows above. Old timber doors are still there.

Inside, the building is divided into three classrooms. Even though openings have been cut into original walls, you can still see the old layout. The walls and ceilings of the 1953 parts are lined with flat sheeting.

The area under the building has a concrete floor. It has a modern enclosure at the southwest end. Parts of the original timber verandah lining are still attached to a support beam. This shows where the 1922 building ended. The wooden beams supporting the 1922 part are narrower than those of the extensions.

Block G: The 1954 Former Visual Education Centre and Library

Former library, 2015

Block G, built in 1954, was designed as a Visual Education Centre and Library. It is a two-story building covered in chamferboards. It has a brick porch and verandah that stick out on the north side. It has a terracotta-tiled hip roof. The main entrance is through 5-light French doors in the porch. There are other entrances from the north verandah, a west staircase, and a south patio. Windows are usually timber-framed awnings. There are double-hung windows on the upper level of the porch. The porch entrance has round concrete columns and low brick planter boxes. The verandah has a terracotta-tiled hip roof, round concrete columns, a concrete floor, and a flat ceiling. The inside of the building is mostly original. The ground floor has a foyer with storage rooms and a main staircase. It also has a hall and a stage with storage rooms. The upper floor has one open space (the old library). The walls and ceilings on both levels are lined with flat sheeting. The timber handrail of the main staircase has a geometric design. Old 5-light timber French doors between the foyer and hall are still there. Beams in the hall are visible and covered with flat sheeting.

School Grounds and Trees

Gates at Thomas Street, 2015

The school grounds are well-established with many old trees. These include different types of fig trees and other shade trees along Inglis, Carberry, and Thomas streets. The sloping land creates terraces, offering views of the surrounding area from the school grounds and buildings. Stone walls are in various places around the site. Gardens at the Primrose Street entrance make the school look nice. They also connect Block C to the street. This area includes pathways, concrete statues of William Shakespeare and Captain James Cook, garden beds, a timber pergola structure, and lawn areas.

Other features in the grounds are mostly arranged along two lines. One runs east-west from Inglis Street to Thomas Street (north of Block C). The other runs north-south on the west side of the school (in line with the center of Block A).

The east-west line includes a driveway that starts at the decorative, wrought-iron Thomas Street gates. These gates stand between concrete pillars. They have an archway with "WILSTON STATE SCHOOL" written in iron. A concrete railing (from 1933) emphasizes the east-west line. This railing is on top of the walls that form the south and west edges of the old parade ground (north of Block C). The railing has large square pillars and decorative concrete balusters. Rounded stairs are in a break in the railing. A timber bell tower with a gable roof and decorative timberwork is at the east end of Block A. It holds an old school bell. Sets of low concrete steps from the 1930s are along the south edge of the driveway.

The north-south line connects Block A with the oval to the north. It is mainly a footpath that starts at curved concrete stairs. These stairs have low edge walls and meet an Art Deco-style railing (from 1935). This railing has concrete pillars with metal handrails. It stands on a brick wall that goes around the south and west edges of a lower playground. The pathway continues north to another set of concrete stairs. These stairs lead to the oval.

The large oval and its old shade trees make the school stand out. They create a beautiful setting for the school and give it a strong sense of place.

The streets around the school look nice because of the old trees, terraced banks, and interesting features. These include the entrance gates and statues of historical figures.

Why Wilston State School is a Heritage Site

Wilston State School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on June 12, 2015. This means it meets certain important standards.

It shows how education in Queensland has changed over time. Wilston State School (started in 1920) is important because it shows how state education and school buildings have changed in Queensland. The school has great examples of standard government school buildings. These buildings show the ideas about education at the time they were built.

The suburban timber school building (1920) shows the best ideas for light, classroom size, and building height.

Three sectional school buildings (from around 1922, around 1922, and 1926) show how timber school designs changed. They were designed to meet both educational and climate needs.

Two special-purpose school buildings (1933, 1954) show that some schools started teaching more subjects, like music and arts.

An early swimming pool (1923) and dressing shed (1924) show how popular it became for children to learn to swim for health and safety.

The large school site, with old trees and gardens, shows how important play and beauty were in educating children.

It shows the main features of a special type of historical place. Wilston State School shows the main features of Queensland state schools and how they were changed later. These include: timber-framed teaching buildings built to standard designs by the Queensland Government. It also has large, landscaped sites with old shade trees, assembly areas, and sports facilities. The school is a good example of a large suburban school complex. It has many standard and special timber buildings from 1920 to the 1950s. It also has unique features like a swimming pool and dressing shed (1923, 1924), entrance gates (1935), a bell tower (before 1939), and statues of historical figures (1923, 1932).

The large Suburban Timber School (Block C, 1920) is a good example of its type. It has a balanced plan with three parts. It is high-set with play space, toilets, and benches underneath. It has gambrel roofs, continuous northern verandahs, many south-facing windows, and a projecting teachers' room. It also has single-layer verandah walls, old windows and doors, and internal features like glass classroom walls.

Three sectional school buildings (Block B, around 1922; Block E, around 1922 with around 1953 extensions; and Block A, 1926) are good examples of their type. Block A is very original. Their features include being high-set with play space underneath. They have gable roofs, solid end walls, northern verandahs, many south-facing windows, a projecting teachers' room (Block A), hat room enclosures, single-layer verandah walls, and old windows, doors, and internal linings.

The special-purpose buildings (Block D, 1933, a hall and classroom building; and Block G, 1954, a hall and library building) are good examples of specially designed state school buildings. They were built in big cities to meet the school's specific needs. Both buildings were designed for many uses and are still mostly original.

It is beautiful and well-designed. Wilston State School is important for its beauty. It is a well-arranged group of buildings that look similar in shape, size, and materials. Their original balanced layout is still there. This shows how the first building was placed in a central, important spot on the sloping grounds. The school's setting is made beautiful by old trees and formal landscaping. This includes pathways, walls, stairs, gardens, and interesting features like entrance gates and statues of historical figures.

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

Wilston State School has a strong and ongoing connection with the community around it. It was started in 1920 with money raised by the local community. Generations of children have been educated there. The school has helped the educational growth of its area. It is a main community gathering place for social and special events, with wide support from the community.

Famous Students

• Colin Lamont, who became a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly (a type of politician who helps make laws for Queensland).

See also

• History of state education in Queensland
• List of schools in Greater Brisbane