Wooloowin State School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wooloowin State School
Wooloowin State School, 2015
Location	663 Lutwyche Road, Wooloowin, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1900–1914 (early 20th century)
Built	1914–1934
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Wooloowin State School
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	13 January 1995
Reference no.	601565
Significant period	1914–1930s (historical) 1914–1930s (fabric) 1914–ongoing (social)
Significant components	school/school room, classroom/classroom block/teaching area
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Wooloowin State School is a public primary school located in Wooloowin, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is a co-educational school, meaning both boys and girls attend. The school buildings were constructed between 1914 and 1934. Because of its important history and unique design, the school was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 13 January 1995. This means it is a special place protected for future generations.

History of Wooloowin State School

Wooloowin State School was built in four main stages. The first part was finished in 1914. More sections were added in 1918, 1925, and 1934. When it first opened in 1914, it was seen as a very modern school. It was a "model school" for new ways of teaching in Queensland. This was shown in its buildings, grounds, furniture, and even the subjects taught.

How Wooloowin Grew

The area now known as Wooloowin was once part of Lutwyche. It got its name from the Wooloowin railway station, which opened in 1889. In the 1880s, larger land areas were divided into smaller blocks for homes. The area really grew in the early 1900s. This was especially true after the tramline was extended to Kedron in 1913–1914. Wooloowin quickly became a busy suburb for working-class families.

Starting the School

In 1911, a group called the Wooloowin Progress Association was formed. They worked hard to get a school built. Before 1914, children from Wooloowin had to go to crowded schools in Eagle Junction and Bowen Bridge Road. The government bought a three-acre piece of land for £1,200. Plans for the new school were drawn up in 1913.

The school was designed by the Government Architect's Office. This office was known for creating many beautiful government buildings across Queensland. Wooloowin State School was one of the most expensive building projects in Queensland in 1913–1914. It was meant to be a "show" school, setting an example for others.

The original 1914 building, as it looked in 2011.

The foundation stone was laid in early 1914. The school officially opened on 15 September 1914 with 266 students. It had four large classrooms in two brick buildings. These buildings had wide verandahs at the front and back. The classrooms had modern desks for two students, with seats that could tip up. They also had large green "blackboards" instead of old boards on easels. The teachers chosen for this school were some of the best in Queensland.

New Ways of Learning

Wooloowin State School was built during a time of new ideas in education in Queensland. In 1914, the first teacher training college opened in Brisbane. A new school curriculum was introduced in 1915. This new plan focused on making subjects connect with each other. It also encouraged students to be active in their learning and to develop good character.

The new curriculum included "kindergarten occupations" for younger students. School gardening became a subject, and it could be compulsory if the teacher chose it. Manual training (like woodwork) and domestic science (like cooking and sewing) were also encouraged. Needlework became a required subject for girls. Teachers still focused on academic studies, but schools also started teaching practical skills and character-building activities. The goal was to develop the whole child, not just to make them memorize facts.

Sports and Activities

Modern education also encouraged sports, especially swimming. In 1908, teachers formed a group to promote swimming for school children. By 1914, many swimming clubs had started. The Wooloowin State School building committee paid for a swimming pool to be built in 1916. It was 42 feet long, 16 feet wide, and 5 feet deep at the deepest end. This pool was made even bigger in 1925.

In 1918, woodwork and domestic science were added to the school's subjects. Wooloowin was one of the first primary schools to offer these subjects.

A close-up of the rooftop ventilator, 2015.

The first addition to the school was built in 1918. It was a brick building with wide verandahs, similar to the 1914 wing. This added two more classrooms, bringing the total to six. By 1921, the school had over 800 students! In 1923, plans were made for a second addition. This was a two-storey brick building with four classrooms on each floor. It was built in 1925.

More Growth and Changes

Wooloowin continued to grow in the 1920s and 1930s. More homes were built, and the school needed more space. In 1934, a three-storey brick building was added. It had wide balconies on each floor. The upper floors had classrooms. The ground floor had special rooms for domestic science and manual training. In the 1930s and 1940s, students from other schools even came to Wooloowin to use these new facilities.

The 1934 building was the last major addition. In the second half of the 20th century, the number of students at Wooloowin State School slowly went down. This was because the people living in the area became older. In 2015, the school had about 297 students from Prep to Year 6.

What the School Looks Like

Classrooms in 2015.

The buildings from 1914, 1918, and 1925 at Wooloowin State School look like a connected group. They are one and two-storey classroom blocks joined by verandahs. The buildings are made of masonry (like brick) and stand on brick piers. This creates a covered play area underneath. Most of the outside of the buildings has a rough plaster finish. The original red asbestos slate roofs have been replaced with corrugated iron. Each building section has its own roof, with special vents and gabled skylights.

The 1934 building is a three-storey masonry building. It has a mix of face brick and rough plaster, matching the older buildings. Its original red asbestos slate roof has also been replaced with corrugated iron.

Even with the new roofs, the outside of the school buildings looks very much like it did when it was first built.

Why Wooloowin State School is Important

Wooloowin State School is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it meets certain important criteria. This means it is recognized as a special place with historical and architectural value.

• A Model School: Wooloowin State School is important because it shows how education changed in Queensland in the early 1900s. It was built in 1914 as a "show" school. Its high-quality buildings, furniture, and teaching methods were an example for other new state schools.
• Growth of the Area: The school also shows how quickly Wooloowin and nearby areas grew. This growth happened because public transport, like the tramline, expanded in the early 20th century. It also shows the success of schemes that helped working-class families own their own homes.
• Great Design: Wooloowin State School is a wonderful example of a school building designed for Queensland's climate. It has wide verandahs and a special roof that helps with ventilation. It is part of a tradition of excellent buildings created by the Queensland Public Works Department. The use of brick and simple details is typical for government buildings from that time.
• Beautiful Architecture: The school is also important because it is an outstanding example of a building designed by the Queensland Government Architect's office. This office was considered one of the best in Australia at the time. The school's simple shape, rough plaster, and wide roofs with gables and vents show its unique style.

See also

• List of schools in Queensland
• Education in Australia