Wynnum State High School Block A facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wynnum State High School Block A
Wynnum State High School Block A, 2018
Location	Peel Street, Wynnum, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1919-1930s Interwar period
Built	1919,1943,1953,1955
Architectural style(s)	Classicism
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Wynnum State High School; Wynnum State High and Intermediate School; Wynnum High and Intermediate School; Wynnum High School
Type	state heritage
Designated	28 June 2018
Reference no.	650059
Type	Education, Research, Scientific Facility: School - state (high)
Theme	Creating social and cultural institutions: Commemorating significant events; Educating Queenslanders: Providing secondary education
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Wynnum State High School Block A is a building with a rich history located at Wynnum State High School in Wynnum, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1943 and is considered very important. Because of its special history and design, it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on June 28, 2018.

The Story of Wynnum State High School

Wynnum State High School (SHS) is about 15 kilometers east of Brisbane's city center. It first opened in 1942 as Wynnum State High and Intermediate School. The school still has its original brick building, called Block A, which was built in 1943.

The school grounds also feature a stone wall built in 1955 and old trees. A special tree-lined path, called the World War I (WWI) Memorial Avenue, was planted in 1919. The school has always been a very important part of the local community.

Early Days in Wynnum

The land where the school now stands was originally home to the Turrbal people. British settlers arrived in the Wynnum-Manly area in the 1860s. They started farms and built sugar mills.

Wynnum became a popular spot for holidays, with many people building vacation homes along the bay. In 1888, a railway line reached Wynnum and Manly. This made it easier for more people to move to the area.

In 1913, Wynnum became its own town. It was known as a seaside resort. Later, in 1925, Wynnum became part of Greater Brisbane.

The Memorial Park and Avenue

Wynnum Memorial Park was set aside in 1918. It was first called Russell Park, but was renamed Memorial Park in 1919. This was when the special memorial avenue, accessed from Peel Street, was planted.

Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams, who was the Governor of Queensland, opened the Memorial Avenue on July 27, 1919. He also planted the first tree. About 60 trees were planted by the families of soldiers who had died in World War I. The park was used for shows, sports, and recreation.

Education in Queensland

Before high schools were common, the Queensland government thought secondary education wasn't very important for the state's economy. The Grammar Schools Act 1860 offered scholarships for smart students to attend special grammar schools, but not many were given out.

In 1912, the government finally started a high school system. In some towns, new high schools were built. In smaller towns, a "high top" was added to an existing primary school. This meant older students could get secondary education using the same buildings.

Wynnum Central School had a "high top" from 1918 to 1921. Students from a wide area came to study there. However, it closed in 1921 because not enough students enrolled. This meant students had to travel to Brisbane State High School.

A New School for Wynnum

The community really wanted a high school in the Wynnum-Manly area. In 1929, land was bought for an intermediate school. Intermediate schools were for students in years 6 and 7. They taught practical subjects like woodworking for boys and cooking for girls.

Finally, in 1938, the government announced that an intermediate school would be built in Wynnum. A high school would follow. In 1939, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) arranged to use part of Wynnum Memorial Park for the new school. The park was chosen because it was close to the Manly railway station.

It was decided that the new school would be both an intermediate and a high school. It would be Brisbane's first suburban state high and intermediate school.

Building Block A

The Wynnum Intermediate and High School building was designed to look grand and strong. It was a large brick building with two main floors and an open space underneath. It was designed to hold up to 626 students.

The building had 13 classrooms for general lessons. The ground floor had a workshop for woodworking and metalwork. It also had bathrooms and storage. The first floor had rooms for domestic science, like cooking and sewing. The top floor had rooms for business subjects, a science lab, and a lecture room.

Construction of the school building began in 1941. The corner stone was laid on August 21, 1941, by the Minister for Works and Education, Harry Bruce.

The School During World War II

When Japan entered World War II and there were fears of an invasion of Australia, many building projects in Brisbane were stopped. However, work on Wynnum High and Intermediate School continued.

In February 1942, the high school part of the building was finished. Students were told to enroll, but the Queensland Government closed all coastal schools in January 1942 due to invasion fears. Most schools reopened on March 2, 1942.

When students started at Wynnum SHS on March 2, 1942, the roof was still being built. Only a few rooms were ready. There was no electricity, so domestic science and manual training students had to go to Wynnum Central State School. Students also dug slit trenches to protect themselves from air raids.

Work on Block A was completed before intermediate school students joined in 1943. The school was officially opened on July 17, 1943. A newspaper said the school was "probably one of the best situated schools in the State," with a "ready-made sports oval."

Developing the School Grounds

The community and school fundraising were very important for the school's growth. Events like fancy dress balls and school fetes helped raise money.

In 1947, the school's Parents and Citizens Committee (P&C) planned to improve the grounds. They wanted more land, a parade ground, a retaining wall behind Block A to stop erosion, proper roads, and 60 new trees.

Tennis courts were built in 1951. More land was added to the school in 1949 and 1950, including part of Wynnum Memorial Park for a sports oval.

Work on the school grounds continued in the 1950s. Shade trees were planted in front of Block A. A paved parade ground was created around 1953. A stone wall and new concrete stairs were built in 1955 to stop erosion behind Block A.

Growing Student Numbers

After World War II, many more children were born (the "baby boom"), and there was also more immigration. This led to a huge demand for state education. Schools became very crowded.

At Wynnum High and Intermediate School, student numbers grew quickly. To help with the overcrowding, a two-story timber building (Block B) was built east of Block A in the early 1950s. By 1962, the school had 1,000 students!

A second high school opened in Wynnum North in 1964, which helped ease the pressure. More buildings were added to Wynnum SHS in the 1960s and 1970s, including a manual training building, a science block, and an assembly hall. A new library opened in 1976.

Block A has also had changes over the years. In 1960, the open space under Block A was enclosed to create a tuckshop. Other rooms were changed into staff rooms or rest rooms. In 1967, the small decorative tower on the roof was removed due to rot.

The P&C continued to raise money for school improvements, including a swimming pool and basketball courts in the 1970s and 1980s.

Today, Wynnum State High School still operates from its original site. It keeps its historic brick building and beautiful grounds. The school is a key part of the Wynnum-Manly community, teaching generations of students and hosting many events.

What Wynnum State High School Looks Like

Wynnum State High School is on a large site in Wynnum. It used to face Wynnum Memorial Park to the northwest. The school is bordered by a railway line, Peel Street, and Buderim Street.

The main way to enter the school is from Peel Street, along the tree-lined Memorial Avenue. This path leads past a playing field to Block A, the main brick school building. Block A faces northwest, away from Peel Street, towards Wynnum Memorial Park. However, some newer buildings now block part of this view.

The school grounds are well-kept and include a former parade ground and old trees. Inside Block A, there are special wooden honor boards from the school's opening year in 1943.

Block A: The Main Building

Block A is a long, narrow brick building with two main floors and an open area underneath. It has a terracotta tiled roof. A special entrance area, called a portico, sticks out from the center of the front. This makes the building look balanced and grand. You enter through a central concrete staircase with strong, decorative railings.

The building has an elegant design with classical details. It's made of brick walls, with decorative plaster (stucco) elements on the first and second floors. The stucco walls and pillars on the ground floor look like cut stone. The brick walls on the upper floors have darker brick pillars and decorative plaster details around windows and at the top and bottom of the pillars.

The stucco portico has a triangular top part, called a pediment, supported by tall square pillars and large Ionic columns. The words "WYNNUM HIGH AND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL" are written above the entrance. The front and back of the building have many windows, separated by pillars.

Inside, the layout is similar on both the first and second floors. Stairwells at each end connect the three levels. A long hallway runs along the northwest side of the building, giving access to the rooms. Classrooms and stairwells are mostly on the southeast side of the hallway. One classroom on the first floor has a raised floor, which was designed to be a stage.

The ground floor still has its long, enclosed classroom (which used to be a workshop) and a storage room. The open play areas in the middle and at the southwest end have been enclosed to create more classrooms and storage. Most of the original toilets have been changed into offices. The floors are made of concrete.

School Grounds and Special Trees

The school grounds have many old trees. The most important is the Memorial Avenue, planted in 1919. It has mature hoop pines (Araucaria cunninghamii) on both sides of the entrance drive from Peel Street. Part of the original avenue is now covered by newer school buildings, but some old trees still stand nearby.

Other old shade trees on the site include a fig tree (Ficus sp.) west of Block A, and a Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina), a pine tree (Pinus sp.), and a camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) north of the Music and Science Block.

The former Parade Ground, built around 1953, is on the southeast side of Block A. It's an open, paved area with a low stone wall along its southeast edge. This area allows for important views of the building.

Views to and from Block A, the Memorial Park, and Buderim Street are important to the school's look. While many views are now blocked by newer buildings, a small view corridor west of Block A still connects to the Memorial Park and Buderim Street.

Why Wynnum State High School is Heritage Listed

Wynnum State High School was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on June 28, 2018, for several reasons:

Showing Queensland's History

Wynnum State High School is important because it shows how state education in Queensland has changed over time. The school has an excellent example of a government-designed brick school building from 1943. This building shows 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 World War I (WWI) Memorial Avenue from 1919 is important because it shows how the community remembered those who served in a major world event. War memorials are a way for communities to honor soldiers who fought and died. They are a common and important part of towns and cities across Queensland and Australia.

Key Features of a Queensland State School

Wynnum State High School shows the main features of a Queensland state school. It has a brick school building designed by the government. This building is on a large, landscaped site with old trees, assembly areas, and sports fields.

The main brick school building (Block A) is a good example of its type and is still in great condition. It shows the key features of these buildings:

• It has two main floors and an open area underneath.
• It has a balanced, high-quality design with classical details.
• It's built with strong brick walls.
• It has a hipped roof.
• The rooms are arranged in a line, accessed by hallways.
• Classrooms have many south-facing windows for light and air.
• The understorey (ground floor) was originally an open play space.

This type of building was typically built in growing suburban areas, just like Wynnum was at the time.

Its Beautiful Look

Block A at Wynnum State High School has a beautiful look, both inside and out. Its elegant design, large size, brick exterior, and high-quality materials show the government's ideas of progress and lasting quality.

The building's strong shape, classical and balanced design, and impressive entrance with large columns make it very attractive. It stands in an open area overlooking Wynnum Memorial Park and is surrounded by old trees, making it a lovely sight in the area. The views to and from the building are a big part of its beauty.

The WWI Memorial Avenue, with its hoop pine trees (Araucaria cunninghamii), runs from Peel Street through the school grounds. It is a landmark that can be seen from nearby streets and higher ground.

Strong Community Connection

Schools have always been very important to communities in Queensland. They often have strong and lasting connections with former students, parents, and teachers. They are places for social events and volunteer work, and they represent local pride and hopes for the future.

Wynnum State High School has a strong and ongoing connection with its large surrounding area. Since it opened in 1942, many generations of students have been taught there. The school is important for helping the community grow through education. It is also a key gathering place for social events and celebrations, with strong support from the community.

The Memorial Avenue has a special and lasting connection with the community. It has served as a memorial since 1919 to those from the district who served in World War I.