Yangan School of Arts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yangan School of Arts |
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Yangan School of Arts, 1995
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| Location | 7-9 King Street, Yangan, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900–1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1912 |
| Official name: Yangan School of Arts | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600527 |
| Significant period | 1910s (fabric) 1912 ongoing (social) 1910s-1940s (historical) |
| Significant components | memorial – honour board/ roll of honour, school of arts, library – collection |
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The Yangan School of Arts is a special old building in Yangan, Australia. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its historical importance. This building, located at 7–9 King Street, was built in 1912. It has served as a community hub for over a century.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the School of Arts
The Yangan School of Arts started in 1897. Its second building, the one we see today, was built in 1912. This happened on land bought from the Railways Department. At that time, Yangan was a busy and successful town in the Darling Downs area.
How Yangan Grew
The area around Yangan was first explored in 1827 by Allan Cunningham. Later, in 1840, the Leslie brothers set up a cattle station called Canning Downs. One of their outposts was at Heifer Creek, which is where Yangan is now.
The town of Yangan grew to support local industries. These included cutting timber, quarrying sandstone, dairy farming, and other types of farming. Even before 1884, Yangan had a school, a church, and a police station. However, the town really started to boom when the railway line opened in 1884. This line connected Warwick to Killarney and had a station right in Yangan.
Yangan in the Early 1900s
By 1900, Yangan was a very active place. It had two cheese factories that helped the whole area. The town was growing and had several stores, blacksmith shops, a hall, and guesthouses. It also had a "natty little School of Arts and reading room."
What Were Schools of Arts?
The first School of Arts in Queensland opened in Brisbane in 1849. These places were like early community centers and learning hubs. They were inspired by "mechanics' institutes" that started in Britain. These institutes aimed to teach working people new skills.
In Australia, Schools of Arts often provided the only cultural and educational facilities in new towns. They offered meeting rooms, halls, libraries, and technical education. Over time, as governments took on some of these roles, Schools of Arts became more focused on fun activities.
The Yangan School of Arts' Role
The Yangan School of Arts offered a library where people could borrow books. It also had a reading room with newspapers and magazines. Local groups often rented its rooms for their meetings. The School of Arts committee also organized many fun events to raise money for the community.
The First Building and the New One
The first Yangan School of Arts building was built around 1898. It was on the other side of King Street. In 1912, this first building was bought by the local Masonic Lodge and became the Yangan Masonic Hall.
By 1899, there were plans to make the first building much bigger. This work happened in 1901, and the School of Arts then had a library and a smoke room. More plans for a billiard room soon followed. In 1909, the committee asked the Railway Department for a new site.
However, in June 1912, they decided to build a completely new School of Arts. The land for the new building was part of a larger area bought by the Commissioner for Railways in 1884. The School of Arts bought the first part of the land in September 1911 and the next part in December 1914.
Building and Opening the New School of Arts
W Kemp drew the plans for the new School of Arts, following what the committee wanted. It was a timber building with three rooms: a reading room, a library, and a committee room. It also had a verandah with a lattice design. Sam Fagg won the bid to build it for £264.
Hitching posts were put outside, and "SCHOOL OF ARTS" was painted on the front. The building officially opened on October 19, 1912. The Minister for Railways opened it during a visit to the area. A newspaper called the Warwick Argus said it was "a well-found little institution of high public utility." It also noted that 80 books were borrowed from the library on its opening night.
War Memorials and Continuing On
In April 1919, a special board honoring those who served in World War I was put up. Another board for World War II was added in 1949. After these wars, many similar community places started to decline. Radio and movies became popular, which meant fewer people visited.
However, at a meeting in 1946, it was noted that the Yangan School of Arts was still able to keep going. Even though public support was low, it continued its work. In 1947, a meeting was held to discuss its future.
Nearly 50 years later, the Yangan School of Arts is still active. This is special because many similar places closed down. The railway line to Killarney, which helped Yangan grow, closed in 1964. Even with a new council mobile library service, the School of Arts library continues to be important. The building is used by many local groups, including a play group, the Ladies Guild, and the Queensland Country Women's Association.
What the Building Looks Like
The Yangan School of Arts is in the village of Yangan, about 18 kilometers (11 miles) east of Warwick. It sits on the south side of King Street, which is the main street. The building faces the few remaining shops across the street.
Outside the Building
It's a simple, single-story timber building. It stands on low timber stumps and has a hipped roof made of corrugated iron. The front of the building, facing the street, has a balanced verandah. In the middle, there's a gabled entry porch. The verandah roofs on either side are bull-nosed.
The porch has flat pressed metal panels. The verandah has a timber railing with a criss-cross pattern. There are also two dowelled gates at the entrance. The verandah posts are made of chamfered timber with decorative tops. There's also fancy cast iron lace decoration. Three sets of French doors lead onto the verandah. The middle doors are solid, while the side doors have glass. The front of the building is covered in chamferboard. The other three sides and the top part of the front have been updated with fibrous cement planks.
Inside the Building
The building has a rectangular shape and is divided into three main rooms: the Reading Room, the Library, and the Kitchen. The Kitchen used to be the committee room. You can enter the Reading Room from the verandah through two sets of French doors. The Library is accessed through the third set of French doors. The Kitchen has a later door on the eastern side.
The Reading Room and Library have walls lined with vertical tongue and groove timber boards. The Reading Room also has a timber picture rail. The Kitchen walls are covered with fibrous cement sheets. All the ceilings are also made of tongue and groove boards. The Reading Room has two decorative pressed zinc ceiling roses, and the Library and Kitchen each have one.
Special Features Inside
In the Reading Room, you'll find two important war memorial honor boards. They are a matching pair made from silky oak wood and marble. The one on the eastern wall lists names from World War I. The one on the western wall lists names from World War II and the Vietnam War. The Reading Room also has two timber reading tables. These tables are believed to be from when the building first opened. The Library still holds a large collection of books.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Yangan School of Arts was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's recognized as an important part of Queensland's history and culture.
Showing Queensland's History
Schools of Arts in Queensland were like the first public libraries, technical colleges, and cultural centers. The Yangan School of Arts, built in 1912, reminds us of a time when Yangan was a busy and growing town. It shows how the town has changed over the years. The School of Arts building and the Yangan Masonic Hall are important parts of King Street's history.
A Rare Survivor
Unlike many other similar places in Queensland, both the Yangan School of Arts building and the organization itself are still active today. The building also holds the district's war memorials, making it even more special.
Key Features of a School of Arts
The Yangan School of Arts is a good example of what a School of Arts should be. It's unique because its Reading Room and Library are so central to its purpose. The library still has many of its original books.
Its Beauty and Design
The School of Arts is a simple timber public building. However, its front design, with the gabled entry porch and decorative verandah, makes it stand out. This design was meant to show the building's importance in the town and to look good on the main street.
Important to the Community
For almost a century, the Yangan School of Arts has played a very important role. It has been a cultural, educational, and social center for the town and the surrounding area.
