Buntine Primary School

Parent Place or Precinct

11742 Buntine Primary School & Pre School House

Statement of Significance

Buntine Primary School is representative of the development of education facilities in small
country towns in Western Australia; of primary schools in regional areas built by the Public
Works Department in the inter-war period using an adapted standard design to
meet local conditions; and of schools constructed in the inter-war period that have
had subsequent construction over time which reflects the changing needs of small
regional towns. The place is valued by those who were either students or employees at the school.

Values

• The place is representative of the development of education facilities in small country towns in Western Australia.
• The place is representative of primary schools in regional areas built by the Public Works Department in the inter-war period using an adapted standard design to meet local conditions.
• The place is representative of schools constructed in the inter-war period that have had subsequent construction over time which reflects the changing needs of small regional towns.
• The place is valued by those who were either students or employees at the school.

Physical Description

Buntine Primary School comprises a number of buildings and features. These include six
small single storey fibre cement and corrugated metal roofed classrooms (1929, 1949,
1962, c.1990, 2000, 2010), a prefabricated toilet block (1998), covered assembly area
(c.1990), lunch shed (c.1940), freestanding administration block (c.2000), three garden
sheds, football oval, and running track. The main buildings are consistent in style with blue painted weatherboard to dado height, grey fibrous cement upper wall lining, and
corrugated galvanised roofs.

History

Prior to the original extant classroom building, documentary evidence suggests that in 1922 a hall was planned which was to be ‘also used as a school’. Contemporary newspaper accounts indicate that a school opened
on the 24 January 1922 and ‘Miss Pike’ was appointed.10 The location of this hall was on
the lot where the extant Buntine Hall (1958) is situated, on the corner of Nelson and Dermer Streets. By the end of August 1928, there were 13 students within a three mile radius of the existing school, and the Buntine Progress
Association began discussions for a new school to be built in the area. the Progress Association petitioned the Education Department for the school to be built and was subsequently successful in their endeavour. By the middle of
the same year an inspector from the Education Department visited the town where he was
shown the potential site of the school. Satisfied with the location, drawings for the first
classroom were completed by the end of 1929. The continued growth of the area between 1930 and the 1940s resulted in discussion of further development of the school to address population increases though only a lunch
shed was built c.1940. A second classroom was planned for 1948 but construction was
subject to some delay and it was not completed until 1949. This classroom currently stands adjacent to the original 1929 classroom. number of buildings were constructed post-1998, including a freestanding administration
block (c.2000), prefabricated art room (c.2000), and classroom designed by Hodge +
Collard Architects (c.2010).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.