Laverton School (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The continued use of hte place, first as a school and later as a hall, illustrates the importance of the place as a community facility.

Physical Description

The building is raised on stumps and has a small medium-pitched gabled roof that featured a tall, slender, corbelled brick chimney (top portion missing). The roof ridge features metal vents. The front verandah is protected by a lean-to roof, cgi clad. Metal louvered screens give further protection to the front facade (west elevation). Sections of the screen have eben repalced by cgi.

Brick walls thay form the chimney flue are evident on the south-west corner of the building. The verandah on the north-west corner of the building has been enclosed and now forms the entrance to the building. New aluminium sliding window frames have been installed tot he front and rear elevations.

History

By 1900, there were enough children in Laverton to warrant a school. Unfortunately, the number was too small for the Education Department to justify the establishment of a state school. As a result, the Wesleyan minister Rev SR Rooney opened the first school in his own camp on 14th May 1900 for approximately 14 children (Laverton Mercury 28/04/1900). The Laverton State School was officially opened in the Wesley Church on 15th April 1901, with Mr mark Graham as head teacher (State Records Office, AN 4517, Acc 1653, No 1155/00). The school closed the following month, due to poor attendance (GG 16/06/1901, p 2,515).

However it reopened in October with Mr Patrick Brennan as head teacher and with 22 students (Education Dept Annual Report, 1901, p 23). It was a half-time school though in 1902 it became a provisional full-time school until 1903 when it was downgraded to a half-time school again, this time with Burtvile (Education Dept Annual Report, 1902-1903, p 15). In 1905, the Laverton School was granted full-time status again.

During this time, the community was petitioning the Education Department to erect a school building (Laverton Mercury 11/01/1901, p 2). Their demands were granted in 1906 when Mr Alfred Eade was commissioned to build an iron and wood one-room school for 456/11/11 pounds (GG 09/02/1906, p 452). It was completed on 24th may 1906 and two years later the teacher's quarters were also built (State Records Office, AN 45/17, Acc 1653, No 5099/07).

In 1916, a pavillion clasroom was added for 270 poundsand also used as a junior school but it was later sold to another school when the students numbers dropped (GG 17/03/1916, p 454).

Over the decades, numerous alterations and additions were made to the school, but most importantly was the addition of a verandah on the northern side of the school for 51 pounds (State Records Office, AN 55/77, Ac 1653, No. 1907/29). During the 1950's, the small school room became overcrowded with two teachers in one room. This led to the junior class being located at first in the neighbouring RSL Hall and later in the Courthouse, which was being used only sporadically for legal matters (State Records Office, AN 24, Cons 3896, No 2012/52).

In 1974, when the town layout was being redesigned by Western Mining Corporation and the State and Local Government, a new primary school, junior high school and kindergarten were built at a cost of over $0.5 million.

The original school building is now being used by the Roman Catholic Church as a hall.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate Degree
Authenticity: Moderate degree

Condition

Fair-Good

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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.