Kenwick School

Statement of Significance

Kenwick School has historic value for its association with the provision of education to the students in the area since 1937 and more specifically for specialist education since the 1980s. The place has social value for the students and members of the wider community who have attended the school for a variety of reasons since 1937. The place has aesthetic value as a modest example of an educational facility built in the 1930s which demonstrates the style and detail of the period.

Physical Description

Kenwick School is located on the edge of both the industrial area and the residential area and is situated amidst an area of open grass and natural environment. The school has been significantly enlarged but the original 1930s section remains extant. The school is tucked away at the bottom of Moore Street and cannot be clearly seen. The rendered brick and tile building is a single storey structure representative of schools constructed in the 1930s with a regular rhythm of multi-paned sash windows, hipped roof and contrasting elevations of brick and render. The lower sections of the wall are face brick and the upper section, from sill height, are render with the render being applied in a rusticated style. The hipped roof is clad in terracotta tiles with overhanging eaves lined with an embossed eaves lining. The plan form of the original section is asymmetric with a slightly projecting bay. Much of the elevation is taken up with the arrangement of the four timber framed sash windows. All the sashes are of the 9-over-9 pane style though the two outer windows are narrower than the central windows and are separated by a rendered column. The windows to the recessed section are in a bank of three 6-over-6 pane sashes with a lower level window. The site has been developed in various stages with the school now presenting as a comprehensive complex providing a range of schooling facilities.

History

The first school for Kenwick students was at East Cannington, where a one-roomed building with teacher's accommodation was built in 1912. Despite the site being subject to regular flooding, the school continued to operate and it was not until 1937 that the Kenwick Primary School was built. It served the local community for forty years until 1981 when it was converted for use as a Special School for children aged four to eighteen, from Kindergarten to Year 12, with a diverse range of support needs and abilities. The replacement school was opened in East Kenwick (near Kenwick Library) in 1980. The School serves about eighty special needs students from a large catchment area covering Byford to Kenwick and Roleystone to Thornlie. One teacher and two assistants are supported by specialist teachers, social trainers, swimming teachers, Health Department nurses, and administration and office staff. The school has two ovals and three fenced playgrounds, basketball/volleyball court, indoor heated swimming pool, library, mini gym, and facilities for teaching life skills including a kitchen and laundry.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High degree Authenticity: Moderate degree; incremental development

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

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