Latham Primary School

Values

• The place is representative of the development of educational facilities in Western Australia in small country towns.
• The place is representative of primary schools in regional areas built by the Public Works Department post-World War II.
• The place is representative of schools in regional areas that have had additions over time which reflects the changing needs of the locality.
• The place has some archaeological potential as the site of the former school buildings (c.1929 and c.1960).

Statement of Significance

Latham Primary School is representative of the development of educational facilities in Western Australia in small country towns; of primary schools in regional areas built by the Public Works Department post-World War II; and of schools in regional areas that have had additions over time which reflects the changing needs of the locality. The place also has some archaeological potential as the site of the former school buildings (c.1929 and c.1960).

Physical Description

Latham Primary School comprises a complex of small single-storey structures including an fibrous cement clad, and metal classroom (1961); office (1961); toilets (fmr) (1961); classroom and lean-to additions (c.1966); transportable library (1966), metal covered assembly area (1966); toilets (c.2010); and a number of ancillary features including metal sheds, playground, vegetable beds, shade structures, football oval, and concrete cricket pitch. The place has some archaeological potential being constructed on the site of the original school buildings (c.1929 and c.1960).

History

The first evidence for a primary school being located at Latham is found in a Public Works Department drawing dating to 1914 and signed by the Chief Architect at the time, Hillson Beasley. The building was based on a standard drawing used by the Public Works Department from the late 1890s. A subsequent plan dated 1929 and drawn by John Melvin Tait, Principal Public Works Department Architect, shows the location of the school buildings that were relocated from Perenjori. Overcrowding of the school at Latham (c.1950) resulted in many younger students relocating temporarily to the local agricultural hall. Another Public Works Department drawing dated 1951 shows a school building that was relocated from Mia Moon (formerly west Wubin) intended to alleviate the congestion. It is likely that these prior school buildings were demolished to make way for the redevelopment after 1960. However, there is some potential for sub-surface artefacts or other features dating to this period to remain extant at the site. The school was redeveloped in 1961, with the construction of the main school classrooms, office, toilets, playground, and basketball court. After 1966 a transportable library was erected in the south east of the school ground, a steel framed covered assembly area in the western corner of the playground, and transportable toilets (2010).

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Historic Themes

Creation Date

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