Wandering Primary School & Tethering Ring

Parent Place or Precinct

07033 Wandering Primary School & Tethering Ring

Child Places

• 23816 Tethering Ring
• 07033 Wandering Primary School & Tethering Ring

Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value for creative design and adaptation to a harsh climatic setting, exhibited by vented gablets, high ceilings. The place has historic value as a demonstration of the confidence felt by the local community in the town's future in the 1920s, even though it was realised that Wandering was not going to become a major administrative centre.

Physical Description

The simple building is rectangular in plan and orientated north-south. The foreground of the building is lawned and landscaped with a wishing well flower box in the centre of the lawn. A playground is to the south-east of the school building, with a new paved court to the north and bituminised basketball courts to the west side of the school building. The exterior of the building features projecting timber battened eaves and metal louvred vents in the gable ends. Eight, vertically proportioned windows feature on the east wall with double-hung sashes divided into 12 panes by slim glazing bars, and six panes in the fanlights. The building is raised on timber stumps and the floors are timber throughout, now covered with carpet. The interior walls are lined and the original classroom has new ceiling linings, new ceiling fans and suspended fluorescent lights. The school comprises a large, single classroom. A stud wall partition now separates the room from a kitchen and office and a smaller classroom at the northern end. The building has been extended along the west wall, the original external wall with windows is intact. The addition is timber framed and clad to resemble the original; however, the gable end is lined with match boarding. The area is used as a library at one end, and a classroom at the other. The entrance to the school is through the addition via brick steps. The roof of the building has been recovered at the roof now extends beyond the addition to shade the aluminium framed sliding windows. The eaves are supported by timber brackets. A small corrugated iron clad structure has been added to the south wall which is possibly used for storage. The lower window sashes of three windows at the northern end of the east wall have been replaced with aluminium sections. Outbuildings include a timber framed toilet building, clad in fibro-cement to dado height, and weatherboard clad above. The building has a concrete floor with four wire screened openings in a clerestory for ventilation. The building has a high-pitched gable roof newly clad in corrugated iron. The building comprises female facilities at one end and male facilities at the other. Other outbuildings include a new sheet metal clad shed and two water tanks.

History

The first school in Wandering was opened in the early 1870s. Enrolments fluctuated, resulting in the short-term closure of the school on a number of occasions. Mr Hungerford took charge of the school on 5 November 1913, and in a letter to the Education Department commented on the shocking state of school and quarters. An important meeting of indignant parents was called on 21 September 1920 to draw up an appeal to Mr L. H. Hickmont MLA. They felt a more up-to-date school building and furniture were long overdue for Wandering. After protracted negotiations, on 15 October 1923, the Minister for Education approved £595 for a new weatherboard school. The school site was declared on 1 February 1924 being Reserve 18502. The building 24ft by 24ft was given the commencement date of 5 August 1924, with completion due on 12 November 1924. The headmaster. Mr R. Birch, moved his pupils into the new school on 11 November 1924. In 1996, the building continues to be used as a school. The original Visitors Book and Discipline Book are held at the School. It is recommended that these books be deposited with the Public Records Office so they can be professionally archived.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY High Degree AUTHENTICITY High Degree

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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