Geraldton Senior High School (Main Building)

Statement of Significance

Geraldton Senior High School is of aesthetic significance because of its inherent quality of design and construction. The good proportions and fine detailing of this Inter-War Functionalist building are valued by the community, as evidenced by its inclusion in the Municipal Inventory. The building has considerable historical significance as a major educational institution serving large areas of the State over a period of more than sixty years and is important because of the role it has played in the community and because it represents the establishment and evolution of High School education in rural WA. The place also has historical and social significance because of its associations with the many people who have passed through its programmes and the social and community associations for those in whose lives it has played an important role. The place is representative of State high schools constructed in that era, and the building and the precinct of which it can be considered a part, are an important landmark in the area. SOCIAL VALUE: As the major public educational institute in the whole of the northern two thirds of the State and the location of numerous public functions, the building has importance for the significant social role it has played in the lives of the citizens of Geraldton (Criterion 4.1 ) As a significant element of the metropolitan area of the City of Geraldton it contributes to the cultural heritage environment and the community's sense of place. (Criterion 4.2) RARITY: The building is one of only a very few such regional High School buildings of the period constructed in Western Australia and the only one i n this style. (Criterion 5.1) REPRESENTATIVENESS: The place is significant in representing and demonstrating the characteristics of 'mod ern government architecture of the period as practised in Western Australia. (Criterion 6.2) CONDITION: The current condition of the place is excellent due to continuous and on-going maintenance programmes carried out by the Education Department. INTEGRITY : The likely long-term viability or sustainability of the heritage values identified is good provided there is no major redevelopment or alteration of the building purpose or character. AUTHENTICITY: The authenticity of the 1939 fabric of the building is good as it has been well maintained and is in the original state.

Physical Description

The Geraldton Senior High School is prominently situated near the centre of the city and is surrounded by extensive tree lined playing fields. It is an excellent example of the type of major school building designed in the late 1930s for the Education Department by the then Public Works Department under architect A. E. Clare. The style of the rendered brick building which consists of the main, L-shaped, two storey block with single storey wings to the North and West, can be best described as Inter-War Functionalist , (refer Apperly, Irving and Reynolds)2 with traces of Art Deco decoration. The plain white walls are given a strong horizontal emphasis with the use of an unrendered red face brick base to ground floor cill height and a series of raised bands marking window heads and the upper cills. Fenestration is a series of grouped timber framed, double hung windows between these horizontal bands, with six mullion bars divid ing each window into narrow horizontal strips. The hipped roof of Marseilles pattern terracotta tiles is broken by a number of tall, plain rendered chimneys with recessed banded tops and on the North frontage by two stair towers in salmon face brick providing a strong vertical counterpoint to the general horizontal emphasis. These towers feature metal framed vertical strip windows and protruding brick fins set off by Art Deco moulded decorative elements and mountings for a flagpole. Cantilevered concrete canopies over entrance porches feature typical Art Deco/Moderne curved comers and incised bands on the edges. Internally the building is plain and somewhat austere with main l y white walls, black trim and grey carpetted floors. A verandah with brick pillars runs along the north side on both levels providing access to class rooms and views out over the Geraldton harbour from the upper walkway.

History

Assessment 2003 Construction: 1923 Architect/designer: A.E. Clare Builder: Geraldton Building Co Prior to the construction of the Geraldton Senior High School, senior grade children were accommodated at the Geraldton Primary School which became a District High School, (1917-39) or had to travel to the Perth area to attend one of the boarding colleges. For many years the senior students sat for the matriculation examinations of the University of Adelaide. The new school was designed in the then Public Works Department under the supervision of Government Architect A.E. (Paddy) Clare, and the foundation stone was laid on 22 July 1939. Construction was carried out by the Geraldton Building Company and the Geraldton Senior High School was opened towards the end of 1939 by the then Labour Premier, John Wilcock. The first Headmaster was Dr Fowler and for over thirty years it was the only Senior High School north of Perth. As a major regional centre, Geraldton has always received students from a very wide geographic area and even at this time, although other High Schools have been established fm1her north, students still come from places as far away as Derby, Broome and Koolan Island as well as from the Murchison and Pilbara areas.3 During World War II when there was an imminent threat of enemy bombardment, the recently completed school building was prepared as a casualty dressing station with the possibility of use as an emergency hospital if required. The school quadrangle was turned into a mass of slit trenches for the occupants and later covered with air raid shelters.4 In later years the school provided a quality education programme for many of the State's prominent citizens including the current Labor Premier of Western Australia, Dr. Geoff Gallop who became a Rhodes Scholar. The school has a fine academic record and offers a wide variety of courses for students of all abilities and interests. Each year the school celebrates Founders' Day with a week of special educational and social activities. Citizens are encouraged to take part and the community recognises the traditions which have been established over the years by the school.

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