Baldivis Primary School

Statement of Significance

• the place has historical significance for its association with Group Settlements established on the Peel Estate from 1922;
• the place is the only example of a Group Settlement School surviving intact in its original location in the wider Perth metropolitan region;
• the place contributes to our understanding of the development of education and Group
• Settlement in Western Australia;
• the place has aesthetic value as modest weatherboard, fibrous cement, timber and iron school buildings dating from the 1920s set in pleasant surroundings;
• the place has some potential for archaeological deposits to remain at the site relating to the use and development of the school from the 1920s;
• the place is of social significance to the local community for its relationship to the development of the area through the Peel Group Settlement Scheme and for its continued community use for educational and recreational purposes; and,
• the place represents the typical single room country school buildings characteristic of the Inter War period.

Physical Description

External:
The heritage buildings are a pair of timber-framed and metal former classrooms located on the edge of the Baldivis Reserve and adjacent to Baldivis Road. The playgroup has two water tanks.

The two buildings, each with an open-plan arrangement, are similar in their execution. They stand as one-room structures with front and rear additions, their external walls clad with a blend of fibre cement sheeting and weatherboard cladding to the east elevations.
Each building has six and eight windows, in pairs with one pane over another and timber-framed sashes. The windows are extant on the north and south elevations in equal numbers on both buildings. The openings on the north elevations have awnings. The northernmost building has four windows to the north and south, while the other building has three openings to the north and south.

Both buildings are accessed by ramped timber verandahs with skillion canopies. The rear additions have skillion roofs and are a combination of enclosed and open spaces extending across the entire width of the building. The roofs across the building are long sheet corrugated metal (galvanised). The Compressed Fibre Cement (CFC) / weatherboard walls are painted mint green on the exterior (2024).

A commemorative rock and plaque have been placed within the grounds commemorating the memory of the district pioneers in 1923. The plaque reads:
''Erected to the memory of the pioneers of the district, 1923. Wellard/Baldivis C.W.A.
Established May 1932 at the St. Albans Hall Baldivis P. &C. School opened February 1924
The Rockingham Shire Rural Ratepayers & Residents Association
To Commemorate the granting of the City Status to Rockingham
in the Bicentennial Year of Australia 1988.
Unveiled By: Mary Davies on the: 11th of September 1988 "

The buildings are approximately 50 metres apart, forming a central grass quadrangle. The northern building is used by a visual art society and the southern building is used by a playgroup (building 1). To the west of the timber building, there is a third building that appears to be a garage, containing some toilets and storage for the two main timber buildings. This is not considered part of the listing. The two school buildings which run parallel are considered the built fabric of heritage significance. Several mature peppermint trees (Agonis flexuosa) surround the buildings, particularly along Baldivis Road. There are also two water tanks placed on the south of the southern building.

Several secondary buildings of variable construction from different eras are also located around the site, with an earth parking lot and a small playground to the rear.

Internal:
All photographs taken from the internal inspection are from building 1. This building is close to the corner of Fifty Road and Baldivis Road (see diagram in photographs).
The two historic buildings run in approximately an east-west orientation with the access point on each east and west ends. The interiors accessed as part of the internal portion of this description refer to the Baldivis Playgroup. The building is in good condition, with a recent refurbishment.

The covered entry (west) to building 1 contains a wash-station with two basins and a wall of bag hooks. The timber entry door is Jarrah refinished with a clear epoxy. Internally, there is a Kitchenette in the western section of the plan (near the main entry), with a small play area on the east near a chalkboard. On the eastern wall is a chalkboard with a traditional timber sill and frame, expected to be original. The floors are timber, 85mm in width.

The longer walls to the east and west are punctured with windows, three window pairs to the long faces. The windows have vertical openings, with two windows within each opening, one above the other. A pivot window, with the original mechanisms no longer extant, folds inwards. but is no longer operable. The cornice (simple concave) and timber architraves, were recently painted and restored. The timber skirting profile to the floors is a simple rectangular section (35mmx30mm). The ceiling is a battened flat sheet with contemporary fluorescent light fittings. The walls are compressed fibre cement board with horizontal battened timbers up to about 1100mm up the wall.

The exit on the eastern end of the building has a timber ledged and braced door leading to a verandah. The entry and exit doors at the front and the rear are fitted with contemporary security screens. On the verandah, there is a ramp to the Baldivis Road entry and a small storeroom.

History

These two school buildings were built during the time that Group Settlements were established on the Peel Estate, from 1922.

A total of four schools were built; the first at Baldivis (Group 50-54), followed by those at Karnup, Wellard and Group 81. The first application for a school was made in July 1923 by the settlers on Group 50 and 54. It was completed on 20 October 1923, and opened in February of the following year.

The school buildings were of the standard one-roomed country type designed and built by the Public Works Department. The classroom was constructed so that the room could be divided if required.

At first this school site was known as Group 50-54 School, but in June 1926 its name was changed to Baldivis, as by that time, Group 54 was served by the Wellard School.

The Group Settlement population of school-age children declined in the 1930s. The Group 81 School closed around 1936; the Karnup School around 1940; and the Wellard School closed in 1947-48. By 1950, only the Baldivis School remained and its population was increasing. In 1950, a new shelter shed was built. In 1953, the school population was 52.

In 1954, the former Group 39 School was removed and re-erected at the Baldivis Reserve adjacent to the Baldivis School building.

The Baldivis Primary School operated from this site until 1978.

In 1978, a new brick building was constructed west of the original school site on the site of the current Baldivis Primary School. The primary school has been operating from that site since then and grown and developed in response to the growing population. The two original school buildings have continued to be used and are currently (2024) occupied by the Baldivis Play Group and a Visual Art Society.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Degree
Authenticity: High Degree

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

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.