Brunswick State School & Teacher's Quarters (fmr)

Statement of Significance

• The place has historic and social value for its association with the provision of schooling to the community from 1896 to 1966.

Physical Description

The main brick building, which stands north of the Brunswick Bridge on the South Western Highway, has a corrugated asbestos roof with truncated gable vents and eaves supported on carve timber. An ancillary building is faced with weather board and is topped with a Victorian styled brick chimney - Relocated to White Rocks farm. The grounds are enhanced by a stand of magnificent pines at the eastern side of the property near the South Western Highway.

History

The first school in Brunswick was the old school house built at “Frogmore” by the early settlers in 1864 and later destroyed by fire. In 1892, John Crampton donated a portion of his land to the Education Department for a school site, although it took four years for residents to agree to the site as families to the south of the river wanted a site on that side. Several sites were looked at but all were deemed unsuitable, mostly because of flooding in winter and the Crampton land was agreed to. The school opened on 16 May 1896 and in 1905, 42 children were in attendance; by 1929 there were 98 and in 1950 the number increased to 195. The trees on the site were planted by children during the period in which the school operated from this site. In 1966, the Brunswick School was moved from this original site to its current location in Vincent Street. The original school building was relocated to the Brunswick Showgrounds and a plaque was erected at the original site in 1988. The former school building has subsequently been relocated to White Rocks farm.

Integrity/Authenticity

Nil/ Nil

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

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