Roebourne Primary School & Quarters (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Roebourne Primary School & Quarters (fmr) is of cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:  it contains the earliest extant school buildings in the north-west of Western Australia and is a rare example of extant stone school and quarters in the State;  the place makes an important visual contribution to the Hampton Street streetscape and to the precinct of buildings which are part of the original Roebourne townsite;  the place makes a significant contribution to an understanding of the history of the settlement of the north west of Western Australia generally and the town of Roebourne in particular;  the primary school building illustrates early attempts to provide a structure suitable for the climate, with one long room cross ventilated by numerous windows, and a natural airflow tower (no longer extant);  it represents the architectural style and philosophy of substantial and formal stone structures which was app lied to government buildings in the region in the late nineteenth century;  the place represents the dominant trend of providing for the European community without consideration of the needs of the indigenous inhabitants of the area;  in its recent history the use of the place for Aboriginal community support purposes is an important reflection of the changing character of and changing demographic of services in Roebourne.

Physical Description

The Roebourne Primary School & Quarters (fmr) is constructed in the Victorian Georgian style. It comprises two tuckpointed random-rubble Karratha stone buildings with concrete block quoining to walls and reveals and corrugated iron hipped roofs. The schoolrooms extend over the verandah on all sides of the building.The school had quarters for the schoolmaster at the rear.

History

Roebourne’s first school opened in a private house in 1874. The first purpose built school building was constructed in 1878 and was destroyed by a cyclone four years later, in 1882. A new school costing £400 was opened in 1884 and was then replaced by the current Roebourne Primary School & Quarters (fmr), constructed on the same site and opened in 1891. The building was designed by the Public Works Department and featured cross flow ventilation by the use of one long room with many windows and a ventilation tower (since removed). This was an important feature, as it displayed an attempt to provide education in a building purposely designed for the climate. The building was used as a school until 1961, when it became a baby and children's centre and was also used for Aboriginal community support.

Archaeology

The Roebourne Primary School & Quarters (fmr) has remained relatively unchanged for over 100 years and is the oldest extant school building in northern Western Australia. The site therefore has significant archaeological potential relating to early education in the region. The extant building is also of a unique design and can provide insights into how early settlers dealt with the harsh climate, by purposely designing facilities to deal with it.

Integrity/Authenticity

Largely intact

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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