Carson Street School

Statement of Significance

The Carson Street School has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: • The Carson Street School has aesthetic, historic and social heritage significance. Though a number of buildings have been added to the original school most of the design details have been in keeping with the first buildings. • The school has a long history with the area and for the past three decades has supplied a vital education for children with a disability. Social heritage value is found in the many associations people of the Victoria Park district have had with the school.

Physical Description

The Carson Street School comprises single storey Inter-War Free Classical style brick and render buildings. The buildings have contemporary hipped profiled sheet metal roofs. Classroom have large white painted sash windows with multiple panes. The buildings have a cloister design with grassed and bitumised quadrangles. The school's main access is off Caron Street. The school is located within a residential area and is surrounded by mature trees. There is a covered play area to the east and a car park to the west side of the site.

History

The Carson Street School was formerly known as the Millen School. According to old journals kept by the principal, the School opened on 7 September 1936 with an enrolment of 63 children. The school was converted to a school for children with disabilities in 1996 under the name Millen Occupation Centre and then Millen Special School. Information from Mrs Eiler Pitt, who taught at the school from 1967-1977, states that the pupils of Carson Street School came from Minbillup Special School (also in Victoria Park). Minbillup was one of the first special needs schools in the district and catered for all aged children. Minbillup was closed due to unsuitable facilities, when Millen Primary School became available. The older children, twelve and over went to South Kensington and the primary school children were relocated to Carson Street. The population of Millen Occupation Centre when it opened in 1967 was approximately 80-90 pupils with 12 students per class. The principal at the time was Miss L Povey. Unlike today (2000) there was very little equipment made for children with disabilities. This pressed the teachers into creating their own purpose built aids. In 1985, in an attempt to overcome the negative effects of labelling, it received its present name Carson Street School. Extensive renovations were undertaken in the 1990s to update the facilities. Carson Street School was one of the first schools to be granted Independent Public School status in 2010, and was also selected as one of the first Teacher Development Schools in Western Australia. The school community is justifiably proud of this formal recognition of its programs and practices. Carson Street School is adapting its facilities and services to the current inclusive educational climate, and the school aims to play a positive role in the education of special needs students in the future.1

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY: High AUTHENTICITY: Medium

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update